Wai United’s Romy Ifill , right, beating the Wainuiomata defence with her shot. PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV
FOOTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected]
Wairarapa United 9
Wainui Wildcats 0
The Tumu ITM Wairarapa United confirmed that they will be one of the teams to beat in Capital women’s division one with a 9-0 thrashing of Wainuiomata Wildcats at Trust House Memorial Park on Sunday.
In the team’s first competitive game since dropping out of the W-League, United were a class above the Wildcats and were rarely challenged on the artificial turf.
Romy Ifill showed she’s inherited some of her father Paul’s goal-scoring prowess finding the back of the net twice, while Lisa Ford also scored a brace.
Other goals were scored by Aimee Ford, Freya Lewington, Vanessa Taylor, Stacey Wood, and Olivia Gluck in a confident start to the 10-team championship.
United’s next game is away to North Wellington on Sunday, April 24.
GREYTOWN OUTMUSCLED
Wgtn Utd Reserves 5
Greytown 2
Greytown Fresh Choice were outmuscled by Wellington United in a physical Capital division four fixture at Newton Park on Saturday.
Both teams went into the game on the back of impressive first-up victories, and early indications were there would be no quarter given.
Greytown took the early lead when Isaac Higgins scored in a goalmouth scramble, only for Wellington to equalise midway through the spell.
Waisake Sabutu restored Greytown’s lead but Wellington capitalised on an error by goalkeeper James Frickleton to make it 2-2 halftime.
Sabutu and Jarrod MacDonald both headed wide early in the second half and Greytown’s attacking philosophy opened the door for the home side, who took advantage of the space behind the defence to score three goals from breakaways and seal the three points.
Greytown will next play Upper Hutt City at Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt, at 11.30am on Friday.
TEAM BUILDING NEEDED
Petone Stone Cutters 3
Masterton Athletic 0
Progressive Engineering Masterton Athletic coach Stu McLean said the team have a lot to work on to be competitive in Capital division four, after a second straight loss.
After a scoreless first half at Petone’s Memorial Park, Athletic were punished for poor ball control and lack of match fitness, conceding three second-half goals.
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“We weren’t good enough,” McLean said. “We’re not keeping the pill for long enough and we turn it over too easily.”
His players’ lack of skills was being exposed by the teams from the bigger Wellington clubs.
McLean, however, is confident that Athletic will improve and adapt to the higher pace of the Capital leagues.
Athletic’s next encounter is against Western Suburbs at Hullena Park on Saturday with kick-off at 2.30pm.
HIT BY COVID
Douglas Villa Magpies’ Capital division two game against Petone Thirds was postponed because several Magpies’ players were in isolation with covid-19. The game will be played later in the season.
Magpies will host Island Bay United Seagulls in their next match at Park Sports Ground at 2.30pm Friday.
