Derby day downer

Firstthegoodnews:LiamHayesbombsinadecentcorner.

Otherwise there was little joy to be found in a 2-4 northern premier league derby loss toWanderersSportsClubonGower6.

Indeed, this was Wanderers first derby win since the 2020 farce at Porritt when they werethebeneficiariesoftherefereesnotknowingthepenaltyre-takerules.

It was a typically muscular Waikato derby in which ref Nick Waldron was blowing the whistle for the third successive such occasion, which may even be a record of sorts. And it was about par for the course that five Wanderers players were booked, while Melville team manager Danny Milner picked up a yellow and red card within 10 secondsofeachotherfordissentfromthebench

Melville’s demise can be put down due to some chaotic defending, particularly in a six minute spell early in the second half when, having just taken the lead for a second time, they then conceded three goals in just six minutes and the game was effectively over.

There had earlier been warning signs when Wanderers twice had the ball in the net onlyforMelvilletobesavedbythelinesman’sflag.

Melville’s good fortune was even more evident when Hayes took an inswinging rightfoot corner in the 18th minute and it found the net after hitting the inside of the far postwithaswarmoflimbsnearby h nudgingitoverthelinewithhisknee

Then came the six minutes of madness, with Xavier Pratt scoring for Wanderers, followedbytwofromDerekTieku,includingawellstruckpenalty

Sub Dylan Williams almost gave Melville a late sniff when he steered the ball home from the edge of the area, but after a conference between ref and lino it was ruled outforoff-side.

As a general observation, Wanderers seemed stronger and more alert, while Melville struggledtokeeppossession.

Wanderers coach Joe Hinds was diplomaticin his aftermatch comments forwhat was his first derby win as coach, saying memories of the dual losses to Melville last year werestillvivid.

He said he had tried to play down the derby factor as much as possible before the match to take the pressure off his players and considered it his team’s best performanceoftheseasonsofar

“To twice come back and score four in a derby away from home is a good starting point for the season,” Hinds said “No doubt the next time we play it is going to be an absolutebattle.”

Melville United: 1-Max Tommy (GK), 4-Braedan Quilter-Phipps, 5-Campbell Brown, 6-Ethan Richards, 7-Ry McLeod (15-Erik PANZER 75'), 8-Liam Hayes (c), 9-Jack Connor (12-Jakob England 61'), 11-Quinton KIPARA, 14-Sean Liddicoat, 17-Keagan Thompson (13-DylanWILLIAMS87'),18-JohnOakman

Subsnotused:10-LuccaLim,16-AlecBowden