Barnstorming victory by Wharfies

By Grant Stephen

Waterside Karori had a barnstorming 5-2 win over Roslyn Wakari in their Chatham Cup quarter final match on 29 July.

Saturday’s match came 34 years after the Wharfies footballers last reached the quarter-finals of this premier New Zealand competition.

Although Waterside got off to the better start thanks to some near misses courtesy of Leo Villa and Tomas Alvarado, it was actually Roslyn Wakari who got on the score sheet after 20 minutes with an in-swinging corner.

Ben Lack equalised seven minutes later and locked up the match until half time and for a further ten minutes after the break.

Birhanu Taye slotted one for Karori from a good distance out and Jack Parker came off the bench to make it 3-1.

Roslyn responded immediately to put the pacemakers on overtime.

Seth Ward also came off the bench for Karori with the fourth goal for the visitors at close range.

Jack Parker made it a double on the 90-minute mark and the happiest of journeys back to Karori Park.

Two members of the Karori team hit milestones during the match.

Captain Harry Faultley and mid fielder Lewis Miller recorded their 75th appearances for the Wharfies.

The delight for Karori at Ellis Park in Dunedin could not be replicated at Wakefield Park in Wellington.

The other Wellington quarterfinalist, Wellington Olympic, lost the war of attrition and a man off the park late in regulation time when they went down 3-2 in extra time thanks to a 118th minute goal to Eastern Suburbs of Auckland.

Karori will be joined in the semi-finals by Christchurch United, who beat Hamilton Wanderers 3-0, and Melville United of Hamilton who pipped Western Springs 1-0.

There was one catch up game in the men’s Central League with Stop Out being too strong for Petone and winning 2-1.

Stop Out has now eclipsed both