Cup dreams end in defeat for Miramar, Upper Hutt
Lingering thoughts of what might have been will no doubt be lingering in the minds of two Wellington football teams.
Miramar Rangers fell at the semifinal stage of the Chatham Cup yesterday following a 3-1 loss to Birkenhead United, while Upper Hutt City almost caused a massive upset before losing 1-0 to two-time defending women’s Knockout Cup champions Glenfield Rovers in their semifinal on Saturday.
Miramar’s coach Wiremu Patrick could only watch on as his side squandered a number of good chances to equalise in the second half, before Birkenhead substitute Ethan Galbraith - a former Lower Hutt City player - scored his side’s decisive third goal with 10 minutes remaining at Shepherds Park.
‘‘It was an entertaining game for the neutral, I think both teams created a lot of chances,’’ Patrick said.
‘‘For us, we probably didn’t take the ones at crucial times of the game and we probably didn’t play as well as we know we can, so a little bit disappointing in that regard.
‘‘Both teams like to chance their arms at time and I think today was their day - they finished their chances and we didn’t.’’
There was also disappointment for Upper Hutt, although for different reasons.
No-one gave them a hope of challenging Glenfield, based on the fact that the last time they made it to this stage of the competition, back in 2009, they were hammered 10-0 by Lynn Avon.
But going into halftime at 0-0 at McFetridge Park on Saturday, they could dare to dream of a boilover.
It was not to be, with Glenfield’s star striker Katie Rood coming up with a piece of individual brilliance to score the lone goal of the game in the 68th minute.
That left Upper Hutt assistant coach Lisa Gibson with mixed emotions.
‘‘We’re super proud of the fact we did so well, but we possibly could have nicked it and that would have been even better. We had a couple of half chances in the first half, and all it came down to was a bit of composure in front of goal.’’
Both Miramar and Upper Hutt had a sense of pride in what they had accomplished by getting this far.
For Miramar, they played all six of their Chatham Cup games away from home this year, racking up 2300 kilometres of travel (as the crow flies).
‘‘We’ve done well to get to this point and we can’t forget that, obviously there was a lot of travel involved and that’s never easy,’’ Patrick said.
For Upper Hutt, it was a matter of such a massive improvement since 2009.
‘‘We knew we had to lift for what was always going to be a very strong side, but the girls just played out of their skins. Heaps of heart and passion.’’
Birkenhead will face Waitakere City in the Chatham Cup final at North Harbour Stadium on September 11 after the latter hammered Three Kings United 6-1 in the other semifinal on Sunday.
Before that final at the same ground, Glenfield will play North Shore rivals Forrest Hill-MIlford United, who beat Christchurch’s Cashmere Technical 6-0 on Saturday.