Men's Div 1: Sprig & Fern Tahuna 1st XI v Motueka 1st XI
Men's Div 3: Sprig & Fern Tahuna 2nd XI v FC Nelson NMIT
Men's Div 4: Sprig & Fern Tahuna 3rd XI v Nelson Suburbs FC Rovers
Men's Div 5: Sprig & Fern Tahuna 4th XI v Golden Bay Stingrays
Women's Div: Sprig & Fern Tahuna Breakers v Golden Bay Wahine Toa
Photos by Jesse Frank Photography.
1st XI 2-5 ITM Motueka 1st XI
Location: Memorial Park
Goals: Fred, own goal
Match MVP: Jack Keogan
The lads rocked up to Motueka Memorial Park on what proved to be a huge game for each team at the business end of the season. With the sun beaming down, the week's horrible weather was easily forgotten until we stepped onto the pitch. The Motueka Turf was somehow worse than last weeks at Jubilee, with divots and mounds all over.
The pitch took its first victim not long after kitting up. X-rays later proved the ever reliable Jared Kirk had a fracture and injured ligaments in the ankle :( Get better soon mate we’ll miss ya in the middle! Anyway the boys (starting 11 and 1 sub) did not start as we would have hoped. 3-0 down in about 10 minutes isn’t the greatest way to start a football game, but they managed to get back into the game for the rest of the half. Down 3 at the break, a familiar setting for the lads in blue and white.
After the weekly rev up from Coach Uiki in the sheds, TFC started to take more and more control of the game. More time in possession led to a dangerous ball put in from the right side by Josh which could only be turned in by the Home team. With momentum switched and more than enough time to complete the comeback, spirits were lifted. Those spirits dropped pretty soon after when the step-in local ref decided to give Mot a penalty for who knows what. A decision even the home side was questioning. But the ref's decision was final and the penalty was well dispatched. While pushing for goals, Mot grabbed a fifth on a counter attack. Towards the end of the 90 a well worked play down the right again saw a cross slotted home precisely by Fred.
A Saturday afternoon to forget was turned into a great night full of bad costumes and too much beer. The effort at the Sprig and Fern Tahuna was definitely one to be proud of from the team.
Match report by Joe.
2nd XI 5-1 FC Nelson NMIT
Location: Neale Park
Goals: Gus (2), Duane (3)
Match MVP: Duane Valentine
Saturday had great weather for the winter sport we all love. Upon arrival we realized we had one dirty kit from the cow paddock at mot last weekend, not mentioning any names, fine in store I'm shore. Ended up playing in pink. Let me start Football is like a box of chocolates you never know what Tahuna are going to produce. The pinkies started well in the first 30 mins with lots of possession, but the battle of the sprig n fern was soon to be sorted out. NMIT scored first - a free header from a corner which stunned Tahuna for a short period. Then the shackles were broken, 1-1 with a Gary walker assist to Duane who slotted it in. Literally after restart when a peach of a cross from Dan found Duane again to head in for 2-1. Which is how it stayed at the first half. Straight after the break it didn't stop, some nice build up play and a fancy back heal from Gus landed at Duane’s feet who slotted it in from the edge of the 18-yard box to complete his hattrick. Goal number 4, again great team work with Gus nipping in to finish. It didn't end there for Gus heading in off his face from a corner by Dan to seal the rout 5-1. A few points during game of note: Joe Walton and Isaac Taylor outstanding game in midfield. Dan Smith outstanding tireless game on the right where most of goals were scored from. Everyone played well, including our fill in GK Garry Clarke which the back line made his job easy. Couple of fines for Eric going to header and hand balling instead, Irish Steve for getting subbed on having a blinder then subbing himself back off?? Isaac a credit to him for cleaning up the fresh dog shit in box with pong tube (a few exercises to make sure his nose was functioning correctly). Great result again TFC 2nds Up up.
Match report by Duane.
3rd XI 3-5 Suburbs Rovers
Location: Tahunanui
Goals: Pedro (2), Matt W
Match MVP: Ralph Murin
Sports News: We went 4-0 down in the first half and didn't really look like getting back into it. We had a few chances but didn't put them away and made a bit of a comeback late in the half.
We'd got used to playing flat back 4 with a diamond mid field and 2 target men, so starting 4-3-3 came as a bit of a shock and we didn't have a good session where we practice how to play 4-3-3 well, so we didn't. One of the captains should have called easter egg after the second goal went in to stop us getting rolled. Then there was the second half. Yay 3-1, changed formation back to midfield diamond and got stuck in. We didn't really boss it but we got back on top and were comfortable. I think our fitness was better than them too. We pulled 2 back and had a few disallowed...............Bad Bernie, Sayha put one away 1m from the goal line, from a cross on the goal line, but was given off-side. They put another past us and we battled on and scored again. But we ran out of time. Great effort by everyone, lots of energy. Lost our focus but got it back again, coms were OK but we can do better. Everyone worked hard on a sticky pitch.........and that’s football. Goals Pedro 2, Matt 1, Assists I got no idea, I think I might bring a new rule where you get an assist if you put a forward in a 1 on 1 position with the keeper regardless of whether they score or not. Not my fault....I put it on a plate for them and they miss....why's that my fault. Anyway these 'Super assists' yeah I've named ‘em n everything won't really get off the ground because of memory capacity. Will Pedro catch Sayha for the golden boot? he's a goal behind Sayha who has 13.
Match report by Cole.
4th XI 5-2 Golden Bay Sting rays
Location: Tahunanui
Goals: Tomas (2), Alistair, Jacob, Jared
Match MVP: Justin Smith
The 4ths picked up their third win for the season with an exciting 5-2 victory over Golden Bay. After a fairly even start to the game, the local team took the lead with a lovely goal, which saw the team knock half a dozen short passes before sending Thomas through one on one with keeper, which he finished superbly. Although taking an early lead and looking comfortable on the ball, The Bay were causing some problems on the break and it was from one of these they equalised. Back to square one and all to play for again. After some sustained pressure we were awarded a penalty for a hand ball in the box and Alistair stepped up to slot it past their keeper. 2-1 to everyone's favorite Tahuna team and that's how it stayed until half time. To their credit "The Bay" started the second half strongly and scored a deserved equaliser, although from my position up front, I have no idea how it managed to squeeze in. The visitors had their best spell off the game after this and it took some hard graft to get back into the game. We won a number of corners in quick succession putting "The Bay" defence under pressure and from one of these the ball fell to Jared and his shot to a deflection of a defender, sending their keeper the wrong way, 3-2 to the locals. This goal took the stuffing out of the visitors, who through injuries, were down to ten men at this stage and a further two goals to Jacob and Thomas (his fifth for the season) saw us run away with the victory. Big ups to "The Bay" lads first, never giving up and playing the game in the right fashion, always a pleasure playing them. So that's 10 points for the 4ths this season so far and 4th spot in the league, which is realistically our aim. Well done lads; great effort and with two more games to go, not finished yet. Up Up Tahuna
Match Report by Pete.
Breakers 4-2 Wahine Toa
Location: Tahuna Reserve
Goals: Meagan (2), Shannon, Sophie
Match MVP: Michelle Ballinger
Lush green pastures, blue skies, and not a puddle in sight - Octopus Park really turned it on for us this weekend!
Welcoming Wahine Toa to our side of the hill this time round, the Breakers managed to finally turn the tables in our favour after two previous losses to the Golden Bay gals.
The plan of attack was literally that, attack. K.I.S.S. Sending forth our most talented offence squadron, we peppered Goldens Bays keeper with plenty of shots from afar for a fair portion of the afternoon. Eager to please our most honest fan, TFC took shot after shot, but as we weren't able to get through the crowd of defense that Wahine Toa had mustered, they mostly landed short or wide of the sticks. Breakers own defense did a stellar job of keeping the play well forward but needed the help of a mad scientist to shut down one runaway GB girl a few yards out of the box. With Bob taking a 60 second vacation from the sticks, we were glad to see Anita standing guard in the exact right spot and shutting down a potential goal. TFC opened the scoring about 20 or 30 in with a well placed shot from Meagan, still reveling in her hattrick glory from last week. The rest of the first half was a battle of wills, wits and tits. Kylie will be off for a mammogram this week after blocking 3 decent shots in a row and may have to take one of the GB girls with her too!
Just minutes before halftime, Golden Bay managed to sink a lucky scramble of a shot - initially blocked by the above mentioned mammaries, a quick thinking Wahine Toa gal cleaned the ball up and flicked it in.
Halftime score 1 a piece, the game was still anyone's to have. Brutal truths, a little sugar, and we were back into it. This half saw more passing in and around the box, with closer range shots needed to have the accuracy and speed to make it past Golden Bays keeper - who had been doing an excellent job at defending most of our attempts! Meagan not having a bar of it, continued to send shots flying left right and finally centre/into the net. Breakers now up one, all we had to do was hold on! Unfortunately, a handball in the box defending recently broken ribs (hmmmm I'm sure I've written this before haha!) ended up in a penalty shot for Golden Bay, and since Bob didn't want to be superman when she grew up, she couldn't super-dive far enough to get it, putting us back to even stevens 2 all. Lucky for us, attack was having an absolute day, with a terrifying trio (if you are the opposition that is!) of Megan, Shannon and Sophie hassling and hustling to score an additional two goals and making the final score 4 - 2 to the Breakers.
A well fought battle despite tired legs and low subs from both sides, many spills and falls, and a dodgy first half ref (sorry Jenna!), it's always a pleasure to play Wahine Toa no matter the score.
A special mention for the return of the only running coach I know of that spends more time on her arse than her feet - the speedy Sarah Biss. Supposedly a super sub, but a couple of minor injuries led her to almost a full game. Rusty...? I think not!
Player of the day went to Michelle for another awesome game in defense - this weekend spending a little time as a wingback, some in defensive mid, and some in her usual centre back position. Versatile and superb in any spot, we are lucky to have you! Tit of the team went to Sophie, as we are sure you need to be upright to score a goal, but if lying on the floor helps then you do you
Match Report by Bob.
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