Waitakere still hanging in
Wai’s words: Waitakere’s Chris Bale is tackled by WaiBOP’s Alexis Varela in yesterday’s ASB Premiership match at Fred Taylor Park. WAITAKERE UTD WAIBOP UTD 2 1 PLAY-OFF chasing Waitakere United have given themselves a boost in the bid to extend their season, defeating fellow contenders WaiBOP United thanks to an injury-time strike yesterday.
Substitute Derice Richards provided the dramatic finish at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland but it was their goalkeeper Danny Robinson who was the player of the match.
WaiBOP enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and took the lead when former Waitakere player Chad Coombes hit home a Robbie Greenhalgh pull-back in the 14th minute. Both sides offered little going forward in the remainder of the half but Waitakere did manage to haul themselves level, Tom Biss tucking away Dylan Manickum’s low cross at the far post on 23 minutes.
Substitute Dylan Stansfield had several opportunities for the visitors in the second spell but was denied by a goal-line clearance from Harshae Raniga and some brilliant saves from Robinson, without whom the West Aucklanders would surely have emerged on the losing end.
As the clock ticked down, WaiBOP looked the most likely to pinch all three points but Richards broke their hearts by nudging a loose ball under young goalkeeper Danyon Drake with one of the last kicks of the match.
‘‘It developed into an open game which is not really what we wanted,’’ Waitakere coach Brian Shelley said.
‘‘It could have finished 9-8 but Robbo has pulled off some wonderful saves for us.’’