Welcome to the thirteenth edition of Te Atatu AFC‘s newsletter for the season! With only half the teams playing, we still have some big results with our Women's Championship side taking out the Conference title, the Stallions getting Jared Heelam a win for his birthday, and the Reserve's holding their place at the top of the table. NEWSLETTER WELCOME, WEEK IN REVIEW Match day reviews Sponsor Profiles F E A T U R E S AUG19|ISSUE13
MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
We welcomed Central to our ground on the back of a disappointing loss to Ranui the previous week. Central have been stringing good results together and are in the hunt to win the league. Having played them twice already and lost on both occasions we knew we needed to try a different approach if we were to be successful. The plan was to spend more time attacking centrally with penetrating passes in front of and between their centre backs. For the most part we managed to do this and as a result we created a number of half chances that were either well saved or defended. Unfortunately, we were undone with a long throw, again, and despite having most of the play we went into halftime 1 0 down. Matty came on at halftime and him and Rhys began making real inroads into their back four during the first 20mins of the second half.
TE ATATU 2 : 3 CENTRAL UNITED JUN 24 2022| ISSUE 24
Central scrambled well in defence and kept us out and then against the run of play scored another goal. In previous weeks we would have gone into our shell and rolled over but today was different. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and stuck at the plan. We were soon rewarded when Rhys passed the ball into the net from about 40 yards after a quick break and then a few minutes later he also slotted a penalty! 2-2, game on??? Central then completed the scoring with a penalty of their own – game over! A 3 2 loss but overall, a pleasing performance, both teams acknowledging that a draw would have been a fair result.
CONFERENCE
Sunday our ladies firsts hosted Bay Olympic at home, a game they needed to win to keep atop of the ladder. With our young guns away for tournament week, up stepped Caitlin, Shannen and Wendy to bolster the squad. Our ladies kicked off and enjoyed a lot of possession, working on switching the ball across the field to make space. Soon enough Bronwyn Caples stepped up off a through ball and got a toe in just before the keeper to slot the ball in. In to the break 1-0 and while the ladies had dominated they were frustrated at giving the ball away in the final third. They took this into the second half and we’re rewarded with a Rebecca Parkinson chip over the keeper. The ladies kept pushing with Esther Bushell, Ang Byrne and Caitlin Perkins all coming close. A nice bit of tiki taka and Wyllowe Poata was through to make it 3-0. POD this week went to Nat Farrell for leading the team by example and giving the girls the energy they needed. Special mention to Caitlin, Shannen and Wendy who did amazing jobs on the field. And to Tui for the amazing Mac n Cheese aftermatch feed.
TE ATATU 3 : 0 BAY OLYMPIC
WOMENS
MEN'S RESERVES
. TE ATATU 1 : 0 CENTRAL UNITED JUN 24
A beautiful Saturday afternoon saw our table topping Ressies welcome last placed Central to Tat Park. With an absolutely revitalised squad Central started strong and looked nothing like a team with one win to their name, darting the ball across only for Connor and Stu to stand strong. As per usual though our lads grew into the game and began to take a hold, playing some good football of our own and making the Central defence work. Good chances were far and few between and we'd go into the break goalless for both sides. Second half began and shortly after, a power trip from the man in the middle saw Coach and substitute player, Peter Thrower asked to leave and not return. The altercation threw both teams of for the following few minutes but Te Atatu were first back to it as a brilliantly whipped in corner from Ruben found Thomas Wright's head and then bounced off of Campbell's knee and slowly into the bottom corner. 1-0 Te Atatu. Central did mount a fight back and we're unlucky to have a goal chalked off but in the end our lads held strong and claimed a valuable 3 points.
This weekend the Stallions played at our “home” ground of Michaels Ave for what feels like the 20th time this season as we faced up against the Wild Bucks for the 3rd time this season (we lost both the cup and league games 3 2). Third time lucky for the Stallions? The message pre game was to impose ourselves physically and get the ball forward to Danny in the CAM role to pick passes out for our wide men (body shape and formation shape) to create chances. A double pivot of Lukas and stand in Stallion Mark set the pace early. Mark played Shaun through and the Brighton Beckham powered a shot in at the near post to open the scoring for the Stallions (the keeper had a hand in the goal but we take them). Our opposition struck back through an absolute pearler from 35 yards out. Their centre back thunderstruck a cross/clearance that somehow flew into the top corner of the Stallions net. We didn’t let that phase us though and super sub Neil (Neilhino) scored a goal of the season contender after a quick throw in found Mark who’s hard work resulted in a ball into the box that Neil met with a weak foot back heel on the spin that nutmegged the keeper to restore our lead. Shortly after this, Blake made an incredible goal line clearance to save our bacon. Half time 2-1 to the Stallions. The second half was a walk in the park for the Stallions who limited our opposition to shots from miles out. Shaun should have nabbed a third for us when he found himself open in the box but his strike hit the post and bounced kindly into the keepers hands. The Wild Bucks right back did his best to help the Stallions too when he smacked a ball back at his keeper from point blank range that again, fell fortunately right into the keepers hands. Final score 2-1 to the Stallions! OTM went to Blake for an outstanding performance. DOTD went to Shaun (again).
WILD STALLIONS
STALLIONS 2 : 1 ELLERSLIE
