Division 1: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 1st XI Division 2: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 2nd XI
Division 3: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 3rd XI Division 4:
Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Breakers Masters Football: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Masters
1st XI 4-3 Motueka FC
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals: Mackenzie, Isaac, Heyden, Darty.
Match MVP: Heyden Nunn
After a week of soul searching and reflection on the back of a disappointing performance and result over the hill, the boys went into this match up eager to build on the improvements made in the last 30 or so minutes over in the Bay.
The home side welcomed back the old LAD himself, James, after a brief jaunt back home. His return perfectly timed as injury and illness continue to ravage the squad. Now without Jamie, who tweaked his calf last week and Toro who broke a rib, there was a bit of a mix and match feel to the lineup as players moved positions and played heavily taped to make sure a team in blue got out on the park.
The start of the game started, perhaps, how you would have expected given the ever changing side, with the visitors looking sharper and more dangerous in the opening exchanges. Despite their possession, they failed to create any real openings and were limited to pot shots from 30 yards away.
The game lulled after about 20 minutes, becoming a scrappy wrestling match in the middle of the park. Lots of 50:50’s, bobbling balls and neither side able to really build anything with a noticeable lack of width impacting the games fluidity. Unfortunately for the boys from the beach, it was Mot who broke the pattern of the game and the deadlock.
From a broken piece of play in the middle of the pitch, the visitors worked the ball wide into the right flank, whipping an in swinging cross into the 6 yard area, it was met by a blue head diverting the flight of the delivery just enough to avoid the head of an attacker in yellow. Lady Luck, who has avoided us like the plague in 2024, evaded us again as the deflected cross ricocheted into the tree stump legs of Danny Hampton as he tracked another runner, diverting the ball powerfully into the bottom corner. Nothing the wrong footed Joe could do. 1-0.
The goal spurred the visitors on, the rest of the half spent largely in the Tahuna half. A late first half change saw Skipper Seth come on for Kieron and a slight change in shape for the home side.
Frustrated, the lads went into the sheds trailing. It’s fair to say that the dressing room was not an appropriate place for children’s ears as the boys dissected a below or first half display and plotted a route back into the game.
The words made way for action, as a much improved home side got on the front foot immediately. After 5 minutes of pressure, Cam beat his man on the left edge of the box before being brought down in a robust recovering challenge. Passionate appeals for a penalty were waved away and Mot broke down the other end.
With the home side’s attention drawn to the penalty shout, the visitors managed to work into the left channel in a neat move that saw their full back cross the ball before a sliding body slotted the visitors into a 2-0 lead.
Following the goal, a frustrated Cam made way for Heyden having been booked in protest of the penalty call. Despite falling further behind, time was on the side of our lads, with over 35 minutes to find a way back into the game. And boy oh boy, did that happen…
Almost immediately after entering the fray, Heyden began pulling strings setting multiple attacks on their way. After repeated corners, set pieces, close offside calls and blocked shots, the home side FINALLY got themselves into the game through the ever-present IT. His initial shot superbly stopped by an onrushing keeper, but his follow up coolly driven home to halve the deficit.
The next 10 minutes saw another formation change as Tahuna dropped to a back 3, and piled bodies forward. The pressure built as Mot clung to their lead lightly. Josh clipping the post with an effort from outside the box, a goal line scramble seeing the ball cleared off the goal line and a corner headed agonizingly wide at the back post. Despite all the pressure, the lads just couldn’t find a leveler.
Then. With 20 minutes to go, Lady Luck slapped us in the face again. What felt like the visitors first attack in a generation, saw the ball trickle into the net after a cruel deflection. A shot from the edge of the area was met by a desperate sliding block by Matt, only for the ball to deflect passed the foot of Joe, as he dove in the opposite direction. Now 3-1 to the visiting team, 18 minutes to go.
At 3-1, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the game might have been beyond the home side at this point with less than a quarter of the game to go. However, an impressive air of positivity consumed the KFC Arena, with shouts of “we can get 2 here” ringing around the park.
As before the 3rd Motueka goal went in, the boys in blue pressed hard for a goal and another avenue back into the game. As the clock started to tick down, Motueka bodies became more and more desperate - this desperation causing a foul on the halfway line as Matt, then Josh were totaled in sliding tackles. Unappreciative of this newfound attention to his team mates, James made sure the opposition were aware of the inappropriateness of their behavior with some pleasant words and the brief exchange of affectionate shoves.
Once this release of emotion had concluded, the ball was worked into the box and fired toward the back post where the GOAT, Macca, waited to prod the ball home. 3-2, 10 to go.
The next 10 minutes is a blur, but Tahuna piled forward in search of an equaliser. As the clock ticked toward 90, Danny - back up front - made up for his earlier OGGY by getting one of his tree stumps onto a flicked on delivery to level the game. 3-3. 3 minutes to play.
Once the 3rd went in, there was only one outcome. Club party day, an earlier Master’s Masterclass and the adrenaline of a battle in the rain - meant a winner for the Homeside was on the horizon… surely.
As we ticked into extra time, IT whipped in a series of corners, the first three defended and put behind, before the 4th was met at the back post by Jimbo. His header back across the box was met by Heyden, who’s substitution formed the catalyst for the come back. The man. The myth. The legend. Heyden bundled the ball home to trigger wild scenes of celebration and a pile of bodies. 4-3, the lads had done it.
A huge win in the context of the season, lifting the lads away from relegation trouble and keeping those above us in touching distance with 5 games to go.
So many positives to take from a performance filled with heart and intensity, but MOTM goes to Heyden for his game changing introduction on the 50 minute mark.
Lads go again at home to Suburbs on Matariki Sunday. UP UP. Match report by Matt Jepo
2nd XI 0-3 FC Nelson Locomotive
Location: Neale Park
Goals:
Match MVP: Ross Tahuna's day began with the kind of pre-match preparation that would make most coaches reach for the paracetamol. With Ash AWOL and others seemingly confusing kick-off time with fashionably late, it was clear this wasn't going to be Tahuna's finest hour.
The match kicked off, and Tahuna wasted no time in making things interesting, appearing determined to keep Locomotive's strikers involved, generously providing them with scoring opportunities. Will, in goal, found himself busier than expected, though not necessarily by choice.
Barely ten minutes in, Geeza decided he'd seen enough and exited with an ankle injury. This allowed Harry to join the fray, having finally conquered the Herculean task of sock-wearing. His arrival briefly stemmed the tide, until another wayward back pass led to Locomotive's opener.
Ross, not content with quietly and efficiently going about his business, decided to make things interesting. His tackle in the box not only resulted in a penalty but also earned Tahuna their first yellow card of the season. A controversial call as it looked clean as a whistle, but it was one of those days and the converted kick doubled Loco’s lead before halftime.
The second half saw Tahuna remember they were actually here to play football. Lionel, Petch, Gary and Austen all starting to cause problems for the Loco defence. However, Dean in the Loco goal made several key saves to maintain the clean sheet. With about 20 minutes remaining, Will made an excellent save, tipping a driven half-volley around the post for a corner. Unfortunately, from the resulting set-piece, Locomotive managed to recycle the ball quickly into the box, finding an unmarked player who looped a header just inside the post for their third goal.
In the end, Tahuna proved that while you can't win them all, you can certainly provide plenty of talking points for the post-match analysis in the pub.
Man of the Match: A three-way tie between Ross, Austen and Will, however, as Ross also got the coveted Dick of the Day award, we will give him the nod. Match report by Will.
3rd XI 2-3 Richmond FC Bogans
Location: Jubilee Park
Goals:
Match MVP:
Match report by Stu Mountain.
Tahuna 4th XI 3-0 Nelson Suburbs 4th XI
Location: Saxtons Field
Goals: Brad, Jonny L, Adam.
Match MVP: Cameron
Off to Saxtons field for the lads on Saturday. Excited to have Jonny Lewis back in the team they turned up eager to play on...a youth modified pitch? They weren't sure... but tucked away at Saxtons field on a pitch not to the best of standards the guys got to it.
Tight competition in the first half going into oranges 0-0.
The second half saw Tahuna score 3 goals. Including Jonny who made sure everyone knew he was back landing his first TFC goal for the season. Some superb defensive work by Cam and the rest of the squad kept Suburbs out earning Zach the only Tahuna clean sheet of the day.
A rocket from a Suburbs player found a windscreen in the parking lot leaving a football sized 'chip' which having no one own up to, Tahuna kindly left a note for the owner.
Well done guys!
Zach got the only clean sheet for the weekend did you hear???
Match report by Abbi.
TFC Breakers 10-1 Mapua Cougars
Location: Mapua Domain
Goals: Hannah x5, Ruby x3, Sayaka, Emily.
Match MVP: Bailey Smith
The weather held back long enough for both players and spectators to remain dryish for the 15:00 game against Mapua at the Mapua domain. Tahuna had a good feeling about this game after the previous defeat to Mapua in the cup challenge.
The game started strong with Tahuna taking control of the game from the very start, it wasn’t long before Hannah came from the midfield in the 5th minute, to weave her way through the Mapua defence and hammer the ball into the back of the net. The second goal came 2 mins later after Hannah took another shot at goal, only to have the ball rebound off a Mapua defender straight into Rubys path, who kicked the ball pass the keeper to score our second goal.
Ruby returned the favour in 12 minute by putting a cross up from the right wing, allowing Hannah to rush the defence and header the ball into the goal.
18 minutes, Hannah took a long range kick over the defenders and goalies reach to find the back of the net again.
25 minutes, Hannah challenged the Mapua defence again by weaving her way through their defence to put another ball passed the goalie.
30 minutes, and Ruby was not to be undone by Hannah and try to keep the golden boot kicked another goal.
31 Minutes, EJ and Mohi moved in the midfield from defence and immediately took advantage of their new position and worked together to have EJ put another goal into the back of the net.
35 Minutes, Mapua where rewarded for their continued attacks and plays on our goal and scored a goal to keep us on our toes.
40 minutes, Ruby came in from the wing and found herself in front of the goal and was able to take a pass from Sophie to put another ball into the goal.
After half time and within 1 minute of starting the second half Sayaka dribbled the ball passed the Mapua defence to have a one-on-one challenge with the goalkeeper to with a delegate kick passed the advancing keeper to put another point on the board.
5 minis later Hannah put our 10th point on the board. With the point deferential of 9 points the Fair play rule was used, with Tahuna swapping the defence and goalie for the striker positions.
The fast-paced scoring did not deter some hard challenges and strong runs from Mapua that kept Tahuna on their feet and tested our fitness. The last 35 minutes saw no further points scored which ensured the game was enjoyable for both sides. With good runs from Arin, Michelle, Hazel and Bailey playing in the midfield and striker positions.
Bailey was rewarded the MVP for her relentless work in the midfield ensuring the advancing Mapua players did not get opportunities to attack our goal.
Match report by Cris.
TFC Masters 4-2 Richmond FC Masters
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals: Tomas, Ed, Gaz, Paddy
Match MVP: Darren Fitzgerald
Good win for the lads after last weeks performance and a place in the semi finals of the Thorkild Hansen Cup.
We started pretty average and couldn't really get going for a while. We were pressured by long balls over the top to their #11 and despite Cam and Olly's best efforts he managed to get through and scored about 20 mins into it.
We were a bit flat, so we changed things around a bit and got a bit more link up play going. I got onto a ball in the box and tried to curl one in...but it hit the post. Fortunately it pinged off across the goal line and Thomas tucked it home on the far post 1-1. We kept up the pressure and Gaz got chopped down in the box and got us a penalty......some say they admired his total commitment to the role....and he does his own stunts too. Anyway, Ed stepped up and cooly it put away.
So we finished the half 2-1 up and all over it.
We started the second half way better than the first half and continued the pressure. We were passing well with pretty good movement off the ball, we were using the wings well and supporting the guy on the ball giving him a few options.
We got a break and Daz put Gaz in, 1 on 1 with their keeper and he took it around him to score 3-1. We had a bit of a dip late in the half and their #11 scored again. But we recovered and brought back the pressure.
With about 5 mins to go Kev put one through to Patty who smashed it home for his first of the season and many more to come.
So all in all a great result and some good team work. We had patches of awesomeness and a lot of gritty hard work. I think we have a good balance to the team and we are all aware of our jobs and how to do them. I think the staggered subs is the way forward, it doesn't mess with the team flow.
I think in our best parts we played quite compact with more controlled shorter passes. We came to the ball a bit more rather than looking for the long ball.
Our work rate is looking pretty good and we're building a better understanding of how we play. Great job. Funny quote of the day Gaz to me...I'm gonna win the golden boot this season. Me to Gaz......even Olly knows I'll score more than you by the end of the season...I always do. Match Report by Cole.
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