9 May 2026

May 11
11 min read

Division 1: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 1st XI Division 2: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 2nd XI Sprig + Fern Tahuna 3rd XI Division 4:

Sprig + Fern Tahuna 4th XI

Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Womens XI Masters Football: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Masters

1st XI 1-4 FC Nelson (Chatham Cup)

Location: Guppy Park

Goals: Matt Jepo

Match MVP: Joe

After last week’s win by Tahuna over FC Nelson. This was the game that FC Nelson and their coach had everything to prove and Tahuna FC lads to use as a fitness and training session for their next important league game to hold our top spot on the table.

FC Nelson home ground was signature Guppy undulation. The ball rolled slow on the uncut green grass, more like a Manawatu dairy farm than a bowling green, which caught our guys out with an FC Nelson goal in the first 10 minutes. I would blame Council on here for the long grass, but being I’m on Council I won’t. After that FC started playing with self-confidence of grown men. Tahuna still coming to terms with the uncut paddock seemed to struggle to make enough passes connect. But kept the tempo high searching to equalise.

FC several times came very close scoring again in the first half. But were denied multiple times by our player of the day Joe Robertson. Who like a Spider Monkey on coffee beans dived at and saved every shot thrown his way with his out stretched limbs, including with his face to deny Freddy Thompson’s multiple attempts to get on the score sheet in the first half.

Second half Tahuna still pressing hard and defending hard whilst under the pump, but even James Owen’s scything slide tackles weren’t having affect apart from scaring the oppositions mums. And we continued to not win enough tackles or connect the passes that made us so dominant last week.

Sure enough FC increased their lead with several more goals in second half. Davors pre week training regime for his boys, swapping out their aqua jogging for pumping iron in the college gym and shuttle drills in the rain, I can only imagine to make them more physiqued like our Tahuna team, soon caught up with his lads, with three dropping out with cramp. Like road kill possums, they in turn tossed their own cramp bound players over the byline and replaced with the next Eastern block trained universal soldier, and held onto their lead.

All credit to Dave Turner and our lads fitness, we kept running hard till the 90^th minute, and not one cramping up, we been famous for last season. We had our chances though few, finally found the net from a well executed free kick by Jepo. With final score 4:1 to FC Nelson who did play well for to earn. Match report by Tim 'Mad Dog' Skinner

2nd XI 3-1 Tahuna 3rd XI

Location: Tahunanui S1

Goals: Will M, Dong, Geeza

Match MVP: Danny Ross

After days of heavy rain and strong winds, today Saturday finally brought light sunshine and a gentle breeze. It set the perfect scene for a highly anticipated internal clash between Tahuna 2 and Tahuna 3, the most awaited match of the season.

A Fast-Paced Start From the opening whistle, both teams came out with an intense, attacking mindset. Tahuna 2 quickly showed their sharpness in attack, creating several dangerous chances and earning an early corner. And it didn’t take long for the breakthrough. In the 5th minute, Geeza delivered a perfectly curved pass that sliced through the defence, finding Will who rose to head the ball home 1-0 to Tahuna 2, and the game exploded into life.

Trailing early, Tahuna 3 pushed forward aggressively, stringing together quick one-two combinations in search of an equaliser. Dan, known as the “lungless man,” produced a brilliant run, gliding past two defenders before sending a cross into Dong in a dangerous position. Just as he was about to head it in, he was shoved from behind and went crashing to the ground, face-first into the grass. The referee’s whistle blew immediately a free kick for Tahuna 2. Dong stepped up with confidence, believing in his inner Ronaldo, but his former teammate Tom nicknamed “Petr Cech” guessed correctly and made a solid save, keeping Tahuna 3 in the game.

After that missed opportunity, Tahuna 3 continued to apply pressure but found no way through the defensive wall of Adam and Ross, who stood firm like two rock-solid pillars at the back. Tahuna 2 then struck on the counter. Joe played a brilliant pass to Geeza, who controlled the ball in the air with the softness of Nani before driving straight through the centre and finishing calmly to make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.

Just two minutes later, Geeza struck again. With blistering pace, he surged forward and delivered a perfect pass to Dong, who made no mistake this time, slotting home to extend the lead to 3-0 for Tahuna 2. As the first half was coming to an end, Tahuna 3 fought back strongly and managed to pull one goal back, making it 3-1 at halftime.

Second Half Tahuna 2 continued to control the match in the second half, although clear-cut chances became harder to come by as fatigue started to set in for both sides. Will Mathews came close on a couple of occasions but was unable to find the finish, while Rhys produced a huge moment at the back with a goal-line clearance to deny the opposition. Seth also had a great opportunity, only to be stopped by a strong save from the keeper.

As the game wore on, the midfield battle became scrappy with both teams tiring, but Tahuna 2’s defence continued to stand firm. The opposition’s best chance came when Thorsten struck the post, but fortunately his follow-up effort rolled wide of the goal. With no further goals added, the match finished 3-1 in favour of Tahuna 2.

Match report by Dong

3rd XI 1-3 Tahuna 2nd XI

Location: Tahunanui S1 Goals: Wayne

Match MVP: Fraser

Derby day at KFC Arena as the soon to be infamous El Tahunico kicked off in beautiful sunny conditions after some sub par weather earlier in the week.

The 3rds came in hoping to turn their fortunes around as they are still getting to grips with the 2nd division with a result against the 2nds.

The game kicked and immediately the 2nds set about "welcoming" the 3rds to physical game. The 3rds lined up with a back 4 of Ryan, Eric, Ollie and Fraser, it quickly became apparent that it would be a bit of a battle as probing runs from the 2nds caused a lot of issues for the backline. Things went downhill after the 2nds got a corner and Will Mathews lost his marker and banged in a header from close range. 1-0 to the 2nds....

The 3rds started to show some signs of waking up, neat passing from Fraser, Sobi and Will looked to release Wayne down the wings. The backline of the 2nds wasn't having a bar of it and snuffed out the opportunity for the 3rds to break. Things went from bad to worse as Ryan was adjudged to have brought down Dong in the box. The referee called for a penalty. Dong stepped up to take it but Tom Dunn wasn't going to allow that, comfortably saving the initial shot and smothering the ball before the rebound.

The 2nds pressed on and before long Geeza managed to lose Ryan and slot a decent shot into Tom's top right. 2-0 to the 2nds. Some words between the 3rds that can't be repeated....

The 3rds kicked off and tried to get a handle on the game as it was all 2nds at this point. A mix up in comms and Dong finally slotted the ball into the net to make it 3-0 to the 2nds. 25mins on the clock in the first half....

A flurry of subs from the 3rds saw Rhys on for Ryan and Stu coming on for Panith. A change in formation as well with the 3rds switching to their preferred 4-4-2 diamond. Immediately the change was apparent as the 3rds shuddered into life and began passing a moving with ease. Then out of nowhere, Sayha flicked the ball to Stu, who laid it off for Wayne as he went through, Ross from the 2nds making an awesome slide tackle as Wayne took the shot, the deflection sailed over Will in goal and nestled in the middle of the goal... 3-1...

Wayne then came off due to a knock and on came Binh in place of him. Binh then made his presence felt with some awesome technical movement on the ball. Some good passages of play for the 3rds as both Stu and Binh came close in the latter parts of the half. The shakiness of the backline at the start of the game was gone for the 3rds as they set about nullifying Will and Blessings.

Half time came around as the lads went in for oranges.

Some choice words at half time from Stu and Lukey Nev from the 4ths. A quick change at halftime as Stu subbed off for Wayne.

The 3rds knew the game was not over as they came out for the 2nd half. And you wouldn't have thought it was the same team from the first half as the 3rds went hammer and tong to claw their way back into the tie. Stefano, Sobi and Will causing all sorts of trouble in the midfield as the 3rds finally found their rhythm. Stefano then subbing off for the returning Thorsten and Rhys subbing off for Lukey Nev.

The 2nds pressed but were having a hard time getting past the backline and when they did the lads were sending the ball away from the goal.

The 3rds then broke and Thorsten found himself in on goal, taking his shot it ended up hitting the post and his rebound agonisingly going wide.. A et off for the 2nds there..

Some more subs saw Eric come off for Rhys and Binh off for Stu as the 3rds tried as best they could to nick a goal. It was very back and forth for the remainder of the half as both teams came close, a standout sliding tackle from Rhys as Will Mathews was in on goal kept the score line at 3-1.

And that's how it ended. A valiant effort from the 3rds but the experience of the 2nds got the better of them. That result leaves the 3rds still 2nd from bottom and with a game to come against the table topping Nelson Suburbs Seals at Tahuna S2 this coming Saturday.

Will they be able to shake things up and get a result against the league leaders? I don't know, I don't have a crystal ball. Will have to wait and see...

Match report by Stu

4th XI - BYE

Location:

Goals:

Match MVP:

Match report by

TFC Womens XI 5-0 Wakefield FC

Location: Wakefield S1

Goals: Rebecca, Ruby (2), Roxy, Sophie

Match MVP: Nik After two days of rain, the 10:00am decision to go ahead with the match proved to be the right one, with great weather greeting both teams at Wakefield’s home ground for the 3:00pm kick-off.

The game started slowly, with Tahuna creating multiple chances but unable to get the ball past the Wakefield keeper, who was in outstanding form and did a fantastic job keeping the early attempts out. It took 17 minutes before Tahuna finally put points on the board.

All of Tahuna’s goals came in the first half, beginning with a clearing kick into Nik, who passed to Rebecca for a composed one-touch finish into goal. Aimee then chipped the ball in from the left wing to Ruby in the middle, who took on two defenders with excellent control before calmly chipping the keeper.

Sophie created another strong attacking move down the centre, passing to Roxy on the right, who ran onto the ball and slotted it into the back of the net. Roxy then turned provider, chipping the ball across to Ruby, who again finished with a chip on goal. Tahuna’s final goal came from Nik, who chipped the ball in from the right wing to Sophie, allowing her to slot it into the top right corner.

Nik was named Player of the Day for her agility, speed, sportsmanship, and her involvement in many of Tahuna’s supporting plays and attacking opportunities.

Michelle kept goal for the first half, while Grace took over in the second. Both shared the responsibility of keeping Wakefield’s attempts at bay, each making two important saves.

The second half saw tactical changes from both sides, with Wakefield strengthening their attacking play. Tahuna also took the opportunity to give some of their defenders a run up front, leading to some great passages of play and promising attempts at goal from Jenna, Michelle, and Marijke. Although the second half remained scoreless, it still provided plenty of enjoyable football for the spectators.

After the match, both teams enjoyed refreshments at the Wakefield clubrooms, celebrating the camaraderie and joy of the game between the two sides.

A big shout out must also go to Wakefield. It was great to see how far the team has come, with some talented players showing plenty of skill, determination, and promise throughout the match.

Match report by Cris

TFC Masters 0-3 Nelson Suburbs Legends

Location: Tahunanui S2

Goals:

Match MVP: Diego

Five games into the season and the injuries are clocking up. Thomas – back, Ollie – shoulder, Zane – something. So, Ollie donned himself in ref yellow, someone else would have to shoulder his responsibility. The goalie vest was passed around the container of S2 like an unpleasant rumour. A large pre match cheer resonated at the sight of goalie Iggy arriving at the ground.

Tahuna kicked off and played backwards. A few passes in, a loose one was gifted to Legends. They whipped in a cross, Gaz headed it out and then a worldie of a volley throttled to the left of a stunned Iggy – there was no stopping that one. 0-1 Legends.

Legends pressed hard after taking their lead, breaking through our lines and winning a free kick that was scooped away by Iggy. The Legends play with a high line, so with the narrow pitch of S2 it was like The Sprig on Club Day, there was no space to move. To get anywhere you had to embrace tight 1-2-3 passing.

An Eddie, Goodie, Cunny combo looked good at one point but fizzled out with no end product. Goodie tried a back heel to Ed who took a pot shot that threatened. Cunny had a swipe from afar too. And then disaster. Legends broke into our box, Gaz leant on their player and he went tumbling down. A penalty had been awarded. This was duly dispatched, 0-2 Legends.

Ed had had enough of this nonsense. He started spinning and nutmegging the Legends in midfield. A purring engine in midfield. It just kept breaking down in the final third. So, it was deeply disappointing to see Ed hobbling off the pitch before half time. We needed another Velcro strapped man to save the day, Diego took the call, elbow strapped, slotting straight into midfield. His fresh legs got behind their defence with a dangerous ball, just behind Goodie.

Diego and me were discarded options in the middle. Legends had chances too though, hitting our post and needing a clearance over the crossbar from Gaz to sniffle out their attack. Our second half was better. We started playing the combos with greater purpose. I managed to nick a few off the toes of Legends. As a team we were pressing better. They were looking suddenly fragile. If we could get on the scoresheet, it was game on.

A surgical pass of Diego who found a route straight through the Legends back line to an onrushing Cam. Where did he come from?! Unfortunately, their keeper stood strong and denied us a goal from close range. Back in defence, Gaz battled well solidly blocking their attacker, unfortunately in the midst of the chaos another penalty was awarded, and dispatched.

Long-range efforts from Macca and Diego, lacked the venom to trouble their keeper. So, no Tahuna goals despite all that pressure. But on the positive side old boy Pete managed a cheeky nutmeg, so he’s happy. Next game we really need to make our pressure count as these hard luck tales are getting a little tiring…. We’ve got a better conversion rate at The Sprig. If that only counted for points… Match Report by Pete B