Keepers snare match awards
Table-topping league favourites Cambridge provide a stern test for the first team
The Waipa Aluminium Te Awamutu AFC first team and Under-23 team backed by Property Brokers Diana Manutai took on Waipā neighbours Cambridge FC in Saturday football at Te Awamutu Stadium.
First Team
The table-topping Cambridge team have been considered favourites to win the league this year.
The Te Awamutu first team knew they had to dig deeper to try to get something from this game.
Cambridge struggled to break through a spirited midfield and defence, and when they did, young Ryan Cole, with the aid of the post or crossbar on a couple of occasions, kept Cambridge out.
A lofted free kick by Mike Roberts found its way to the Cambridge goalkeeper, who somehow managed to drop the ball unchallenged.
The ball then landed at Giulio Bernasconi’s feet, who put the ball in the back of the net, making it 1-0 to Te Awamutu.
Halftime approached, and the home side took the slim lead into the sheds, knowing the job wasn’t done.
Cambridge came out firing but still struggled to make anything count until the 72nd minute, when Te Awamutu failed to clear their lines and Cambridge drew level at 1-1.
Cambridge then got a sniff for a goal — and hit three in quick succession.
The game finished 4-1 in favour of the away team, but the spirit of Te Awamutu showed that there is still plenty to play for in this league.
The man of the match went to goalkeeper Cole.
This week, the first team hit the road to take on Pāpāmoa.
Under-23
It was a game that saw the return of Craig Hedges to the squad, alongside Oliver Gold. Jared Drabble took the captain’s armband in place of the injured Aaron Cole.
Drabble looked to set the tempo for the Te Awamutu boys, controlled from the back by Hedges.
It was a game in which the Te Awamutu boys showed how this new, young crew were starting to develop.
Everyone worked tirelessly. Tommy Edgar, a crowd favourite, was also back in the mix, returning from injury but when he found himself in front of goal at a crucial moment, he was unable to capitalise.
Cambridge had taken a 2-0 lead at halftime, and against the league leaders, a final score of 3-0 left the Under-23 squad with their heads held high moving into the weekend’s game against Pāpāmoa.
Division Two
The J&J Construction and Fencing-sponsored division two side, backed by the Oval Bar, took on Claudelands in the Waikato Cup.
It was a game that didn’t go the way of the visiting Te Awamutu team, with Claudelands securing their place in the next round, while Te Awamutu now find themselves continuing in the battle for the Plate, currently held by Te Awamutu AFC Over-35s.
Anaru Boyack took out the Burger Fuel MVP award with another solid performance.
Over-35
Unbeaten in the league, the Te Awamutu AFC Storyteller Eatery & Bar Over-35 team turned their attention to the first game of the Waikato knockout competition, one in which they memorably won the Plate final the year before.
The game against torohanga also meant the Bailey Miezenbeek Shield was on the line, always at stake in clashes between these clubs.
The 5-0 victory meant Te Awamutu added the Shield to their evergrowing trophy cabinet.
torohanga, the holders of the Shield, started with a youthful and enthusiastic line-up, but it was the Summit Scaffolding-supported Te Awamutu team that made all the early running.
The eventual reward for that dominance came through a powerful strike from the ever-menacing Jono O’Sullivan.
The Te Awamutu midfield was in total control, with captain Chris Cousins shining in a powerful display.
A through ball to fellow midfielder Blerim Buddla allowed Buddla to use his patented front-of-the-foot technique and score a second goal.
While two more goals from O’Sullivan, earning a well-deserved hat-trick, sandwiched a strike from the silky Liam Foster, it was defender Euan McLeod who was rewarded with BurgerFuel MVP of the match in another imperious display.
Junior
Junior football kicks off this weekend with the club fielding 35 junior teams and 60+ members starting the McDonald’s-led Zealand Football Expleo Butchery programme.
Expleo is on board to provide all participants with a football kit. Brandit.kiwi has also jumped in this year to be the ¯officialO merchandise operator of the club, not only building on their already strong connection but also taking a load off the club.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a few months for the committee, securing funding for new equipment, uniforms and upgrading the facilities.
One major project finished this week after some preparation work by Euan McLeod, Simon Brdanovic and Chris Cousins, all chipping in with Andrew Nielson taking the helm on the digger.
The final piece was like a scene out of Mario Bros with the DunnRight electrical and plumbing team scurrying up the pole to get the lights fitted.
A whole new area of the fields is now available for junior use.