NUAFC 1968-2018

1998
28 SEP 1998 , Edition 2, Page 14.
Ngaruawahia cap best year by knocking over Melville
By: ANDERSON Ian
Ngaruawahia United's unbreakable team spirit
pushed them to a fitting conclusion in the Northern League
division one soccer competition.
Ngaruawahia came from a goal down at the break
against Waikato rivals Melville United on Saturday to score
a 2-1 victory which clinched fourth spot in the league.
Matty Williams, Captain of Ngaruawahia
United and Ian Foster, Captain of the
Combined with a remarkable Chatham Cup run
which culminated in a semifinal loss to Dunedin Technical,
the season would have to rate as Ngaruawahia's best in their
history and it was achieved through a mixture of
commitment and craft.
Melville had the better of the first spell at
Hamilton's Gower Park and led through a Graham Jones
penalty, which was a debatable decision but probably due
reward for the home team's measured passing and slick
footwork.
But the United players simply gritted their teeth
again and grew stronger as the game progressed.
Marcus Traill was impeccable at the back,
improving teenager Wayne Bates outstanding while Brian
Hayes and Matty Williams began to relish the midfield
battle raging with Jones. Williams curled in the equaliser
from a free-kick midway through the second half before
Traill fittingly capped the season with a towering header
from a perfectly delivered Hayes free-kick.
Melville's young side faded against their more
vigorous opponents but did show notable improvement in
the second half of their campaign to finish ninth in the 12-
team league.
SUNDAY LEAGUE Division 1 Winners, 1998
Rear: Matt Goudie, Matt Montford, Nigel Liddle, Emmett Connolly, Simon Pretty, Adam Vonk,
Paul Montford, Gabriel Schimanski, Nick Pearse.
Front: Kelly Montford, James McCaig, Shane Elliot, Aaron Cryer, Brook Owen.
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