Tremaine Rimene-Albrett [with ball] scored Douglas Villa’s opening goal. PHOTO/FILE
FOOTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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GasPro Douglas Villa conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes to finish with a 3-3 draw in their Capital Four Division clash with Wainuiomata Reserves at Park Sports Ground on Saturday.
Midfielder Tremaine Rimene-Albrett was the first to find the back of the net for Villa in the first half, followed by a second to striker Willy Syben, to give the home team a 2-1 lead at halftime.
The margin could have been greater, only for Villa’s strong appeals for a penalty, when striker Josh McMenamin was bundled over inside the box, were turned down.
McMenamin was next to get on the scoresheet when he added a third early in the second spell, and Villa looked certain to bag the three points until the young Wainuiomata side pounced on two late opportunities to even the scores.
Villa coach Dan Pawson said: “We dominated for most of the game, and it was only that little period at the end where they banged in two late goals.”
Pawson praised Wainuiomata, who were a totally different team from the one they beat 2-0 in the first round.
“That was their Under-19 squad that they’re prepping for the Napier tournament in October, and that’s why a lot of their results have turned around, and they are a fairly young, fit, and fast side.”
Despite dropping two valuable points, Villa are 10 points clear of their next opponents, third-placed Victoria University, and remain on course for promotion to Capital Three with five games to play.
“If we can get three points this weekend over Vic Uni and then win the next two games, which is Petone and Brooklyn Northern United, who are the two bottom teams, although you never know who they will turn up with, but if we can clean them up we’ll be fine,” Pawson said.
