NUAFC 1968-2018

2004
282
WAIKATO TIMES 2 AUG 2004
Wanderers keep on winning
By SCOTT PRESTON
Waikato's hottest soccer team only got warmer on
Saturday, courtesy of a hot boot.
Hamilton Wanderers provided the region's only
Northern League soccer win of the weekend, beating Fencibles
United 3-2 in round 18 of the first division at Riverhills Park
in Auckland on the back of a hat-trick from striker Darryl
Gibbs.
After Fencibles scored from a free-kick in the
opening 10 minutes, Gibbs latched onto a cross from playercoach
Mark Cossey for his first minutes later. He was again in
the right area in the 25th minute as Wanderers took a 2-1 lead
into half time.
Gibbs, who had his third hat-trick of 2004 in the
game, got his third goal early in the second half from another
cross, before Fencibles made the game interesting, closing
within one in the 70th minute.
Wanderers have now won their last three matches and
five of their last six. They sit eight points back of leaders
Papakura, with a game in hand.
The Melville United resurgence in the premier
division continued at Gower Park on Saturday as they inched
closer to the relegation safe zone with a 1-1 draw with fourthplaced
University-Mt Wellington.
With Hamilton Boys' High striker Nathan Holten
providing the spark from the bench, Wanderers equalised in
the 57th minute when Holten blocked a goalkeeper clearance
from the middle of his back into the net.
Soon-to-depart players Steven Holloway and Jeremy
Field were two of the best for Melville. Melville gave up the
opening goal in the 30th minute.
It was a winless weekend for Waikato's second
division Northern League sides as Ngaruawahia United,
Cambridge and Claudelands Rovers were beaten on Saturday.
Ngaruawahia United fell out of the division lead with
a 2-0 loss to South Auckland Rangers at James Watson
Reserve. Cambridge lost to Hibiscus Coast 2-1 at Stanmore
Bay.
Rovers' six-game unbeaten run was ended by thirdplaced
Papatoetoe AFC, 5-1 at Galloway Park.
Claudelands found themselves 3-0 down at halftime.
A 57th minute goal from Pat Conchie offered hope but two
further soft goals ruined any revival.
Claudelands Rovers lost 1-0 at Bay Olympic in
women's premier action yesterday. Melville United Reserves
beat Uni-Mt 3-2 while the club's youth team were beaten 3-0
by Three Kings United.
WAIKATO TIMES 7 AUG 2004
Ngaruawahia keen to stem slide
By SCOTT PRESTON
For the first three months of the Northern League
soccer season, Ngaruawahia United were unbeaten in second
division. In the three weeks since, they have gone without a
win.
Without captain Matt Williams in the central
midfield and leading scorer Nicolai Helwig up
front, Ngaruawahia put in one of their most dysfunctional
performances in a 2-0 loss to South Auckland.
The result dropped them to second and for the first
time in danger of losing their promotion playoff spot. North
Force now lead on 39 points, one ahead of Ngaruawahia, with
Papatoetoe AFC another two points back.
So what has happened at Centennial Park? And when
can Ngaruawahia expect to start winning again?
"We've given too much ball away the last few weeks
and once you give it away all your players are out of
position," Ngaruawahia coach Jeff Coulshed said, answering
the first question.
Both Williams, who was playing in Fiji last weekend,
and Helwig return for today's round 19 home match against
11th-placed Otahuhu United, kick-off 2.45pm, providing an
answer to the second question. Ngaruawahia had a playersonly
meeting, led by Williams, on Thursday night in an
attempt to end their current funk.
The debut of All White defender Che Bunce for
Hamilton Wanderers has been delayed for at least another
round.
Bunce, who transferred to the club last month, was
expected to play his first game in Wanderers Blue against
Lynn Avon United at Porritt Stadium today, kick-off 2.45pm.
Bunce leaves for Fiji this afternoon to contest the Battle of the
Giants tournament playoffs for Navua, alongside Wanderers
player-coach Mark Cossey and Williams.
Cossey was unsure when Bunce, who has been linked
to the Football Kingz and Waikato FC, would take his place in
the middle of Wanderers' defence.
In the premier division, Melville United take on East
Coast Bays at Bay City Park today. Cambridge host Manurewa
at John Kerkhof Park and Claudelands Rovers travel to
Manukau City in other second division games while
Claudelands Rovers close their women's premier season at
home against Eastern Suburbs.
WAIKATO TIMES 9 AUG 2004
Williams leads way with three
By SCOTT PRESTON
It took seven goals and a personal hat-trick
but Ngaruawahia United captain Matt Williams was happy to
proclaim "we're back" on Saturday.
After going three games without a win, to drop into
second behind North Force, Ngaruawahia returned to form in
style in round 19 of second division Northern League soccer,
downing Otahuhu United 7-1 at Centennial Park.
Williams scored Ngaruawahia's third, fourth and fifth
goals of the game as they carved up the slow-turning Otahuhu
defence for a 5-0 lead after 25 minutes.
Returning striker Nicolai Helwig and midfielder Phil
Stables scored goals in the opening 10 minutes while
midfielder Michael Fischknecht and Helwig found the back
of the net before halftime as Ngaruawahia led 7-0.
WAIKATO TIMES 16 AUG 2004
Claudelands Helps Ngaruawahia
Ngaruawahia moved back to the head of division two
with a 4-1 away win over Waitemata. Captain Matt Williams
scored twice, while Andrew Catley and an own goal
accounted for the other goals, as Ngaruawahia overtook North
Force in the standings.
Claudelands Rovers played a starring role in
getting Ngaruawahia back to the top, holding previous leaders
North Force to a 0-0 draw at Galloway Park. With goalkeeper
Mark Wilson and defenders Ian Taylor and Jeremy Masalo
stepping up, Claudelands were able to keep the Force scoreless
despite the weight of possession against them in the second
half.
WAIKATO TIMES, 23 AUG 2004
Ngaruawahia close in on soccer title
Ngaruawahia United have the chance to win the
Northern League second division soccer title next week after a
5-0 destruction of rivals Claudelands Rovers on Saturday at
Centennial Park.
With second-placed North Force losing 5-1 to
Papatoetoe AFC, who they meet next Saturday to decide the
league title, Ngaruawahia moved two points clear.
Midfielder Phil Stables scored twice in the second
half as Ngaruawahia powered away from a 1-0 halftime
advantage. Captain Matt Williams scored in the first half
while Nicolai Helwig and high schooler David Lisiginoli
added the others.