WAIKATO BREAK HOME GROUND

HOODOO

by Bruce Holloway at Waikato Stadium
nzfc.co.nz

Waikato FC have finally won a New Zealand Football Championship match at home this season.

Waikato beat Otago 3-1 at Waikato Stadium, breaking a run of three consecutive losses at a venue which has been less than fortress-like this summer.

But for vast chunks of the afternoon, the match seemed destined to finish scoreless.

While both teams had periods of domination, and even the odd sweet combination, too much of the play was simply not worthy of a goal.

In fairness that was often due to the greasy surface after intermittent rain, while Otago also set the tone for the day with a determined hard-running approach in which they were able to prompt – and then feed off – Waikato mistakes.

Otago were unlucky not to be at least a goal ahead approaching the final quarter, though it must be said their finishing had a distinctive bottom-of-the-table look to it.

The game belatedly came alive in the final 10 minutes (plus four minutes of stoppage time). Waikato, having barely managed a shot all game, blasted three quick goals and then just to ice a mad-cap finish, Otago bounced back with a consolation effort in injury time.

Substitute Joe Simpkins broke the deadlock in the 80th minute by lashing home a first-time shot from outside the area after the ball had spilled to him following a throw-in from Stu Watene. He had only been on the pitch seven minutes. The goal was remarkably similar in its approach and trajectory to Sam Wilkinson’s a week earlier.

Three minutes later Waikato skipper Rob Gill produced a brilliant solo effort. There was a suggestion of off-side at the outset, but he collected the ball on the right, twisted his way infield past a couple of defenders and curled a left footer into the top corner to make it 2-0. It was an accomplished finish from a striker who knew what he was doing.

Then in the 85th minute referee Mike Hester awarded a penalty on the advice of his assistant when Luke Findley tied himself in knots in seeking to control the ball, and collapsed under a challenge from Otago keeper Liam Little.

Otago struck back in injury time, when substitute John Lang sweetly headed home from about the penalty spot a pinpoint right wing cross from Mike Smith.

Waikato coach Roger Wilkinson was happy to finally have a home win but acknowledged it wasn’t pretty.

"Unlike most people, I knew Otago would not be easy," he said. "Sometimes in football your wins are untidy.

"In some respects I feel we played better against Waitakere and Auckland, but it was hard graft today. I know we will get better."

Otago rued a glaring miss from former Waikato striker Brad Scott in the 70th minute, though goals apart, seemed to have Waikato well contained at the other end.

It was Otago’s fifth loss in six outings, and left assistant coach Mike Fridge cold.

"I can’t believe we lost 3-1," he said. "I thought we were the better team. At the very worst, maybe we should have got a point. We created a lot of chances. Had we gone 1-0 up we would have won.

"I can’t fault the boys. We came here with a positive game plan. It is a thin line between winning and losing. This is a real kick in the teeth."

Player-coach Terry Phelan was best for Otago with a cultured midfield performance.

For Waikato, David Samson recovered from a sloppy start to turn in a solid performance at right back. Waikato’s left flank was seldom productive enough, though Aaron Scott worked hard in an unfamiliar central midfield role.

Photos: Tony Whitehead www.wildlight.co.nz