HB Review

Firstly all, apologies for not getting a review up for the weekend of 4^th / 5^th July. Due to illness of multiple staff it was unable to be put together. There were some telling results which affected some competitions which we won’t be able to go into during this review but one result stood out over the rest and deserves to be raised…..see below:-

On the 5^th July in the HB Women’s Premiership, Eskview Blues travelled to Marewa Park for a top of the table clash with Rothbury Insurance Port Hill United. The Challenge Cup was up for grabs as well as 1^st place in the Premiership. To put it in perspective as to what Eskview were trying to do, Port Hill hadn’t lost a league match in over 2 years and hadn’t conceded a league goal for the whole 2019 season and start of 2020. There were 3 league meetings  between these teams in 2019, 2-0 and 3-0 wins to Port Hill along with a nil all draw and a Cup Final won by Port Hill 1-0.

The 2020 edition of the fixture saw the 2 best teams of late compete in a great advertisement for Women’s Football. A highly competitive match between 2 teams who were evenly matched was once again decided by a single goal…..this time it was the Blues who were the victors courtesy of a Nancy Reed goal off a corner. By conceding one goal Port Hill relinquished their streak of not conceding, a game, the top of the table and the Challenge Cup. That’s the problem with holding records…eventually they end.

There is no doubt the return fixture will be another crowd pleaser. Will Port Hill be able to bounce back or will Eskview reign supreme? One thing we know for sure, the Women’s title race is wide open after this match. And with the emergence of Western Rangers as a real contender we have a 3 horse race. Buckle in!

Now back to recent times…….

YORB Pacific Premiership:-

• Heavy Equipment Gisborne United bounced back from their first loss of the season the week before by getting over Western Rangers 5-1. Kieran Venema and Josh Adams with couple of doubles. Rangers had been staying in matches of late and will be disappointed this one blew out a bit.
• Red Steel Napier Marist have picked up the result of the round, maybe season so far by picking up a point against Duke of Gloucester Napier City Rovers 1-1 in the Park Island derby. Rovers were equal top before this result. Marist are still bottom but perhaps this game will be the spark for them to go on a run.
• Gisborne Vehicle Testing Thistle travelled light on numbers to take on Fujitsu Maycenvale United. Even Coach – Garrett Blair was listed as a reserve. The game was in the balance at 0-1 for a long time before goals in the 80^th and 87^th minutes made it a comfortable Thistle win 0-3.
• Palm City Motor Inn Port Hill Utd remain at the top with a 3-0 win vs Taradale AFC which included a Jamie Provines screamer from distance.
   

Key Matches Next Round –

• Duke of Gloucester Napier City Rovers vs Gisborne Vehicle Testing Thistle
• Western Rangers vs Red Steel Napier Marist

SPEEDY SIGNS HB Reserve League:-

• In the most eventful game of the weekend Havelock North Reserves topped Burger Fuel Port Hill 6-5. There were hat-tricks in both camps for Daniel Fridd (HN) and Bilal Al-Shamry (PH). A shout out needs to go to the Port Hill Keeper - Mo Hashim who had to face 6 penalties (7 if you count a retake) and saved 2. Anyone who was near this would have got their monies worth.
• The classy Thirsty Whale NCR outfit remain top off the back of their 9-0 away win vs Jarks City Side Western Rangers. Christian Leopard with a hat-trick.
• Liquid Gold Maycenvale went down 0-3 at home to Taradale AFC Reserves. Taradale will be please goals are coming from all over the park with 3 different scorers getting on the sheet.

Key Matches Next Round –

• Thirsty Whale NCR vs Burger Fuel Port Hill Utd

HB Division 2:-

• Arataki Honeybees HNWAFC are yet to fire this season and again couldn’t get there as they went down to AWF Napier South who are enjoying another solid campaign 2-3.
• The top of the table clash between Paddy’s Bar NCR and Burger Fuel Port Hill was decided by a 92^nd minute NCR winner scored by Callum MacDonald. The result puts Rovers firmly in the driver’s seat for title even at this early stage.
• Hastings Hibernian 2^nd’s narrowly defeated Completebuild Taradale Vikings 2-1 with and Adam Newby goal on 88 minutes the decider. Scoring late in games is becoming a bit of a trend for Hibernian.
• Eskview United have enjoyed a bit of a resurgence since the start of the season and are in form after a 3 nil victory vs Liquid Gold Maycenvale Millennials. A Thomas Wallace double the highlight.

Key Matches Next Round –

• Completebuild Taradale Vikings vs Paddy’s Bar NCR

HB Division 3:-

• Scindians are sitting top after a big 6-0 win vs Maycenvale Vikings. Not bad for a one team club.
• Eskview Reds are only a point off the pace of Scindians. They can thank Neil Angello for putting one away in the 1-0 win vs Marewa United.
• Rescom Security Port Hill had a good day out with a 5-1 over Union Hotel Napier South. Doubles for Hayden Ericksen and Josh Borger were included.
• ECR Western Rangers Development were solid in their 4-0 display vs Paddy’s Bar NCR. Matt Wallis scoring 2 for the Rangers.
• Havelock North stay in the hunt after travelling to Park Island for a 0-2 away win over Bay Tours & Charters Napier Marist.

Key Matches Next Round - 

• Scindians vs Eskview Reds
• Marewa United vs Rescom Security Port Hill Utd

HB Masters:-

• The Flax Western Rangers left it late to seal the points off the back of a Scott Saurin double 2-1 over Paddy’s Bar NCR. The winner coming in the 89^th minute.
• Eskview Masters vs Havelock North Mercenaries was the only draw in local Hawke’s Bay competitions over the weekend 2-2.
• Taradale Masters rough start to the season continued  as they were downed 7-1 away to Marist. Marist managing to score all 8 goals in the process.
• HNW Masters had the bye

Key Matches Next Round –

• Paddy’s Bar NCR Masters vs Eskview Masters

HB Women’s Premiership:-

• Eskview Blues followed up their big result of last weekend but were made to work hard against Burger Fuel Port Hill for a 2-1 home win. Nancy Reed again the difference with 2 goals.
• Rothbury Insurance Port Hill were clinical as they bounced back from last week with 0-10 defeat of Eskview Whites on the other pitch at Petane.
• Taradale Development vs Western Rangers was supposed to be the match of the round but it didn’t eventuate. Taradale were able to call on some experienced Fed League players but it made little difference as Rangers had too much fire power winning 2-6. Maddison Hughes banging in 4. People around the traps are starting to talk that it’s actually Rangers with the most lethal attack in the league.
• Roisin Dina scored 2 as Taradale Women won 5-1 over Hastings Hibernian Paper Mulberry. For Hibs Faith McConnell will be over the moon as she’s scored the first goal of the season for the Hibs team.

Key Matches Next Round –

• Western Rangers Women vs Eskview Blues

Lotto Central Federation League:-

GJ Gardner Homes Whanganui Athletic remain at the summit and keep their 100% record after Martyn Freestone scored a late winner over Alexander Electric Napier Marist to win 0-1 on Sunday over at Park Island in the Hawke’s Bay. Watsons PN Marist got the derby win over North End 0-2 at Skoglund Park to stay equal with Wanganui on the ladder but have played the extra match. Domenico Squatriti rocketed home a hat-trick for Peggy Gordons NP Rangers to see them get the away victory 0-3 over Breakers Red Sox which moves Rangers up into third on the table. The final match completed the round with all four away teams winning when Isles Construction Massey University got their first three points of the season after they travelled to take on Levin and returned a 0-5 victory, Joseph Freeman with the brace for Massey. This moved Massey from the end of the table up into fifth which shows how important each win can be in this league. Building King Havelock North Wanderers hang onto fourth spot after having the Bye and with the two sides above them having played the extra match they could move higher after this weekend’s match but it’ll be a tough task against Athletic the unbeaten the front runners.

Women's Federation League:-

Due to Moturoa picking up a default win against Taradale, meaning Football Whanganui hosted Massey in the only game played on the weekend in the Women's Federation League.
It was yet again a tightly fought battle between two adventurous attacking teams, described aptly as an "arm wrestle" by Massey coach Terry Wood.

Football Whanganui opened the scoring in the 21st minute through youngster Lana O'Connor, who is quickly becoming a talent to watch in Whanganui, only for Massey to profit from a failed headed clearance during an attacking corner, with Whanganui's Danja Grunwald finding the back of her own net to bring the visitors level.
However, O'Connor was again leading the way for the home side when she netted a brilliant long range effort just 10 minutes later to give Whanganui a 2-1 lead going in for the break.
The second half saw more see-sawing between the two sides as they looked to exploit each other’s defensives, with the pressure finally paying off for Massey's Kate More in the 51st minute, bringing the scoreline back level.
As time ticked away towards the final whistle, it looked as if the game may end in a deadlock before the visitors capitalised on a well-executed counter attacking opportunity in the 82nd minute, with Micaela Reyes being the final link in the chain to slot the winner away for Massey.

The visitors managed to soak up a tonne of pressure in the closing minutes as Football Whanganui looked to salvage at least one point from the game, however they were unable to get the gaol they desperately pushed for, and the 3 points travelled back to Palmerston North with Massey, leaving Football Whanganui the uphill battle of looking to find a result when they host Moturoa next weekend.
 

Article added: Tuesday 14 July 2020