Douglas Villa 2
Lower Hutt City 0
Tumu Douglas Villa overcame a sluggish first half, scoring two late goals to beat a Lower Hutt City side determined to ruin the Capital Division Two runners-up last game of the season.
Josh McMenamin converted a penalty, awarded for a handball after 77 minutes, taking his season tally to 23 goals for second in the golden boot. Caleb Anstis secured the three points after 83 minutes, to the delight of coach Mark Taylor, who was rapt with the talented midfielder’s role.
“He’s a threat when he goes forward; he latches on to anything in and around the penalty box and gets on the end of things and is really dangerous. It’s good to have midfield players scoring and chiming in with the goals, and he ended up with seven or eight goals which was good for him,” Taylor said.
Despite the final scoreline at the Park Sports Ground, Taylor admits to being somewhat disappointed with his team’s flat start to the game against the fired-up visitors.
“We needed to move the ball a bit quicker, just also we gave possession away too easy, which allowed them to counter on us from some really dangerous areas. We’d give away the ball in the middle of the park or when we’re going forward, and too cheaply, and it just makes it tough to defend on the break.
“When there’s nothing to play for, things don’t always have that intensity, and that was a bit of a danger for us.
“I said to the players at the end you have to play for your own respect, for the respect of the team for the position that we’re in.
“We’re second, and we’ve been told we’re a really good team, and we’ve got some good reaction from around the place from what we’ve been doing, and we’ve got to make sure we finish the season in a good frame.”
Douglas Villa finished the season with a record of 13 wins, three draws, and two losses, comfortably winning promotion to Capital Division One for 2024.
Wairarapa United 2
Victoria University 0
Second place looks the best Wairarapa United can hope for in the Capital Women’s Division One.
United wrapped up their home season on Sunday with goals to Vanessa Taylor and Renske van Steensel to stay within one point of leaders Miramar Rangers Firsts with one round to play.
United’s last game is away to Seatoun this Sunday, and although there is the chance of snatching the title with a win, they would need Miramar to draw or lose to that club’s second team.
