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Awakeri Soccer Club... the Greatest Junior Soccer Club in New Zealand
June 23rd 2001
Awakeri’s soccer teams continue to work hard, with both 11th
grade teams playing catch-up
games as well as their normal league games this week.
In the 13th grade, Gould Contracting Awakeri Hotshots played excellent soccer
to secure a 2 - 1
win against Otakiri. Awakeri opened the scoring when a Simon Turner pass found
Matthew Ward
in the six yard box. Ward made space well to turn and score. Otakiri put a lot
of pressure on the
Awakeri team at times and was thwarted by good defence, especially from Lance
Robison and
in-form keeper Cody Hancox. Awakeri extended their lead when Harrison Brown
cut inside his
marker and powered in a shot from 20 metres. Otakiri came back with a goal,
but Hotshots gave
them no let-up and held out for the win. Player of the match for Hotshots was
Jonathan Whitham,
who tackled very well in the midfield.
Also snaring a 2 - 1 win were Adamson’s Amcal Pharmacy Awakeri Athletic
in the 11th grade A
division. Athletic played very good soccer against James Street, with midfield
dominance through
Mark Ernest, Sytse Tacoma and Daniel Goodhew making the difference. Goodhew,
who scored
one of the goals, and Shane Campney shared the player of the match nomination.
Ben
McPherson scored the other goal after a good pass from Campney. In defence Neil
Sax stood
out.
Earlier in the week, Athletic beat Whakatane 6 - 1 in a catch-up game, with
Darren Groom
nabbing four goals. Kelly Stanton played very well in defence. She was ably
assisted by Jordan
Macdonald, who made one memorable tackle, chasing down a run-away attacker to
make the
challenge. Max Butler did well to last the distance, playing while he was ill,
and Jonathan
Whitaker again performed well in the midfield.
In the 11th grade B division, David da Silva Awakeri Autos had a 2 - 2 draw
with Edgecumbe
mid-week and then a 4 - 2 loss against the well-organised Ohope team on Saturday.
Autos shot
out to a first minute lead through Russell Sisam, but Ohope’s good team
play got them ahead.
Sisam also scored the second goal. Others to do well were captain Hayden Te
Moana, who led
by example, player of the match Anthony Sykes, who was strong in defence,
and striker Bradley
Turner.
Private Asset Management 9th grade Aces had a well earned 4-0 win over a depleted
Otakiri
side. Scorers for Aces were Devon Swart, Matthew Reeves, Chelsea Pettinger and
Vincent
Bayliss. The game was played in an excellent spirit and enjoyed by both players
and spectators.
Player of the day was Vincent Bayliss, for his hard running and full
involvement in the game.
Others to stand out were Joe Burke, for his good defending and Vincent Sheather
for his good
passing. Aces are improving with every game and are looking forward to the rest
of the season.
Awakeri Chiefs looked fairly tired in their 8th grade game against the very
strong James Street
team. Joshua Mower was named player of the match. He stopped many shots at goal
in his turn
between the sticks. Another to work hard was David Ernest. James Street won
6 - 0.
It was the first defeat of the season for 7th grade Awakeri Blue Stingers when
they played
Ohope. Stingers struggled for numbers with a number away sick, but continue
to develop their
defensive and passing skills. Joel Ingle earned player of the match with
some good saves and
clearances from the back. Matthew Orr-McKeown scored with a strong shot, while
Ohope replied
with three goals.
In the 6th Grade, Alfresco Court Motel Awakeri Tigers played Whakatane Saints.
Due to low numbers ,
there was only one 5 aside game. The result was a 2 all draw. Player of the
day went to Alex
Christensen for his excellent positional play. Others to play well were
Ricky Hollis who moved
well down the right wing, and Te Naawe Tupe who kicked the ball well. Michaela
Hancox stood
out for her management skills (possible future captain). Caleb Sheather kept
up his goal scoring
average, by scoring both Tigers goals.