Coach delighted with away draw on debut
Tasman United have stormed Canterbury United’s castle and come away a point.
Although they couldn’t find a way past the Dragons completely, the 2-2 draw was an otherwise solid debut for the Stirling Sports Premiership newcomers who have already proven in one week that they belong on the big stage.
It was captain Paul Ifill that earned the point for Tasman at English Park on Sunday, the former Wellington Phoenix star’s 80th minute penalty beating goalkeeper Danny Knight.
The was the perfect response after Tasman had gone down 2-1 following a penalty to midfielder Aaron Clapham just 15 minutes earlier.
‘‘Paul was fantastic today, both playing-wise and his leadership on the pitch and he did well to win the penalty,’’ coach Richard Anderson said.
‘‘He’s got a long and successful career of taking penalties so I was 100 per cent certain he would find the back of the net.’’
The Tasman coach said earning a point on the road was a satisfying way to start life in the premiership.
‘‘It’s nice to be up and running. It’s a brand new franchise playing in the first game and to go away and play the team that finished fourth, and who are very disciplined and organised, and come away with a point is a good day for us.
Tasman started the brighter of the two teams and Anderson said Andre de Jong’s opening goal for Canterbury on the 41st minute mark was ‘‘against the run of the play.’’
So he was clearly pleased that Alex Ridsdale took it upon himself to ensure their positive play would not go unrewarded in the first half, the former Xavier University player unleashing a shot from 22 metres out to score the first goal of the Tasman era.
‘‘It was at a time where we had just conceded so it was important for us to get back on the front foot as quickly as we could and Alex’s goal was the perfect way to do it.’’
With frontline players Coey Turipa, Mark Johnston and Robbie Pearson ruled out due to injury, Anderson started with Tom Fawdry in goal, a back four of Scott Gannon, Bertie Fish, Daniel Allan and Jordan Swaney with a midfield three of Ridsdale, Cameron Lindsay and Dylan Burns with Ifill and Ryan Stewart further forward in attacking roles and Ermal Hajdari up front as the lone striker.
Anderson praised the young centre-back pairing of Fish and Allan, who are just 19 and 20-yearsold respectively.
‘‘The pair of them stood up to the challenge of national league football, playing against a very successful striker in Stephen Hoyle. I thought they did very well and looked like they had been doing it for years.’’
Anderson also handed a debut to year 12 student David Maisey, who replaced Gannon at rightback in the second half.
The task doesn’t get any easier for Tasman though, who now look ahead to a date with heavyweights Auckland City next weekend.