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| Wainuiomata celebrate Photo TJF Photos |
Graeme Sole Cup
Central League Playoff 2nd Leg
Richard Prouse Park, Wainuiomata
Saturday 17 October 2020
ATT : about 7-800
Saturday 17 October 2020 was election day in New Zealand. It was a day that would see a red tide sweep the country as Labour stormed into office. Earlier in the day in the depths of Wainuiomata there was a green tide, not the political sort, but the football sort as Wainuiomata hammered New Plymouth Rangers 7-3 (12-6 on aggregate) to secure a Central League spot for the 2021 season.
Wainuiomata, formed in 1959, were looking to get back in to the Central League where they hadn't been since 1999. New Plymouth Rangers, formed in 1940 as New Plymouth Old Boys, becoming New Plymouth Rangers when they merged with New Plymouth United in 1993, had spent three seasons in the National League (1990-92) but hadn't been in the Central League since 1996.
The first leg of the playoff had taken place at New Plymouth Rangers Merrilands domain the week before and seen Wainuiomata take a 5-3 lead into this game. That meant New Plymouth Rangers needed to win by three clear goals to win the tie.
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| Kalian Gould chips the keeper to complete his hat-trick Photo : TJF Photos |
A large crowd of seven to eight hundred had gathered at Wainuiomata's Richard Prouse Park and a ground that has a reputation for being a bit of a mud bath was in surprisingly good condition for this stage of the season. It took Wainuiomata just four minutes to extend their lead when Andrew Oliver scored the opener. Then it was the turn of Wainuiomata's star striker, Kalian Gould, the Englishman who used to play for Nuneaton Town in the England's National League North (6th tier) has been leading Wainui's charge to the league title this season. He showed what he could do with a hat-trick in just six minutes! The third goal being the pick of the three, he turned a defender inside out and sent an exquisite chip over the keeper in to the far corner.
New Plymouth Rangers were dealt another blow a minute later when their captain Matt Hastings picked up an injury and had to be replaced and any semblance of shape they had before then went with him. Wainuiomata were relentless and their captain, Jarrod Smith, got in on the act latching on to a great corner at the back post to make it 5-0. Six minutes later Ta Eh Hser who had been causing havoc for the Rangers defence on the left flank broke through and made the score 6-0 with just 32 minutes gone!
Wainuiomata had a few more chances but didn't add to their total by half time. The talk from the spectators at half time was whether or not Wainuiomata could get to double figures! New Plymouth Rangers were not so keen on that happening and had a bit of a regroup at halftime and came out of the sheds playing better, combined with Wainuiomata easing up thanks to a six goal lead led to a bit of a dour second half.
New Plymouth Rangers did get on the scoresheet, the first in the 57th minute from sub Luke Snellgrove seemed very much like a consolation goal. They did get two more through Taku Warren and Domenico Squatriti but they came in the last 15 minutes and were too late to force what would have been an incredible comeback.
It was Wainuiomata that had the last word when they got a free kick about 25 meters out. Ciaran O'Reilly hit a superb shot that passed the wall and beat the keeper into the top of the net. That made the result 7-3 and 12-6 on aggregate and Wainuiomata will be playing in the Central League in 2021
FOR PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK HERE
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| Up the Nui - fans celebrating after the game Photo TJF Photos |
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