Team Welly top the tree at Christmas
ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership 2020/21, Week Five & Six Summarised
The final two rounds of 2020 saw some massive results, with Canterbury United beating Auckland City at home for the first time in over a decade in round five, before Eastern Suburbs put in a gritty performance to end Hamilton Wanderers unbeaten run-in round six.
Week Five Roundup:
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 3 – Hawke’s Bay United 0
A comfortable win for the Reserves in the end after a tight first half at Fraser Park. Second-half goal scorers for the Nix were George Ott, Thomas Raimbault and man of the match Riley Bidois scored the third to seal the result.
Waitakere United 1 - Hamilton Wanderers 1
Tommy Semmy continued his goalscoring form for high-flying Hamilton, but Waitakere United would not be denied a point in an entertaining and feisty clash at Seddon Fields in Auckland. Substitute Angus Kilkolly scored the equalizer for United, flicking home an Alex Grieve shot to ensure the points were shared.
Eastern Suburbs 1 – Team Wellington 1
Two red cards for an off the ball incident on the stroke of half time were to be the major talking point in a game that had two first half goals and a glut of chances that went begging. Suburbs captain Adam Thomas and Team Wellington striker Joao Moreira were the players to receive their marching orders, the incident occurring minutes after Suburbs winger Adam Thurston had curled home the equalizer, cancelling out Mario Barcia’s opener for Team Welly. Both sides spurned good chances to win the game in the second hlaf.
Canterbury United 1 – Auckland City 0
The shock of the round and potentially the upset of the season. A last-minute winner from Jacob Richards was enough to send the home crowd into raptures, as Canterbury United finally beat Auckland City at home for the first time in twelve years.
Week Six Roundup:
Auckland City 4 – Wellington Phoenix Reserves 1
The reigning champions bounced back from the Canterbury defeat with a blowout home victory over a tired Nix Reserves side who undid a great first half by conceding four second half goals. Dylan Manickum (2), Logan Rogerson and Mohamed Awad were all on the scoresheet as the Navy Blues earned a great comeback victory to keep themselves near the top of the table.
Team Wellington 3 – Canterbury United 1
After the high of their big win last time out, United were undone by a Team Wellington side that proved how clinical they can be in front of goal. Hamish Watson helped himself to a double and Sam Mason-Smith, deputising for the suspended Joao Moreira, also got himself on the scoresheet.
Hawke’s Bay United 2 – Waitakere United 0
The 0 points in the win’s column has finally turned into the three points that Hawke’s Bay’s performances have deserved this season. Finally they managed to hold onto a lead, getting a much-needed clean sheet to go with their victory. Waitakere United will need to put the work in over the Christmas period to rediscover their winning form after not getting a win since the opening round. Departing attacker Jesse Randall scored both goals for the Bay and will be missed in 2021 as he heads off to Northern Kentucky University in the United States on a football scholarship.
Hamilton Wanderers 1 – Eastern Suburbs 2
And then, there was one. Team Wellington are now the only undefeated side in this season’s national league after an inspired second half performance from Suburbs keeper Danyon Drake saw the Auckland side take all three points from the previously unbeaten Wanderers. Drake saved a header on the line and followed it up minutes later with a vital penalty save as his side held on to a crucial victory away at Porritt stadium. Ryan Feutz also had a fantastic day for the Lilywhites, with two superb strikes giving Suburbs the first half lead, despite a Derek Tieku finish for Wanderers.
With all sides now having a break for the Christmas and New Year period, matches will not resume until the 9th of January 2021, so this is the perfect chance to reassess and address weaknesses in the squads heading into the final eight games of the regular season. Let us know your thoughts on the season so far and what your predictions are for the rest of the season!