vs Rolleston A

This game was our last game of the season. It had been cancelled twice before but we finally got a fine day to get it played.

Last time we played Rolleston (Selwyn) was the first game of the season. We were unlucky on that day only to draw, but this wasn't the case this week. Rolleston got this use of the wind and used it well to constantly keep us pinned down in our half. They had numerous chances but our defense was up to the pressure. Unfortunately in the 15th minute we missed one tackle that let them score. This sparked our team into action which eventually let to our equaliser in the 23rd minute. After the ball bounced around in their penalty area, Josh N was on hand to score his first goal of the season. Rolleston should have finished the half one up after a near miss. In a goalmouth melee, Rolleston's shot almost crossing the line and with them running off to celebrate, our team kicked it clear to save the day! 1 all was a good result for us, especially with our turn to use the strong wind.

Rolleston started the better of the two teams in the second half when a through ball held up in the wind allowing their striker to lob Elliot to give them back the lead in the 6th minute. From this point in the game, we totally dominated. Bailey scored the equaliser in the 15th minute and Conrad added 2 goals just before the end to complete a fabulous victory. Conrad's first goal in the 23rd minute was from a corner by Finn that he met with his head in the 6 metre box and gave them no chance. He added his second in the 27th minute after a quick break and fine finish.

Elliot again was strong in goal. Eddie, Josh B, Hugo and Jarred were determined in defence, Josh M and Bailey provided great service from the wings, Antonio, Cameron, Finn, Josh N and George worked well in the midfield, with Conrad and Joseph working hard up front.

This was a great way to finish the season. The second half of this game was one of our best performances throughout the whole season (easily comparable with the first half of the second Burnside game). We used the wind well to our advantage and didn't let the dangerous Rolleston strikers many opportunities. It was really pleasing to our supporters, and the players themselves, when Conrad slotted the final 2 goals to cement the win!

Josh N for his first half goal and excellent play was named our Player of the Day.

Score: 4-2
Goals: Conrad (2), Baailey, Josh N
Player of the Day: Josh N

vs Woolston Technical A

This game was finally played after being cancelled twice before.

It has been 4 weeks since our last game and our lack of match play really showed. We were totally outplayed by a team that will finish in the top 2 for the grade. We left our worst game of the season until today. We started badly and were 2-0 down after only 7 minutes. We managed to start to play a bit better until the 19th minute when Tech scored their third. They add another from the kick off and a fifth 5 minutes later. In the end we were lucky just to be 5-0 down at half time!

The second half we played much better. We started to make a few inroads into their half and put pressure on their defense. It took Tech until the 23 minute of the half to add their last goal. The team in this half started competing for the ball and made Tech work much harder to gain possession of the ball.  We managed to have 4 or 5 shots on goal but never really threatened. Tech however had a number of chances, but the defense kept them out, along with a some fine saves by our stand-in keeper Conrad.

Conrad toiled hard up front in the first half and in goal in the second. Jarrod competed well in the back and never gave up. Antonio ran himself ragged in both halves, both in attack and defense, making a number of telling tackles when Tech looked promising. Josh B, Josh N, Josh M, Eddie, Cameron, Joseph, George, Finn and Hugo all had their moments but overall weren't consistent enough on the day to make the result different.

Overall a very disappointing game and result for the team who are capable of much better. Next week is our last game and hopefully we can improve on this performance to finish the season on a high against Rolleston.

Antonio for his commitment throughout the game was named our Player of the Day.

Score: 0-6
Goals: N/A
Player of the Day: Antonio

vs Rolleston A

This game was cancelled again due to SNOW!!!

The weather forecast is much better for the coming week, so fingers crossed!!!

Score: N/A
Goals: N/A
Player of the Day: N/A

vs Woolston Technical A

This catch-up game was cancelled due to wet weather leading up to the game and on the day!!!

The weather forecast is not great for the next catch-up game either. They are talking about SNOW again :-(

Score: N/A
Goals: N/A
Player of the Day: N/A

vs Rolleston A

This game was cancelled due to wet weather leading up to the game and on the day!!!

The weather forecast is not great the next game either :-(

Score: N/A
Goals: N/A
Player of the Day: N/A

vs Western B

This game was played in wet and muddy conditions at Barrington Park. Luckily the rain stopped early to make it more pleasant for the players and spectators, although the goalmouths at both ends were very bad making it difficult for both goalkeepers.

From the kickoff both teams tried to move the ball around the pitch. We made a number of attacks into their box and were finally rewarded in the 11th minute with a headed goal by Joseph from a cross (a fine effort and one that has been a long time coming). We continued to dominate up front and at the back but Western were controlling the midfield. They too were rewarded for this dominance with a goal after 21 minutes when a shot from outside the box skidded through Elliot. Conrad managed to regain our lead in the 26th minute after a goalmouth scramble. 2-1 at halftime was a true reflection of the half.

The second half started like the first with us having a number of half chances but unable to finish them. Finally in the 15th minute Conrad made a break and finished well. This was the start of our total dominance. The midfield was starting to win all the ball and eventually a loose ball landed at Finn's feet and he calmly volleyed into the goal in the 20th minute. Three minutes later Antonio found himself free outside the box and expertly beat the defender and slotted the ball into the right-hand corner. Our celebrations were short lived as Western scored their second goal after a quick break and a good finish just 2 minutes later.

This wasn't the end of the goal rush as in the 27th minute Bailey in his own half laid off a great ball to Antonio who used his speed to beat 3 defenders and calmly slot the ball wide of the keeper. With just one minute left after a goalmouth scramble Antonio found himself with the ball which he put past their keeper. He may have been in an offside position but he played to the whistle and was rewarded with his first hat-trick.

Overall a great game by the team in trying conditions. Elliot was strong in goal, with only one lapse, Josh B, Eddie, Cameron, Hugo and Jarrod great in defense. Bailey, Josh M, George and Finn got better as the game wore on, with Joseph, Conrad and Antonio tormenting their defense with a number of telling runs and finishes. With 5 goals in the last 10 minutes, we showed that we kept pressuring the opposition until the end and were rewarded with a solid win.

With his 3 goals and tireless running, Antonio was named our Player of the Day.

Score: 7-2
Goals: Antonio (3), Conrad (2), Finn, Joseph
Player of the Day: Antonio

vs Woolston Technical A

This game was cancelled due to wet weather leading up to the game and the predicted bad weather that eventually happened around 1pm. Nice snow!

Roll on some fine weather and some football after the holiday break!

Score: N/A
Goals: N/A
Player of the Day: N/A

vs Burnside B

This game was played in atrocious conditions, with cold driving rain, but in the end was a excellent game, with both teams playing good attacking football.

Cashmere controlled the game right from the start. Burnside hardly made it into our half. We scored first in the 7th minute after Antonio's shot from outside the area was too hard to handle. Burnside managed to equalise in the 12th minute after a good break and even better finish. That was the end of them looking like scoring in the half. Conrad managed to score a hat-trick before the 20th minute. Concerted attacks were finished off by Conrad who was the quickest to the loose ball. 4-1 up at halftime was a true reflection of the half and b far our best of the season.

The talk at halftime was to keep it going but unfortunately the tide turned with them scoring three times, in the 6th, 11 and 19th minutes (the last from a penalty after an unfortunate handball in the box). Just when it looked like that Burnside was about to take the game away from us, Conrad managed to score his 4th in the 24th minute from another loose ball in the box and Bailey sealed the win with a good goal with 2 minutes left (after taking on the entire defense down the right flank and his byline cross bouncing off their keeper into the goal).

Elliot again was strong in goal, especially in the conditions. Eddie, Josh B, Jarrod, Josh N, Hugo and Cameron worked hard in defense cutting off a number of attacks. George, Finn, Bailey and Josh M controlled the midfield and Conrad and Antonio caused havoc in the goal box with their speed and aggression.

Two moments in the game showed the teams commitment. Firstly Antonio annoyed the ref wouldn't pull up the Burnside player who continually held him back, shoved him to the ground (much to his teams amusement - although not in the true spirit of the game, it did look funny and the player thought twice before he did it again) and Hugo using his nose in the dying minutes to stop a potential goal when Burnside were swarming towards goal. Both these showed the teams desire to win today in conditions that most teams would have given up in.

For his hard work and aggressive play up front and his 4 well taken goals, Conrad was named Player of the Day.

Score: 6-4
Goals: Conrad (4), Antonio, Bailey
Player of the Day: Conrad

vs Burwood A

Burwood last week beat the previously undefeated Woolston Tech, so this game was always going to be hard.

We started well putting pressure on them early and were rewarded with a goal from a corner after 6 minutes. Bailey drove the corner hard and flat along the goal line and their keeper couldn't handle it and dropped it into the net. This buoyed our team who continued to fight for the ball and gave their dangerous attackers no time to settle. Unfortunately we weren't able to keep them out, and they managed to get the equaliser in the 18th minute. This remained the score until halftime.

This score line shocked Burwood who were pretty confident of an easy game. They came out much stronger in the second half and finally hit the lead in the 6th minute. It wasn't until the 26 minute that they finally added a third. This 2 goal lead was short lived after George added a goal in the 27th minute after a scramble on the edge of the box, possibly from an offside position. :-)

Burwood however weren't finished as they added their 4th in the 28th minute after a fine break down the right and an even better finish.

Overall, this was a great result for the team as Burwood look a very strong team and capable of winning the grade. Elliot played well in goal, especially with Burwood's many attacks, Eddie, Josh B, Jarrod, Cameron and Hugo performed well in defense, George,  Finn, Bailey, Josh M and Josh N toiled in the midfield, with Antonio, Conrad and Joseph working well up front.

All in all, it was a good game for our team, despite the loss. For his hard work in defense, Josh B was named Player of the Day.

Score: 2-4
Goals: Bailey, George
Player of the Day: Josh B

vs Avon B

Today's game was a game of two halves. The first half we were well and truly outplayed and the 2nd we totally dominated. Unfortunately, this was not reflected in the final score!

The team started confidently. Avon however started to apply pressure on our defense with some good interchanges and committed aggression. They managed to score in the 8th, 14th and 18th minutes after a period of concerted attacks. The 3rd goal was rather fortunate in that a shot hit the crossbar and deflected in off Elliot. In this time we also hit the crossbar but it bounced out. That's football!

To the teams credit, they didn't drop their heads. In the 22nd minute they were rewarded with a goal after Antonio bet the offside trap and latched onto a through ball from George to score. Avon had a chance to extend the lead in the 24th minute when a penalty was given for a trip in the box. Elliot expertly saved the shot. 3-1 down at halftime was in the end a good result for us.

The 2nd half couldn't have been more different. We were in total control. The defense was strong and stopped all their attacks and of midfield was directing play. Up front we were causing all sorts of problems. Conrad managed to make a break and score in the 8th minute. We continued to apply the pressure and could easily have scored a couple of time, with some near misses and the posts saving Avon. In the end however, all this pressure and running around in defense caught up with the team and allowed Avon to score twice in the last 5 minutes. This was unfortunate as we did enough in the end to possibly come away with a draw.

Elliot was again strong in goal, including saving a penalty, Eddie, Josh B, Jarrod, Hugo and Josh N worked hard in defense. George, Finn, Bailey, Cameron and Josh M toiled in the midfield, with Joseph, Conrad and Antonio running all day up front. In the end we couldn't keep the pressure up for the full 60 minutes and Avon pounced on their opportunities to win.

For his hard work in defense, Eddie was named Player of the Day.

Score: 2-5
Goals: Antonio, Conrad
Player of the Day: Eddie

vs Ferrymead Bays B

Today's game was the first game of the second round and what a cracker it was!

It started in warm conditions with a strong Nor'West wind and by the end the cold Southerly was making its way towards us. The wind played havoc early with the ball not going where we expected. We played into it in the first half and it looked like we'd be able to turn around "even stevens", but this wasn't to be the the case. FB scored twice, first in the 24th and then again in the 28th minute of the half. Both goals were after fast breaks and good following up and aggression by their strikers.

The team talk at the halftime break must have made a difference. Conrad managed to score for us after 3 minutes to leave us 1 down. This was short lived however as FB scored again restored their 2 goal lead after 5 minutes after scramble in the box. We started to play better as the half wore on. Playing with the wind we managed to make a number of fast breaks, but couldn't quite finish. Antonio hit the bar, Joseph, George and Finn were all just wide with good shots and Conrad had a one on one well saved by their keeper. FB were not making the same impression in the attacking third as our defense tightened up.

Just when it all looked lost, Conrad managed another fast break and this time bet the keeper with a low shot into the corner of the net in the 26th minute. There were chances at both ends before with less than 10 seconds left Conrad found himself free well outside the box and with the supporters all shouting "SHOOT", he managed to get a shot on target that their keeper couldn't hold! What a way to score the equaliser! The ref then blew the whistle for fulltime and the team rejoiced in their great comeback.

Elliot was again strong in goal, Josh B, Eddie, Hugo and Jarrod contested well at the back, Bailey, Finn, George, Josh N and Josh M toiled hard in the midfield and Joseph, Antonio and Conrad ran all day up front. With Josh M working well on the left wing, both in defense and in attack, he was named our Player of the Day.

Score: 3-3
Goals: Conrad 3
Player of the Day: Josh M

vs Burwood A

Today's game was a "catch-up" from the cancelled game earlier in the season. This was going to be a hard game as Burwood were 2nd in the grade.

We started very strongly keeping them scoreless for the first 20 minutes. They played some amazing football but could quite finish off their numerous chances. Up front they had three very aggressive and skillful players who were always creating opportunities. Eventually they managed to break the deadlock by scoring in the 21st, 25th and 28th minutes. One of these was from a corner that was brilliantly met with a strong header that gave our defense no chance.

To our teams credit, we didn't drop our heads and managed to compete in the second half. Chances started to open up for us and tested their defense and Burwood were looking rattled. Conrad finally got a chance in the 21st minute which he calmly put away. Burwood managed to add a 4th in the 25th minute from a penalty after a hand-ball in the area. Conrad scored in the last minute after a goal mouth scramble where their keeper could hold onto the first shot.

Overall this was a great performance by the team. Burwood were a very well drilled team and looked much better than Woolston Technical who are leading the grade. We kept playing football today and never let Burwood totally run away with it. Elliot again was decisive in goal, Eddie, Josh B, Jarrod and Hugo performed well in defense, Antonio, Finn, George, Josh M, Cameron and Josh N toiled away in the midfield and Joseph and Conrad tried hard up front.

Conrad with his aggressive play up front that led to his 2 goals deserved our Player of the Day award.

We have now played all the teams in the first round. It is possible that the 2 weakest teams in the grade are going to drop down a grade, so we will have to continue to work hard in the second round to get the results we are wanting.

Score: 2-4
Goals: Conrad 2
Player of the Day: Conrad

vs Nomads B

The day dawned wet and cold. Luckily the rain stayed away until the last 5 minutes of the game. The pitch was in excellent order after all the rain during the week, so everything was ready for a good game.

We started extremely well. A fine break down the left by Josh M and an even better finish had us 1-0 up after 3 minutes. We continued to dominate the half but didn't manage a second until the 28th minute when Conrad finally put one away. A mix of bad finishing and good defense stopped us scoring more. Joseph was also unlucky not to score from a header from a corner. This was a great effort which hit the crossbar. It would have been the goal of the season to date if it had gone in!

The second half started off with a hiss and a roar with Bailey scoring after 2 minutes and Conrad adding a second after 5 minutes. Just when it looked like the floodgates were about to open, Nomads started to play much more aggressively and contested well for the ball. This resulted in our play becoming a bit disjointed and in the end resulted in a goal to Nomads after 15 minutes. We continued to attack and Joseph after a number of near misses, finally got his first goal of the season to make it 5-1.

Everyone played well today. Elliot had a quiet game in goal, Josh B, Hugo, Jarrod and Eddie had their moments in the back, but overall were very strong. Josh N, Josh M, Cameron, George, and Bailey controlled the middle of the park, with Antonio, Joseph and Conrad always looking dangerous up front. George's control in the middle, with a number of fine runs and distribution of the ball, was named our Player of the Day.

In the end it was a good game by the team and nice to get a win after a few lean weeks. Next week we play Selwyn again (2-2 last time) which will be a good test for the team. Selwyn are a strong team but we showed last time that we can compete and outplay them when we are on our game.

Score: 5-1
Goals: Conrad 2, Josh M, Bailey, Joseph
Player of the Day: George

vs Woolston Technical A

This game was against the top team in the grade. After last week we needed a huge improvement and today we got it. The commitment to the ball has excellent and as a result WT were not given the time and space they probably expected.

WT managed to get an early goal after a speculator shot managed to find it way into the goal after 5 minutes. It took WT until the 17th minute to look like scoring again. Unfortunately they managed a couple of goals in 2 minutes with a few defensive lapses. We held them off until halftime, 0-3 down. We had had a few chances ourselves but were unable to capitalise on them, one just going wide from Cameron and the other hitting the post and bouncing straight to the keeper on the ground from Joseph.

The second half plan was to spread it a bit wider and on occasions this worked. In the end our finishing let us down apart from one brilliant run from George in the midfield with a clinical finish into the left corner.  WT however, had a number of chances, and finished off three of them, in the 2nd, 15th and 19th minutes of the half. The score would have been much higher if the commitment had not been good as it was. Elliot again saved a couple of two on ones, Eddie, Josh B, Josh N, Jarrod and Hugo stopped a number of dangerous attacks, George, Finn, Cameron, Josh M and Bailey in controlled the midfield for large parts of the game and Antonio, Joseph and Conrad kept trying hard up front.

In the end, WT's superior skills were the difference. They played the ball into space extremely well, making it difficult to mark them, but we never gave up trying and in the end 6-1 was probably not a fair reflection of the effort we put into the game.

Bailey with some great work wide on the right wing was named our "Player of the Day".

Next week is against one of the weaker teams, so this is a good opportunity to get back that winning feeling!

Score: 1-6
Goals: George
Player of the Day: Bailey

vs Burnside B

This game was our first in three weeks and it showed! Defensive today we were very poor and in the end this was the difference.

The game started with end to end football with neither team making that decisive break. It wasn't until the 24th minute that Burnside made a break and managed to get the ball past Elliot. This lead was short lived as Antonio scored from the kick off. An interchange between Conrad, Antonio and Josh N left Antonio free in the box and he didn't miss! 1-1 at halftime was probably a fair reflection of the half.

Mike stressed the need to commit to the tackle more at the break but unfortunately we didn't follow this instruction as Burnside scored in the 2nd and 6th minute of the half. Too often we stood  back waiting for the ball to come to us only to have Burnside get the ball and run around us. They were more hungry for the ball than we were! If it wasn't for Elliot making a number of brilliant saves when met with three attackers, the score would have been much higher.

We had a couple of good chances to pull the deficit back with Joseph heading wide after a good break down the right flank, and their keeper also saving well, but in the end, Burnside wanted to win more than we did.

Elliot as mention played well in goal, George made some good busting runs from the back, Antonio always looked threatening with his speed up front and Josh B a "Player of the Day" performance at the back. As a team we need to show more commitment in the tackle ball for the results to be in our favour.

Overall a disappointing game for the team, but there is always next week!

Score: 1-3
Goals: Antonio
Player of the Day: Josh B

vs Burwood A

This game was cancelled due to very wet weather leading up to the game and on game day.

Roll on some fine weather and some football!

Score: N/A
Goals: N/A
Player of the Day: N/A

vs Avon B

This game was played in very cold southerly winds with the prospect of showers. Luckily the rain stayed away, but unfortunately we were not so lucky with the result. In an evenly matched game, Avon were able to score a late winner.  :-(

In the early part of the game Avon used the wind well and with some weak defense was able to score in the 15th and 20th minutes. We managed to pull one back in the 22nd minute when Antonio rounded the keeper to score. 2-1 down at half-time was a fair reflection, with both teams missing some clear chances and both keepers saving well.

In the second half, Cashmere started to exploit the strong wind. However, numerous chances were not converted into goals. Eventually Finn managed another fine effort from outside the box to curl one into the top left hand corner. Avon at this stage were relying on fast breaks but impatience on a few occasions lead to the offside trap catching them ahead of the last defender. With 5 minutes left we had a golden opportunity to score the winner when their keeper handled the ball outside the area, but our free kick hit the post and went away for a goal kick.

With just 2 minutes left, Avon made a break that found a 4 on 1 that Elliot couldn't close down, to score the winner. This was a shame as 2-2 would have been a fair result in terms of the game, but it wasn't to be.

Conrad, Antonio and Joseph toiled up front, Finn, Bailey, Josh M and Cameron made some telling runs in the midfield, with Josh N, Josh B, George, Hugo and Jarrod working hard in defense, and Elliot again performing well in goal. Jarrod in particular made a number of telling tackles to keep Avon at bay, and was named our Player of the Day.

Score: 2-3
Goals: Finn, Antonio
Player of the Day: Jarrod

vs Coastal Spirit Black

This team is the amalgamation of Rangers and New Brighton. They played like a new team as we comprehensively outplayed them all over the park!

The first half was all Cashmere. They only looked dangerous on a couple of occasions as a result of a fast break, otherwise we were camped in their half. A number of missed chances meant we were only 2-0 up at half-time, both goals to Finn.

The second half was all one way traffic, apart from one breakaway goal by them. Antonio scored after a goalmouth scramble to make it 3-0. CS pulled one back, before the floodgates opened. Conrad and Bailey scored, followed by an own goal, before Bailey added another with a fine strike. In the last two minutes Finn added a double, both fine long range efforts that dipped just under the bar to leave the keeper no chance.

This was a complete team performance. Although there were a couple of areas to work on, overall this was a great team effort. Elliot was again strong in goal, Eddie, George, Josh B and Hugo were tight in defense, Josh N, Finn, Jarrod and Bailey controlled the midfield, with Antonio, Conrad, Joseph and Cameron totally dominate up front. With his four goals and his control in the midfield, Finn as our Player of the Day.

Score: 9-1
Goals: Finn (4), Bailey (2), Antonio, Conrad, Own Goal
Player of the Day: Finn

vs Selwyn
This is the old Rolleston team who comprehensively outplayed us last season 4-0. Not this season! In the end we played the better football and probably should have won.

With a new squad, and early season rustiness, there were a few moments early where we looked a bit dis-organised. Selwyn managed to take the lead from a break-away and with our defense unable to close it down.  After 15 minutes we were now starting to play some good football, making good attacking movements into their danger area. This finally lead to a goal to Antonio, after a fine cross from Cameron. The midfield started to win the ball and the defense tightened up. The passing was no finding an open player resulting in the game flowing well. Both team had chances to add to their tally but weren't successful, so 1-1 was the half-time score.

The second half was dominated by Cashmere. We had numerous chances to add to our score but we couldn't. Rolleston's only chances came from break-aways, which they managed in the end to take the lead against the run of play. A good break down the left followed by a good cross was unfortunately turned in by our defense for an own goal. All credit to the team as they didn't drop their heads and continued to play football. It looked like we were not going to save the game as chance after chance was missed. With only 2 minutes left and great corner from Finn was brilliantly headed by Joseph, only for it to hit a defenders legs on the line. Just when all looked lost, Finn, in injury time found himself free on the edge of the box and expertly bent the ball around the keeper into the top right to score the equaliser. Rolleston had a late chance to snatch the game, but Elliot brilliantly tipped the ball around the post, one of many fine saves he made during the game.

In the end a good result. We had the better of the game but one we could have easily lost. Finn, Josh N, Bailey and Josh M worked well in midfield. George (who made a number of telling runs), Josh B, Hugo, Jarrod and Eddie controlled the back, with Cameron, Antonio and Joseph attacking well. Ellliot had brilliant game in goal with numerous excellent saves and deserved our Player of the Day award.

Score: 2-2
Goals: Antonio, Finn
Player of the Day: Elliot