1st X1 Match Report

FDMC Central Finance (3) v NPR (1)

Ending on a high note ...but it aint over just yet!!

FDMC Central Finance put in a commanding performance to comfortably win 3-1 against local rivals New Plymouth Rangers and end their league season on a high and can look forward to taking some good form in to the Quarter Final of the Duff Rose Bowl next Saturday.

NPR started brightly and played some neat football through midfield without actually penetrating the defence or creating clear cut chances and it was the home side who had to work hard to contain their opponents. After the initial flurry of play in the opening 15 minutes the game started to settle down and FDMC began to hustle well and turn over more posession. They used the ball well and threatened well down the left hand side with Andrew Crowe dazzling down the left hand side and combining well with Morgan HALL and Tomas MOSQUERA.

With NPR contesting every decision that the referee made, the game became niggly and disjointed but the home team continued to play with much more purpose and it was Tomas MOSQUERA who opened the scoring with a clinical finish inside the box. The lead was stretched moments later when a long ball over the top from MCGRATH sent MOSQUERA scampering down the right wing and a superb ball to the near post was tucked away in a flash by Morgan HALL. MOSQUERA missed a golden opportunity to add to his goal tally but missed an easy chance with the goal begging.

FDMC went in at half time with a comfortable lead and in total control of the game and they started the second half with the same level of intensity. With most of the NPR players continuing to contest every decision made by the referee the spirit of the game was severly tested and FDMC maintained their discipline well. FDMC always looked comfortable on the ball and with some fluid passing movements they were able to stretch their opponents on a number of occasions and were unlucky to not add to the two goals in the first half.

NPR looked for inspiration from the bench and made three substitutions in an attempt to change the flow of the game, but it made little difference to a determined home team. NPR grabbed themselves a life line when they scored from a quickly taken free kick with fifteen minutes left, catching keeper Stefan WALSH off his line but it was probably the only real chance that they had created all game. It spurred FDMC into action and with the away team tiring quickly, Andrew CROWE and Morgan HALL linked well to create two golden opportunities to score. Both were unlucky to see good chances just creep past the post with the keeper beaten. It was left to Morgan HALL to wrap up the game with his second goal five minutes from time and seal a well deserved victory and a dominant performance.

An excellent performance that leaves FDMC three points clear in second place above rivals Hawera, who have yet to play their final game against Eltham - Hawera needing to win by a four goal margin to steal "Runners Up" in the league. The joy and relief of signing off with a commanding victory also gave the home team their first ever Senior Cup win, as they secured the Challange Trophy for 2008, that they first won on April 5th, in their opening game of the season against back to back Champions, Waitara Football Club. The college looks forward to having their name engraved on the impressive piece of silverware for ever and a day!!

A BIG THANKS TO ALL OF THE PLAYERS, PARENTS, COLLEGE STAFF AND SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE MADE THIS YEAR THE MOST FANTASTIC SEASON OF FOOTBALL AND HAVE ENABLED THIS TO BE SO MEMORABLE IN MANY MNAY WAYS!!