Te Puke and O¯ tumoetai share spoils
TFOOTBALL
e Puke Utd men’s team shared the spoils after a good battle with O¯ tumoetai last Saturday in the WAIBOP Championship. The first half was back and forth with both teams having plenty of chances to take the lead, but struggling to finish numerous opportunities. Good saves from both goalkeepers saw the game scoreless at halftime.
The second half showed much the same with good football leading to multiple chances. As the game went on players started to get a bit frustrated and fatigue set in as the yellow cards started coming out.
Te Puke finally got a breakthrough in the 85th minute as Emiliano Piedrabuena had a tidy finish from a set piece. The home team, wanting something from this game, fired up and pushed until when in the 90th minute they equalised after a cross was headed in by Jack Finn.
Player of the day went to Matthew Morison for his defensive performance. The men play at home next Saturday with Hamilton Wanderers the visitors to Litt Park. The game kicks off at 12.30pm.
Te Puke’s women’s team made it four in a row after competitive game away to Kawerau that could have gone either way.
Te Puke started strongly, dominating the play, and within two minutes, a strong shot was deflected, sending the keeper one way as the ball went the other, opening the scoring. Four minutes later, a nice solid through ball saw Chynna Davie make it 2-0. From the restart Te Puke regathered position, played some tidy football and following some onetwos, Samantha Parish got her first with a composed finish in the seventh minute.
Eleven minutes into the game Ashley Weld unleashed a stunning shot from 30m giving the keeper no chance. Going 4-0 up in such a short space of time, Te Puke seemed to relax, allowing Kawerau in to the game with two goals in reply.
Much like her first, Weld made it 5-2 in the 28th minute.
A determined Kawerau team kept pushing and got one back a few minutes later, followed by a strong press from Te Puke as Samantha Parish got her second after a tidy finish, making it 6-3.
The second half saw plenty of opportunities for both teams, but it was Kawerau who pulled another back making it 6-4 with five minutes to go, then a fifth just before the final whistle.
Player of the day was Samantha Parish.
Next Sunday the women’s team play Blue Rovers at Litt Park, kick off 12.30pm.
Te Puke’s newly formed over 35s team, Te Puke Classics, played in Omokoroa last Sunday to play Omokoroa Originals, going down 5-3.
Te Puke fell a couple of goals short, but showed a lot of effort.
The Classics’ next game will be on May 30.