Waitakere fight for minor premiership
If anyone doubted the fighting qualities of Waitakere United as they endeavour to win back to back minor premierships in the NZFC, they should have been convinced otherwise after a gritty win in Palmerston North on the weekend.
It looked like history might be repeating when skipper Danny Hay was sent off inside the first quarter of the match with memories of their last visit flooding back to haunt the West Aucklanders. On that occasion keeper Simon Eaddy was sent off and Manawatu won a thriller 3-2 to put a dent in Waitakere’s title hopes.
But this time there would be no repeat with a Neil Emblen goal securing the three points. The Assistant Coach and central defender was proud of his team mates.
“That was an ugly win but a great win based on team spirit and determination. When the skipper was sent off we had to regroup and not panic but I must admit thoughts of last time down here came to mind, there was a bit of ‘here we go again’ I’m sure.
“But when you are chasing a championship you find extra reserves and fight and while it wasn’t pretty it was effective. To win away from home when a man short for almost the entire match was brilliant and a great fillip for us but also for Danny.”
There was some dispute as to the intent of Hay in the incident that saw him sent off for ‘use of an elbow’ with the former All White clearly not happy with the officials.
The three points were hard earned after first going ahead through Jake Butler and then finally thanks to Emblen’s second goal of the season, one that was not before time according to the former English Premiership player.
“It’s about time I scored in the league, I go up for all set pieces and have been close a few times but thankfully one has finally gone in. It is nice to score a goal that means so much to the club.”
Waitakere now return home on Saturday for their final home game of the season before traveling to Dunedin in the final round. A win in either game and 50 points on the season will almost certainly assure the club of the minor premiership, a home grand final and a spot in next season’s O-League. While Auckland and Wellington can also reach 50 points, their goal difference is significantly inferior to Waitkakere’s.
Emblen says the side is focusing on the short term and not getting carried away.
“We have so much on the line in both the NZFC and the O-League that we must simply play each opponent, one at a time and not get too far ahead of ourselves. First job is a win over Hawkes Bay on Saturday, and then we will think about the O-League match against Auckland (on Wednesday 2nd April) and then the match in Otago.”
It was a great weekend for the club with the National Youth League title won by Carl Jorgenson’s Waitakere United side in a thriller over Canterbury in Christchurch.
Jorgenson says it is all about preparing young players for bigger honours in the future.
“To win the league is superb but this is also about developing our young talent for bigger days in the future. To experience the travel, the pressure and the atmosphere of an away final will be a great thing for these players to look back on. It was a proud occasion to be a ‘westie’ and to be representing Waitakere United.”
The club is calling for all west Auckland football fans to turn out at the stunning new Douglas Field for the clash with Hawkes Bay on Saturday to cheer the side on towards what could be a vital three points. Executive Chairman Rex Dawkins says the return to the best ground in the league is a great boost but the support of the local community could prove even more important.
“The boys loved the return to Douglas Field when we beat Auckland a fortnight back. The playing surface is superb and the grandstand second to none in the league. But the big difference was looking up into the stand and seeing two thousand fans in the stand, which can lift the players tremendously and would do so again on Saturday.”
Waitakere United v Hawkes Bay United
Douglas Field, Trusts Stadium
Central Park Drive, Henderson
Saturday 29th March
4pm KO