Welcome to the thirteenth edition of Te Atatu AFC‘s newsletter for the season! See match reports for the latest round! Highlights include the Div 4 Women and Men's Reserves consolidating their places on top of their leagues, and our Men's First Team beating local rivals Lynn-Avon 2 weeks in a row. Here’s hoping for a complete and interrupted 2022 season!! NEWSLETTER WELCOME, WEEK IN REVIEW Match day reviews Sponsor Profiles F E A T U R E S AUG19|ISSUE13
Saturday saw us take on Lynn Avon for the second time in as many weeks. Lynn Avon recently have been a bit of a bogey team for whatever reason, we struggle to perform at a high standard that we have in previous weeks.
We said at the start of a season promotion is our goal, despite not putting together a 90 minute performance the 3 points is the most important at this stage of the season whilst nursing injuries. Congrautlations to Ruben Boyack and Thomas Wright for being called up for the game from the Reserves, hopefully more to come from these lads. We move onto a Friday night game vs Ranui looking to keep the momentum going with another 3 points.
MEN'S FIRSTS
The first half was sub standard and less said about it the better, The only highlight being we hit the post twice. 0-0 at the break but still all to play for. Regardless of the performance the goal was three points. The second half was a lot better with cohesion throughout. We scored early through Rhys Caples who scored his 21st goal of the season on another day we couldve had two penalties 4 goals and 3 points but we settled for 1 goal, 3 points and a clean sheet, the fourth in a row.
TE ATATU 1 : 0 LYNN AVON JUN 24 2022| ISSUE 24
Bit congratulations to Campbell and to Thomas and Ruben who both got the nod for first team.
MEN'S RESERVES
Wary of a couple tricky Lynn Avon players and confident that we were the better side, Te Atatu gradually grew into the game which saw both sides retain large spells of possession with not many chances being created. Although after some good passing in the midfield, Austin trim played a defense splitting pass into Campbell who took one touch before being taken out. He stepped up himself to convert the penalty. A few more chances arose for our lads with efforts from distance from Ethan and Thomas but it was Lynn Avon who would strike next. After the diminutive midfielder from Lynn Avon refused to give up on a through ball Connor was there to show him size does matter, but gave away a penalty in the process. Scott did his best but the penalty was class and our lads went into half time at 1 1.
Second half started swiftly and with Brandon Harper, Mene Nokisi and Russell Taylor all making their introduction, it took minutes for us to get a free kick in a dangerous position. Up stood Campbell again and he walloped the ball around the wall and into the top corner for his second of the game. Chances came far and few between in the following plays with Lynn Avon unable to create, and Te Atatu happy to play conservative. Although Brandan Tan on 75 minutes was there to pounce on a bobbled cross into the area and somehow managed to chip the keeper with the top knot on his head from 3 yards out. The keeper was standing up so it has to be all class. He keeps the top knot one more week. The game would become slow and steady for the remainder as Lynn Avon had no ideas and with the game in bag, one final push from our boys saw Brandan Harper beat 3 or 4 players before unleashing a shot that the keeper saved, only to fall onto the head of Campbell to complete his hattrick on his first appearance as Captain.
For the second week in a row our matched up against Lynn avon, this time playing host. Expecting a different team and not caring Pete put out a largely unchanged side with club legend Campbell "do you know who I am Campbell" getting the nod as Captain for the first time.
. TE ATATU 4 : 1 LYNN AVON JUN 24
WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP
TE ATATU 2 : 1 METRO
Welcoming in the second round of our Ladies first team’s season, the NRF have split the league into two tiers –Championship & Conference. Points are carried over so our ladies start their Conference round at the top of the ladder, a spot they want to remain at. We welcomed Metro FC to Te Atatu for a rematch after a 1 1 draw 2 weeks ago. A few players were back on board after injury and illness & started strong, with Rebecca Gage opening the scoring in the first 5 minutes. She connected with a cross from Ang Byrne and headed it into the far corner. The ladies carried possession throughout the second half & were able to handle Metro’s wide counter-attacks, shutting them out for most of the half. After weeks of coming close, Michaela Bain’s hard work was finally rewarded just before the break as she sped past the defence to pick up a through ball and push it past the Metro keeper. A well deserved first senior goal for Michaela! It was definitely a game of two halves, with Metro pushing our ladies in the second half. They pressed numbers up front but our defensive scrambles kept them out. Te Atatu struggled to bring the ball down & Metro snuck in a goal off a corner in the 70th minute, making for a tense final 20. Digging deep, our ladies worked as a unit & kept Metro out for the rest of the game. 2-1 the final score with POD to Michaela for her high pressure on the backline and well deserved goal.
This week W4 faced the West Coast Rangers at home. With a couple of key players missing and some of us still nursing the effects of a big night of ‘team bonding’ on Friday we knew we were in for a big game.
WOMENS DIVISON
TE ATATU 1 : 0 WEST COAST RANGERS
Luckily our wonderful manager Kathy and Coach Esther organised some super subs – “Young Eden” plus Anna L and Sheri from W3 who didn’t have a game that day. A big thank you for filling in!
Keeper this week was Pam who had a rather quiet game in goal as Te Atatu held possession most of the 90 minutes. The shots that did come her way were saved swiftly and expertly. Despite many shots, there was only one goal for the game – a beautiful shot from Amie, who received the ball from Shannen 18 minutes into the first half. Shots of mention go to KK for her almost goal mega boot from the back line, and to Caitlin who very nearly scored on the ground in the final minutes. The last 5 10 mins got a bit dicey with the bulk of the play too close to Pam for our liking. Thanks to recent tactics training the team pulled together and knew we needed to play defensively to protect those three points and keep us at the top of the table. Everyone dug in and gave it their all right until the whistle. Player of the day went to Brogan for her relentless work in the back line to keep our goal safe. Kai this week was pizza, garlic bread and fruit, along with some of the best baking of the season. Quote of the week: “Run like you’re young”.
4
Special thanks to Chris from the Stallions for doing us a real solid and reffing our whole game – much appreciated! And also special mention to our own Tom Tuke who was playing his last game for the BBs (at least until he returns from his puppeteer adventures in the States). Tom’s infectious great attitude and marauding runs from wing back will be sorely missed.
MotM – Terence: A lot of the domination the BBs were able to have in this game came from Ts excellent ball control and silky moves all highlighted by his build up play and the assist for the goal.
BB'S 1 : 1 ALBANY
The BBs took on Albany Bunda at Te Atatu South Park on Saturday as they looked to get back on track following a few disappointing results. The start of the game made it look like the BBs were going to spank Bunda much as they had in their first meeting. Lots of delightful passing and moving led to one of the finest BBs team goals I’ve ever seen. Some fine interplay switched from the opposite side of the field saw Jack link up with Terence who played a tasty one two with Nicholas along the side line before T found Mark in the box who with his first touches of the game slotted home coolly. The BBs looked to ran rampant and chances came and went, but they just wouldn’t get in the goal as balls were blazed over and crossbars hit leaving the Bbs going in at halftime 1-0 up.
DIV 6 BB'S
The second half was a similar story of the final nail just not quite falling for the BBs. Unfortunately, at the rear Bunda grew into the game, capitalising on a BBs backline mistake and burying a well taken chance to level the scores. This buoyed Albany as the BBs fought to not be the butt of the joke and see off several attacks for the game to end in a stalemate. Strangely this was the first BBs draw of the season, but the boys certainly walked away feeling donkeys who had missed out on an opportunity for three points.
WILD STALLIONS
The Stallions took on Ellerlsie Greyhounds who have a 100% win record in our division. Our opposition have only conceded 9 goals so far this season and started this game with pace that had our back line at sixes and sevens. An early corner was slapped in from their striker to open the scoring in true Maradona form as he netted with his hand. Another two quick fire goals saw us stunned at 3 0 down in the first half.
A great training session midweek run by Danny saw us actually play some rehearsed football and we managed to squeeze one back through Danny who’s shot beat the keeper. The second half was a different story to the first, with the Stallions on the front foot from the get go. Harry and Ben were running Ellerslie’s back line ragged and with that good work, Stallions top scorer Harry managed to poach another goal for us after their keeper fumbled the ball in the box bringing his season tally to 7 so far.
Ellerslie struck back as we pushed for an equaliser to make it 4-2 but it was us who had the next laugh when Lukas rounded two players and fired low into the bottom corner out of the keepers reach. Shaun then tried his best diving technique when he flopped in the box looking for a penalty but this was to no avial. The final whistle blew and we lost 4-3 however, this feels like a win for us. Scoring 3 against an opposition far too good for this league and contributing to a quarter of their goals against in one game is a hell of an achievement.
MOTM went to Scotty for an outstanding performance.
DOTD went to Shaun for his acrobatic dive (we’ve seen them given).
STALLIONS 3 : 4 ELLERSLIE
Having said that it’s hard to single out players in that second half as everyone stepped up. We pushed hard for a winner and desperately unlucky with shots being cleared off the line and rebounds not quite falling to our feet. In the cold light of day it’s 4 points dropped in 2 weeks, but still leaves us 2 points clear at the top of the table and our fate is in our hands, and a welcome time for Kevin to come back from his great adventure (to England, not Mordor). It was awesome to see the spirit of the team come through to battle back from certain defeat and keep the points moving. Onto Northern Rovers next week and another great battle. PONSONBY
WESTERLIES 2 : 2 MT-ALBERT
WESTERLIES
Last week our draw felt like a loss, this week our draw at least felt like a draw. On an absolute carpet of a pitch at Ken Maunder, Mt Albert game out of the blocks strong and full of energy and took the initiative in the game. Questions were being asked about whether the lack of a bobble was affecting our guys, and unfortunately MAP struck twice before we figured it out. Their first was through a shot that Eddie would save 99.9% of the time, and the second was great play by their winger who squared a great ball for their striker to get his double. The halftime discussions were just the remedy though and the Westerlies came out the stronger of the 2 sides. Paulie is in a phase of only scoring worldies, which luckily for us he decided to smash in 2 from outside the box giving the MAP keeper no chance. His 11th and 12th goals of the year were absolute peaches and summed up the attitude of the team. Well done to Ollie on the second for not getting a nosebleed after making a great run into midfield to spark the attack. Drew managed to keep tabs on their 9 foot tall striker who ended up blowing out his hammie…so Drew definitely takes the one on one victory!
