Corrales throws Upper Hutt a lifeline
A LUIS CORRALES-inspired Upper Hutt City revived hopes of avoiding Central League relegation by securing a muchneeded 4-3 win over Lower Hutt City at Fraser Park on Saturday.
Sitting on just one point and staring relegation in the face, lastplaced Upper Hutt began the game with an intensity fuelled by desperation for a result.
However, Lower Hutt struck first after Nathaniel Hailemariam squared a ball for Jack Imray to cooly convert for a 1-0 lead.
It didn’t take Upper Hutt long to reply when just 10 minutes later, Corrales beat two men before slotting home to even the ledger.
Just after the half hour mark, Lower Hutt’s newest recruit, striker Jean Carlo Estrada, was unlucky not to score as his header was kept out by the crossbar.
Corrales continued to be a menace for the Lower Hutt backline and was rewarded two minutes after the break when he brought down a long ball and rolled it under the keeper for a 2-1 lead.
Lower Hutt replied through Scott Henderson shortly afterwards but Corrales produced another deft touch on the hour mark to put Upper Hutt ahead again and complete his hat-trick.
The end of the game was marred with controversy when Hailemariam hammered home the equaliser with 15 minutes to go despite looking a metre offside. Upper Hutt pulled in front with five minutes to go courtesy of Steven Thomas before Corrales was given his marching orders by referee Bryan Botha for a dangerous tackle.
There was more controversy in the last play of the game as an altercation between Upper Hutt’s Phil Patterson and Hailemariam saw both players red carded but Upper Hutt held on.
Elsewhere, Wellington Olympic got back to winning ways after four straight losses and a turbulent week that saw coach Mick Waitt sacked on Tuesday.
A goal to Sam Blackburn proved to be enough in a 1-0 win over Petone. The finish was sublime as the ball was cut back to the top of the box where a waiting Blackburn hit the ball first time and into the back of the net off the crossbar.
Palmerston North Marist backed up last week’s 3-0 win over Olympic with a 3-2 victory over Wairarapa United in Palmerston North. A brace to Tom Mosquera and goal to Fin Milne cancelled out one by Wairarapa’s Hamish Watson to move the Manawatu side into fourth spot.