Weekend Football wrap up

Week 1 Football Wrap

Lotto Central Federation League

After what seemed like an eternity the Lotto Central Federation League finally kicked off for 2020 with the action starting with two games Saturday followed by two Sunday. 

On Saturday a new look Isles Construction Massey University FC squad with 7 players on debut had the big task of heading to the Hawke’s Bay to take on last season’s Champions the Building King Havelock North Wanderers. In end the Champions got a 92ndminute goal through super-sub Chris Greatholder to break Massey hearts and get their title defence off to a perfect start, winning 1-0. In the other Saturday match GJ Gardner Homes Whanganui Athletic hosted the newly promoted Levin AFC side at Wembley Park. Athletic got their campaign off to a flying start by winning 5-0 with Braces from Joshua Smith and Perry Stewart off the bench with Joshua Ngapeka getting the remaining mono. 

Sunday saw last season’s runners up Alexander Electric Napier Marist host Breakers Red Sox Manawatu with the game ending 1-1. Both goals scored within seven minutes of each other in the second half with Matthew Hilson netting for Red Sox and Mustafa Can for Napier. Lastly the final match of the round was at Yarrow stadium in Taranaki with the hosts Peggy Gordons New Plymouth Rangers going down 0-2 to Watsons Palmerston North Marist. With the match being very even Rangers were guilty of not taking some good early chances and were punished by Jordon Joblin-Hall who finished with a daily double. The second a left foot thunder bolt that smashed in off the crossbar and left Rangers Keeper in the statue position. 

North End had the Bye for the opening round and I’m sure they can’t wait to get started this weekend when they host Whanganui Athletic at Memorial Park. With no games in Manawatu in Round 1 the local supporters probably can’t wait either and they’ll have three matches to choose from In Palmerston North next weekend with the remaining game in Levin.

Federation Women’s League 2020

After an uncertain road leading into the Women’s Federation League this season it was nice to be able to have our teams in action at the weekend.

Moturoa made a storming start to their first season in the Federation League with an empathetic win over last seasons resurgent Football Whanganui team.  Finding the back of the net 7 unanswered times, Moturoa have sounded their intent for this season and are looking early contenders.

Last season’s runners up for the League, Taradale AFC played out a 1-1 draw with Massey University in their opening match.  Taradale took the lead early in the first half of play with Massey’s Reyes Chi securing the draw in the 49th minute earning both sides an equal share in points.

The day everyone had been waiting for finally arrived last weekend as we got senior football going in 2020 with the action starting Saturday with the men’s followed by the women’s on Sunday.
 

Yorb Taranaki Men's Premiership

We’ll start with the Yorb Taranaki Men’s Premiership where defending Champions Flooring Design Moturoa travelled to take on Proglaze Waitara. Moturoa getting off to the perfect start in their title defend with the 6-1 win, Braces from Corbin Richardson and 2019 Men’s Player of the Year Hayden Murray. Last season’s runners up Rampage Fitness FC Western started well too with a 4-1 win over Spectrum Decorating Woodleigh and likewise by third place in 2019 NPBHS 1st XI who had a great win down South against Smith & Sons Eltham 2-4 with German international student Finn Hellberg picking up a double. Peringa United coming off their Duff Rosebowl win in 2019 flew out of the blocks with a 6-1 win over Rough Habits Hawera with a pair of goals each from Colin Campbell and Pacey Healy. Finally Kitchen Draw Inglewood are looking to have a great season with a hard fought 2-3 victory over NP Rangers at Merrilands Domain, Joel Stewart with two goals for the visitors. 

Taranaki Men's Championship

The Taranaki Men’s Championship saw 2019 Champions Millwards Roofing FC Western pick up the early season win 5-1 over Woodleigh with youngster Cody Buck picking up a Hat-Trick on debut for the club. Last year’s runners ups TreeHouse NP Rangers had their first successful Challenge Trophy defence with a 5-2 win over Inglewood, Braces from Jonathan Martin and Jared Wilson. NPBHS 2nd XI got a huge 0-8 win down at Taumata Park against Eltham with doubles from Scott Manning and Daniel Dornan-Rouse. Bounceback Physio Peringa started their campaign well with a 3-1 home win over Mark Frost Electrical Hawera and in the final match the 2019 Division 1 Champions Kaitake FC 1sts showed they’ll be able to handle the step up in leagues with a 7-0 win over a youthful Jones Quarry Moturoa, James Bevington with a daily double for the hosts. 

Taranaki Men's Division 1

Taranaki Men’s Division 1 has seven teams involved this season with three matches played over the weekend. Hutchins Dick Peringa Pirates got the 1-4 win over FDMC Senior Team at the college with Brad Hickling getting straight back in the saddle netting two. NP Rangers Oddbodz had the tough first up travel down to Victoria Park to take on Wonder Minerials Kaponga where picking up a win is always difficult but they managed to do it 1-3 with a goal from Black Caps cricket player Tom Bruce for Rangers. The final match saw a 3-3 draw between KP Joinery Waitara and Withers Coachlines Moturoa, Thomas Onehi firing home a double for Waitara. McDonalds Stratford AFC had the Bye. 

 

Taranaki Men's Division 2

The Taranaki Men’s Division 2 had lots of goals scored over the weekend. Taranaki Thru Tubing NP Rangers defended their Challenge Trophy 4-3 over Inglewood, Paul Hamlin Build Eltham won 6-2 over Stratford, Kaitake FC 2nds got the win 6-3 over Town & Country Foods Waitara, FC Western 5-1 over Taranaki Tyre Torque Woodleigh and finally a hard fought 2-1 win for Pipeline Peringa against 4U Computers Solutions Hawera.

Tungsten Legal Taranaki Women's Premiership

On Sunday the Tungsten Legal Taranaki Women’s Premiership finally kicked back into life with the competition now being a 10 team league with last season’s Champions Withers Coachlines Moturoa moving into the Women’s Federation League. Last year’s runners up NPGHS Premier Women’s Team got off the a great start with a hard fought 2-0 win over Inglewood and in another hard fought battle EZE WASH NP Rangers got over the line 2-1 against Hipp Accounting Hawera. Liquid Beanz Peringa won 5-0 over Tungsten Legal Stratford with Rebecca Sumpter bagging two, Naki Electrical Waitara travelled down to Eltham and came home with a 0-9 win with Dana Phelan netting four. The final match was one sided with TSH Moturoa winning 0-19 over hosts Worley Woodleigh with Katherine Phipps scoring six goals and fellow Moturoa player Brooke Carter netting an impressive nine.