1st X1 Match Report

HAWERA (8) v FDMC CENTRAL FINANCE (4)

One of those days.....

In a whirlwind start to an extroadinary match, which saw a flurry of goals at both ends and a remarkably open game as the second and third place teams in the league clashed in the opening game of Round 2.

FDMC Central Finance started well and played some really superb attacking football which saw them take an early lead courtesy of a trade mark Tomas MOSQUERA goal that saw him easily round the goalkeeper and side foot in to an empty goal. The lead was short lived as Hawera hit back, firstly missing a very dubious penalty but scoring immediately from the resulting corner.

FDMC Central Finance grabbed the lead moments later from a spectacular strike by MOSQUERA after he powered a long range shot into the top corner of the net. Hawera drew level moments later for the second time in 10 minutes from another corner kick exposing slack defending by the away side.

At 2-2. both teams thought that the game might settle down into a pattern but it was not going to comform to expectation and it was Hawera who grabbed another quick two goals, courtesy of another dubious penalty and a well taken goal. 4-2 down and yet playing some scintialting attacking football, FDMC Central Finance continued to push forward and continually exposed the Hawera defence with superb passing moves. Rory GARNER latched on to a rebound to steer the third goal home just inside the far post and leave most people breathless after a seven goal first half feast.

FDMC Central Finance came out firing in the second half and continued to play some exciting and penetrating football that created some early chances and it was Andrew CROWE who took full advantage of a through ball to gallop past a helpless defence and cooly slot home the fourth and equalising goal. Immediate pressure on the home team followed as FDMC Central Finance pushed forward, which earned a quick corner. In keeping with the matches theme, Hawera cleared the resulting set piece and went straight down the other end and scored, exposing some naive and casual defending.

5-4 and here we go again. Only this time Hawera immediately started to exploit the gaps in behind the two wing backs and in a 10 minute spell of pressure they grabbed three quick goals taking full advantage of two more glaring individual errors and so it was the home side who eventually made some headway in a quite extroadinary match.

Heads down and pride hurt FDMC Central Finance played out the final 10-15 minutes with real passion and continued to attempt to play some really good football. With nothing to lose at this stage, it was to their credit that the players stuck to the principles that has served them so well this season and they piled pressure on the home team until the last whistle.

Lessons to be learnt about keeping your shape, doing the basics right and sometimes accepting that it is not going to be your day - the team suffered their first loss this season against a powerful Hawera team who adapted better to the conditions and finished superbly well. The defeat still leaves FDMC Central Finance in second place, one point clear of Hawera and seven points clear of Inglewood in fourth place.