Scoreless draw is a win

Tokoroa’s first soccer team travelled to Matamata to complete the first half of their season.

With a depleted lineup due to injuries and work commitments, coach Darren Mantheys’ instructions for the day were to ‘‘dig-deep and cover your team-mates’’.

These tactics from a resolute 11 Tokoroa players, with a strong defensive effort through the middle, and the return of ex-pat Jason Boyce adding some aggression, mixed with skill in the midfield as well.

Coach Mantheys’ worst fears were realised with 25 minutes to play – an injury to an out-of-form Des Phillips reduced Tokoroa to 10 men as they already used their one substitute.

The character of this team shone through as they held on for the rest of the match.

Full credit to goalkeeper Zak Cos- grove who thwarted all aerial attacks and pulled off an outstanding diving save in the dying minutes to keep Tokoroa in the game with his man- of- the- match performance in goal.

From there Tokoroa held on for the scoreless draw gaining a crucial away point.

At the halfway point of the season Tokoroa sit mid-table with 3 wins 3 draws and 4 losses.

Tokoroas social men’s team travelled to Cambridge and also secured a point with a 1-1 draw.

The goal was scored by Gary Roycroft and their player of the day was awarded to John Reid, this also sees this newly formed team sitting midtable in the Waikato D league, a great effort from a bunch of guys who love their football as much as the after-match function.