Men's Federation League:

Well this week we have to start with the huge result where league new comers Levin AFC have knocked over the defending Champions Building King Havelock North Wanderers 1-0. Donnelly Park in Levin hosted its first ever Lotto Central Federation League match and the home side went up early in the 2nd minute through Jessie Skinner, a lead they would keep for the rest of the match. Peggy Gordons NP Rangers picked up their first win for the season with a 3-5 away win against Isles Construction Massey University FC at the Institute of Sport Massey fields. Rangers had a 1-5 lead going into the last 10 minutes which saw Massey push for a dramatic ending but the deficit was too great to run down. GJ Gardner Homes Whanganui Athletic backed up their strong win in the opening round with a great 0-4 away win against North End at Memorial Park. Lastly in the first even Lotto Central Federation League match to be played on a turf pitch PN Marist got a big 7-0 win over Alexander Electric Napier Marist in the Marist derby at Arena Manawatu. Nicholas Carrick rocketed home a four goal haul with Troye Aitken netting a brace for the hosts. 

The last two games mentioned saw the two league leaders emerge from the pack and keep 100% records and be tied on the top of the ladder with an equal 9+ goal difference. Red Sox having the Bye in Round 2 now have the tough task of hosting one of these leaders in Whanganui Athletic this weekend coming and Massey will need to try and bounce back against the other in PN Marist.

Women's Federation League:

It was a weekend of close scorelines in the Women's Federation League this weekend, that ultimately ended with Moturoa retaining their top spot on the table, with Taradale nipping at their heels.An early goal between Taradale and Football Whanganui, with a 17th minute strike from Cara O'Neill proving the difference between the two teams, who spent the majority of the match testing each other’s defences. Keeping the score line closer than the previous week would have been comforting for Football Whanganui, but they search for their first competition points, while Taradale are setting themselves up for a return to last season’s form.In the Taranaki, it was single goal to the home team that helped them grab the three points from the visiting Massey team. Another tightly fought battle between two dynamic teams, Moturoa are making plenty of noise on their return to the premiere women's competition, and don't yet look like they're letting up, while Massey would have been disappointed not to have at least shared the points on the weekend after a great start to their season.

Manawatu Weekly Football review – Round 1

June 13^th and 14^th

The weather looked miserable and the groans were pulpable as we issued the “weather watch” on Friday. But oh me, oh my what a weekend of weather we got!

Here’s my thoughts on what went down this weekend.

PS – please send in photos and/or videos of your action, we would love to post them.

YORB Horizons Premiership

In the battle of the building construction companies JPAC took on GJ Gardner. To be fair this turned into a right proper game! Hokowhitu taking the lead, getting and injury and Athletic coming home strong to take it 3-2. Real gritty match by both squads. Whanganui currently coloured in Red and Black. Not to let Athletic have all the fun and keeping the building theme Versatile Wanganui FC hosted Massey University on a good looking Wembley Park. Students even got off to a flyer taking and earlier lead. But…. a 15 minute spell that saw City virtually unplayable took swung the game in the home sides advantage. Prolific goal scorer Ants Bell netting and brace and youngster Josh Rod cutting his teeth and netting for the largely changed City Side. The 6-3 score line showing City are a force to be reckoned with. Chillmax Takaro put in a far improved shift and were deserved of their early lead when Darrian Stead slotted just after 6 minutes had been played. But the green and white juggernaut kept on coming and eventually wore the home side down to take it 2-1. In my game of the round North End played PNBHS and we might now say that boys high are developing nicely. The game was competitive and North Ends experience clearly showed but the youngsters continued to knock on the door and scored 3 goals in 7 minutes to put the game away. If you read the article last week you would have read Ben Mori’sname and again this week he gets mentioned with a second half brace. Breakers Reserves hosted Feilding and the game was tightly contested. Feilding finding themselves playing reserve teams able to call on 1^st team squad members due to byes for a second week in a row. Paul “Diesel” Dalzell proving the difference snatching the win in the 90^th minute!

Round two key match: The Battle of Wembley, Athletic v City. This derby is as looked forward to as Christmas dinner, two teams performing well early and wont want to let their neighbours get one up on them.

360 Logistics Championship.

Red Sox A’s hosted Feilding Reserves on a decent looking Skoglund pitch and this one turned out to be one for the neutral. A 5 goal thriller, Laudadio back on target for the A’s but club stalwart Blair Funnell for Feilding ensured all three points went to the visitors. Chillmax Takaro reserves had the unenviable task of trying to control the rampant Jokers, its just too hard a task at the moment with Jokers scoring 8! The only thing more difficult at the moment is getting Maddison to send in a in focus picture of his team sheet! In my game of the round North End Veterans  hosted the PNBHS reserves and the game went like this…. PNBHS had all the ball and literally put North end under the pump, North end gritted their teeth and said no way kids your not scoring! James Bell saves a penalty at 1-1, Juddy Wallace makes a last ditch tackle and then knocks a ball onto a dime and wham, 2-1! North End are like thieves in the night, PNBHS scratch their heads! Levin reserves hosted the students on a picturesque Donnelly Park and it was like student v professor. 7-0 to the home side and much thinking to do for the students on the trip home.

Round 2 key match: Jokers v Veterans on the Celaeno. This should be a cracker and if you’re a neutral get down to this one.

Manawatu Division 2

Wrinklies hosted the students late on Saturday, Celaeno awash with the sounds of football. Wrinklies relentless in their pursuit of……footballing comradeship. Play to win, play fair and above all enjoy the game. Wrinklies fine ambassadors beating the students 5-3 in a very watchable match. Linton 1sts decided to drill the Greenies into submission and went about their work with military precision. Linton comfortable winners 4-0. Resonant Masters hosted Levin Sport and although they tried to make it difficult Sport were good value for their 3-0 win on the day. Levin 3rds hosted the new Marist side DnB and could only manage a draw at home. The new boys picking up first points to get off the mark.

Manawatu Division 3

The Celts were to good on the day for North End Socials with a tidy 4-1 win. Bailey Wynd one of four to score for the green and white.  Linton and Fury played out the game of the round. Linton taking it 4-3. Jonathon O’Brien scoring a brace but couldn’t snatch it for Fury. Inter looking for back-to-back promotions were given a helping hand with OG scoring two of their four on the day. 😊  Massey Athletic looking “dustier than an unwiped windowsill from last September” (quote Massey Athletic match report) were able to get the job done against Saints. Narrowly taking the game 2-1. 

Manawatu Division 4 

DSC Rangers hosted the Plunderers and my old school mate Brian Thomas managed to get on the scoresheet a brace from Karl Radford also didn’t hurt. I would like to bring you the Rangers scorers but they weren’t listed…..

Levin Development lost narrowly at home to Jesters while Glory and Hustlers played out a 8 goal thriller. Hustlers taking it with a Ryan Stockley hat-trick. 

Masters

Finally, a masters league! 

The below screen capture was one of my favourite things over the weekend! So good.

Feilding got a cheeky win 2-1 over Shamrock Rovers. A Cameron Greenless penalty in the 1^st minute setting Feilding on its way. Breakers RSM Legends sent Levin AFC home with their tails between their legs with a 6-0 display that had Bruce Duncan smiling ear to ear. Good to see Ben Mathews on the scoresheet after a spell away from the game. My mates RSM Old Boys just ran out of legs….Sorry Steve Parry it had to be said. 5-2 to Banshees, beer’s tasted good after the match.

Manawatu Women’s Premiership

Mayhem caused exactly that out at a sunny Massey on Sunday. The Marist side sprinkled with players that could easily dominate in higher league pulled the strings all afternoon. Paige Charlton and young McKenna Chittenden both had strong games. J-Hud and Renee at the back were a delightful foil for each other. Massey had patches of good play and will test Mayhem in the second round. North End and Evergreenz played out a tight encounter with a Charlotte Hunt goal securing all three points for North End. Feilding hit the road to Levin and the hosts proved too strong on Sunday taking the match 4-1.

Manawatu Women’s Championship

Mysteries and Avengers played out a good match with the result just falling Mysteries way 2-1. Hawks v Clovers was close run thing even at a 3-0 score line. Misfits and North End proving far too strong on the day for their opposition.

Chillmax Takaro v PN Marist Jokers

Photo Credit: Takaro Facebook

Article added: Tuesday 16 June 2020