Team forfeits chances

Tokoroa’s Federation Two league campaign came to an end on Saturday with another brave, but ultimately fruitless, performance against promotion-chasing Papamoa.

With a month-long gap between games due to some ridiculous match scheduling, Tokoroa began nervously and were chasing the ball for the first 20 minutes. Papamoa deservedly took the lead as the home team struggled to keep the ball when placed under pressure.

With an attacking quartet of Desmond Phillips, Michael Fitzpatrick, Connor Wood an David Wright, Tokoroa certainly had options going forward, but they needed to offer more options on the ball and work harder off it. Phillips showed what he was capable of when he caught the keeper napping with a 35-metre free kick that found the top corner.

The second half had Papamoa dominate the scoring chances and only resolute defence from Gareth Williams and Cody Chesterman kept the score level. The match was decided by a controversial penalty, which was buried to leave the home team deflated. Final score 2-1.

The Tokoroa ladies team rebounded from a devastating 1-0 loss the previous week with a thumping 9-0 demolition of visiting West Ham. Jane Honey got another hat trick, Jenny Chang and Leonie Nguroho scored doubles and newcomer Ahere Hapi completed the scoring with a Lionel Messi-like wonder goal. Victoria Bowers-Mason and Rachel Durie were magnificent and consistent in defence.

The girls have a cup quarterfinal this weekend away to Claudelands Rovers.