MELVILLE MAGIC 08 E-NEWSLETTER

MELVILLE MAGIC 2022 | 08

04 JUNE 2022

06 JUNE 2022

If you're heading to the matches this weekend make sure you visit Raymond and the team at L.K Coffee Hub Kahikatea right across from Gower Park and order eggs on toast and receive a hot drink for FREE!

Proud Supporters of Melville United AFC

Front Cover: Luke Searle has returned from long-term injury this season PHOTO: Mishaal Kisan

Chairman's Welcome It is always an occasion of some note when we host the northern premier league leaders, as is the case today with Auckland City.

And it is of even more significance when the match is a showdown between first and second in the league, which is also the case today.

The long weekend also sees the start of the Chatham Cup campaign, while our women's first team has the weekend off.

Auckland City is likely to be the sternest test Melville has faced since the opening day of the season. However, our five-match-winning run has brought new confidence and belief to everyone at Melville, particularly after a tough opening, with two straight losses.

Last Saturday was one of the most enjoyable derbies in the modern era, as we beat Wanderers Sports Club 4-1. The big crowd, pace of the game and quality of some of the goals made it a day to remember.

On the second part of our long weekend, Melville travels to Tuakau, where we face Franklin United at Dr John Lightbody Reserve (2pm) in the Chatham Cup. It is not often we get to visit a venue we have never played at before these days, but this is one of them.

There’s a chocolate fish to anyone who can explain what the good doctor did to have a reserve named after him. Melville fans probably already know Gower Park was named after Dr George William Gower (1887-1974), an early member of the Hamilton Domain Board and a prominent surgeon at Waikato Hospital.

Melville United is delighted to welcome another sponsor on board this week, with Dan Haslam and family (from The Harrisons Group of companies) signing up to sponsor fuel for the season for our women’s director of football, Tarena Ranui.

Dan and his brother Paul were members of the Hamilton Boys’ High first XI of the late 80s - early 90s, while Dan’s daughter Milan is a member of the Melville Academy.

With the club fielding two girl's teams in the northern youth leagues as well as the first team in the WaiBOP W-league, Tarena is doing an immense amount of traveling this season. Thanks also to Brooke Macdonald from Soccer United Football Supplies for facilitating this.

Behind the scenes we are steadily moving closer to being able to make an announcement about development plans for Gower Park. A draft report is due to be scrutinised and refined by our strategic advisory group in about 10 days time.

Batesy

Sam Says Welcome back to Gower Park for another massive game and huge challenge.

Last Saturday was a special day, made even more memorable by the tremendous support we received.

However, that result is now in the past and we must ensure we refocus for today's game.

With a number of senior players injured or unavailable, I was incredibly pleased with the way our young squad stepped up to last week's challenge. We will need the same level of bravery and hard work today if we are to be competitive against an Auckland City side that in my opinion is the strongest in the country.

We have many aspirational young players in our squad. Games like this one where they get an opportunity to match themselves up against the best domestic players in the country presents a huge opportunity and an exciting challenge. The message this week has been to embrace this challenge...respect the opposition but fear no one!

Welcome to Albert and his Auckland City side. In his first season in charge Albert has done a fantastic job. To take the best team in the league and make them even better is no mean feat. We will look forward to competing against them today and hopefully we can do ourselves proud with another brave performance.

Enjoy the match!

Sam

1. Max TOMMY (GK) 2. Braeden QUILTER-PHIPPS 3. Aaron SCOTT (c) 4. Luke SEARLE 5. Campbell BROWN 6. Logan WISNEWSKI 7. Harry CHRISTENSEN-ROSE 8. Liam HAYES 9. Ryen LAWRENCE 10. Jerson LAGOS 11. Quinton KIPARA 12. Oliver COLLOTY 13. Kieran RICHARDS 14. Sean LIDDICOAT 15. Stafford DOWLING 16. Aston HURD 17. Josh GALLETLY 18. John OAKMAN 19. Raheem HUNTER 20. Conor JAMIESON (GK) 21. Sean LEADLEY 22. Lemuel LE HANE 23. Dylan WILLIAMS 24. Leslie KIVOLYN

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Conor TRACEY (GK) Mario ILICH Adam MITCHELL Christian GREY Angel BERLANGA Brian KALTAK Cam HOWIESON (c) Gerard GARRIGA Angus KILKOLLY Dylan MANICKUM Ryan DE VRIES Sam BROTHERTON Nathan LOBO Jordan VALE Aidan CAREY Joe LEE Reid DRAKE Liam DOCKERTY (GK) Liam GILLION Emiliano TADE Ilham HAMEEDI

Coach: Sam WILKINSON Assistant Coach: Harry TRETHOWAN Operations: Seamus MARTEN Physio: James YOUNG Manager: Steve BETTIS Assistant Manager: Danny MILNER

Coach: Albert REIRA Assistant Coach: Ivan VICELICH GK Coach: Enaut ZUBIKARAI Physio: Matt PAYNE Manager: Keith COTON Analyst: Adria CASALS

Alife ROGERS Cam BROWN (GK)

Referee: Anne-Marie KEIGHLEY | AR1: Ben NORMAN | AR2: Jacob PORTER

Derby day delight Super Melville pumped presumably-strong Wanderers 4-1 in one of the great derby wins to remain second in the northern premier league.

The Unicorns still trail Auckland City – their opponents at home on Saturday – by seven points, but otherwise this was an exceptional win in what is quickly becoming a remarkable campaign.

It was Melville’s sixth successive win and eighth in total for the season, leaving them with a positive goal difference of 18, something that may become significant later in the campaign.

That Melville did so in the absence of usual starters Liam Hayes, Logan Wisnewski, Raheem Hunter and Sean Liddicoat only emphasised how far they have come since losing the opening two matches of the season.

Two statistics underline how much Melville have broadened their base. At the halfway stage of the league they have used 21 players – and 11 of them have scored.

However statistics were the last thing on anybody’s mind when Melville opened the scoring in just the sixth minute with one of the all-time great derby goals, in front of easily the biggest crowd of the season.

From a set play Oliver Colloty controlled the ball at the near post and delivered to the far post when Jerson Lagos ever so sweetly smashed a right-foot volley high into the net from a tight angle.

Four minutes later Melville established an element of comfort when Campbell Brown started a storming run in his own half to charge goalward. As he hit the penalty area shouts went up everywhere for a foul on Jerson, but the ball from Brown deflected off defender Paul Clout for an own goal.

Wanderers also carved out several chances in the first half, though by the end Max Tommy had an easier ride in goal than he may have expected.

Colloty – who had another thoughtful game up front - scored his ninth goal of the season in the 67th minute. He shot from distance and keeper Matt Oliver got two hands to it but the ball somehow escaped his grasp and made it over the line.

Ten minutes later Kieran Richards – having his first start since returning from the US – added the icing with a goal where he crabbed sideways from left to right near the edge of the area, and picked his moment to squeeze home a shot inside the near post.

Wanderers picked up a consolation goal shortly afterwards.

2022 Men's First Team Squad

Player sponsorships still available Contact: info@melvilleunited.co.nz

2022 Men's First Team Squad

Player sponsorships still available Contact: info@melvilleunited.co.nz

U-23s lose first match Melville United U23s have dropped to third on the table after a disappointing 2-1 home loss to mid-table Wanderers. Wanderers scored two early goals, while Sean Leadley converted a penalty for his eighth goal of the season.

Academy round up Birkenhead United swept Melville in the NRFL Youth matches at Korikori Park, while the 13s got up over Wanderers, and the 12s had mixed results.

Waikato Regional 12th Grade | Round 04 Melville United U12 Green 1-2 Hamilton Wanderers U12 Claudelands Rovers U12 2-8 Melville United U12 Red WaiBOP Y-League | Round 05 Hamilton Wanderers U13 3-6 Melville United U13 LOTTO NRFL U14 Mixed | Round 07 Melville United U14 1-3 Birkenhead United U14 LOTTO NRFL U15 Mixed | Round 07 Melville United U15 3-6 Birkenhead United U15 LOTTO NRFL U17 Mixed | Round 07 Melville United U17 2-3 Birkenhead United U17

Weekend fixtures Waikato Regional 12th Grade Melville United U12 Green - no fixture Melville United U12 Red - no fixture WaiBOP Y-League Melville United U13 - no fixture LOTTO NRFL U14 Mixed | Round 08 East Coast Bays U14 v Melville United U14 Ashley Reserve | Long Bay | 11.30am LOTTO NRFL U15 Mixed | Round 08 East Coast Bays U15 v Melville United U15 Ashley Reserve | Long Bay | 1.30pm LOTTO NRFL U17 Mixed | Round 08 East Coast Bays U17 v Melville United U17 Postponed

Feds suffer heavy defeat in Taupo Following some late drama, including van trouble, and confusion over the kick off time, the Melville Feds made the long away trip down to Taupo looking for a win off the back of a tough 0-1 loss to Unicol.

The game started off with Melville dominating an early spell of possession and taking the lead in the in the 10th minute from a back post for a tap-in off a flicked-on corner.

The goal stood despite strong cries of offside from the Taupo camp.

Taupo looked to exploit the wings and eventually equalised in the 37th minute from a speculative cross which drifted over the keepers head and into the back of the next off the back post. Again, with a hint of offside.

Three minutes later Melville took the lead once again to go into half time 2-1 up after a very pleasing first half.

Taupo emerged strongest after the break and were denied a couple of strong penalty shouts.

The turning point of the match came when injury struck on the hour forcing a Melville reshuffle at the back. Unfortunately, the changes caused confusion amongst the Melville ranks and it wasn't long before the hosts were back on even footing.

The 61st minute equaliser was quickly followed up by two fouls leading to 64th and 72nd minute goals from the penalty spot.

By this point Melville's morale had dropped massively, and they conceded again in the 81st and 83rd minutes.

Taupo eventually winning 6-2 with Melville conceding five goals in 22 minutes.

Waikato wrap

First team coaches Sam Wilkinson and Harry Trethowan made surprise appearances for the Nobs on Friday night, helping them to a 3-2 win over Claudelands Rovers Squatters.

Elsewhere, the Mighty A's accounted for Corinthians in an allMelville derby.

And the Bs and Old Boys lost in high-scoring encounters against Waikato Unicol and Ngaruawahia United respectively.

Waikato Men's Division 1 | Round 06 Melville United Nobs 3-2 Claudelands Rovers Squatters Melville United Mighty A's 3-0 Melville United Corinthians Waikato Men's Over 35s | Round 06 Melville United Old Boys 2-6 Ngaruawahia United Presidents Waikato Men's Division 2 | Round 06 Waikato Unicol Development 5-0 Melville United B

Weekend fixtures Fixtures | Friday, 03 June Waikato Men's Knockout Cup 2022 | Round 02 Claudelands Rovers Vets v Melville United Corinthians Galloway Park | 6.30pm Fixtures | Saturday, 04 June WaiBOP Premiership | Round 08 Otumoetai v Melville United Federation Fergusson Park | Otumoetai | 2.45pm Waikato Men's Knockout Plate 2022 | Round 02 Melville United Nobs v Northern United Gaffers Gower Park | 12.00pm Waikato Men's Knockout Cup 2022 | Round 02 Te Awamutu Reserves v Melville United Bs Anchor Park | Te Awamutu | 12.30pm Melville United Mighty As v Claudelands Rovers Seasoned Squatters Gower Park | 2.00pm

Women's wrap Academy | Saturday, 28 May WaiBOP U13 Girls Y-League | Round 04 Melville United U13 Girls 5-0 Cambridge FC U13 Lotto NRFL U14 Girls | Round 07 Ellerslie AFC U14 Girls 2-1 Melville United U14 Girls LOTTO NRFL U16 Girls | Round 04 Auckland United U16 Gold 6-2 Melville United U16 Girls Senior | Sunday, 29 May Waikato Women's Division 1 | Round 06 Ngaruawahia United 2-3 Melville United Reserves Waikato Women's Division 2 | Round 06 Melville United Epics - bye

Weekend fixtures Academy Fixtures | Saturday, 04 June WaiBOP U13 Girls Y-League Melville United U13 Girls - no fixture Lotto NRFL U14 Girls | Round 08 Melville United U14 Girls v Western Springs U14 Girls Gower Park | 11.00am LOTTO NRFL U16 Girls | Round 08 Melville United U16 Girls v Eastern Suburbs Lilywhite U16 Girls Gower Park| 12.00pm Senior Fixtures | Sunday, 05 June WaiBOP W-League Melville United - no fixture Waikato Women's Division 1 Melville United Reserves - no fixture Waikato Women's Division 2 Melville United Epics - no fixture

Tales with Tarena We are on the board!

Morale is an important element in any team culture and is often made easier if you are winning. I think that's what I am most proud of with this current group.

Our ability to dance between willing to be honest in holding each other accountable for our performance and cheering each other on and celebrating improvement.

We are quite diverse in our age and stage of life and that requires us to be tolerant of each other. It also requires us to commit to each other and the learning process that we find ourselves in. But this group has been able to find a way and we have some reward for our repeated efforts.

So we go again and we expect to see improvement in our next game up against the top of the table Otumoetai.

It's in our improvement that our joy has been allowed to grow and so too our morale.

The way we play the game is becoming more enjoyable and so now we need to back up our last two performances by utilising our youthful athleticism and our wise older heads to improve, to compete, and to win.

We are good enough to start expecting that mentality every time we step out onto the pitch.

Round 2 here we come!

Tarena

Soccer United Football Supplies, Research Motors and RFM Rental Cars are proud to support Melville United Head of Women's Football Tarena Ranui as she continues to ensure the growth of girls football in the Waikato.

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