YoungHeart Manawatu

Hawke's Bay United

1

0

Seule Soromon 67

by Andrew Bailey at Memorial Park

Suffering fans at Memorial Park today might have been wondering if YoungHeart’s struggles to produce goals at home were set to continue.

The Manawatu v Hawkes Bay derby has been famed for its high scoring in recent years but it took just one goal from Seule Soromon to seal all three points for YoungHeart as captain Adam Cowan celebrated his 100th NZFC appearance.

Manawatu received a boost before kick off when striker Campbell Banks was named on the bench after it was believed he would miss the match with an injury. His partnership with Seule Soroman has been an important source of goals and his absence last week coincided with a blank on the scoresheet.

Manawatu started the match positively and strikers Des Fa'auaiso and Seule Soroman looked lively, their pace gave the Hawkes Bay defenders plenty to think about. As early as the seventh minute Fa'auaiso was played in well by Corey Chettleburgh but he was caught offside, with his striker partner Soromon guilty of the same offence a few minutes later.

It was hardly all one way traffic. In between Manawatu raids Hawkes Bay were able to construct openings of their own, especially on the break. A good Richard Gillespie throw-out found Abba on the halfway line in the 10th minute and a good run and interchange found him get it back just outside the box. The angle was too tight however, and his cross/shot went wide, hitting the side netting.

His striker partner Joachim Rande found the same side netting a few minutes later, this time after his initial shot was well saved by Nicholson. The two sides continued to exchange half chances, but they headed in at the break level.

The opening period of the second half was frenetic, and good combinations with Nobuyoshi Ishi down the left flank put Soromon in good positions twice before his 67th minute game winner.

Soromon was played in behind a high Hawkes Bay defensive line and the Vanuatuan striker found himself in acres of space. With the Hawkes Bay players left looking at the assistant referee forlornly for an offside flag, Soromon coolly rounded Gillespie before finding the back of the net with a regulation finish and his sixth NZFC goal of the season. 

Just six minutes later Hawkes Bay had their best chance when a cross fell to Joachim Rande. His shot hit the inside of the post and bobbled a yard from the line before NZFC centurion Adam Cowan cleared it off the line. The Hawkes Bay bench reacted predictably.

They would see another chance hit the woodwork – a lobbed header from a corner in extra time – before the final whistle sounded, leaving the Bay and Coach Matt Chandler to rue another tight game that didn’t go their way.

“I don’t think the better side won today. Manawatu are a good side, but I thought we played some really good stuff. We’ve hit the woodwork and Ross [Nicholson] has been excellent.”

“Sometimes teams go through tough periods and I think it’s a matter of getting a win or two and we could well go on a little run. It’s not as if we’re not creating chances. If we weren’t creating chances then I’d be worried, but we are, it’s a matter of doing better when we have chances, and we had some good ones today.”

Manawatu coach Bob Sova was pleased with the result. “We have to remember that we lost this fixture last year. I’m pleased with the result but believe that performance-wise we have more in us. We looked good at times when we got it down, played, and got it wide, but there is still room for improvements.”

Century-maker Adam Cowan, who had a good shot blocked in the second half, was even more succinct in his summary of his feelings.

“Relieved. We were better than last week and it’s great to get an important win in my 100th game.”

Cowan, who was presented with a commemorative plaque after the match, was similarly brief in how he felt about his accomplishment: “Old.”

Manawatu will face FIFA Club World Cup giant-killers Auckland City away next week.

Sova acknowledges it will be tough.

“They’ve got such depth in their squad. There are great players in their team who either haven’t played much or at all over there [at the Club World Cup] and will be fresh, so I have no doubts it will be as difficult as it always is up there.”

Nevertheless, an important derby win against Hawkes Bay today will go some way to giving YoungHeart the belief they’ll need to take points at Kiwitea Street next week.

nzfc.co.nz

YoungHeart Manawatu

V

Hawke's Bay United

1- Ross Nicholson (GK)

23- Richard Gillespie (GK)

2- Nobuyoshi Ishi

2- Sam Halligan

4- Colin Falvey

4- Chris Greatholder - sub 46'

8- Nathan Cooksley

6- Jonathan Taylor

9- Seule Soromon

7- Matt Hastings

10- Adam Cowan

8- Leon Birnie

11- Scott Robson

10- Joachim Rande

16- Raf de Gregorio

11- Andrew Abba

17- Des Fa'auaiso

16- Marama Thompson

20- Jimmy Haidakis sub 78'

17- George Barbarouses

21- Cory Chettleburgh

21- Stuart Ferguson

Substitutes

Substitutes

25- Matt Borren (GK)

1- Shaun Peta (GK)

23- Campbell Banks

12- Sam Jacob  sub 46'

22- Daniel Benson sub 78'

20- Chris McIvor

14- marco paracchini

22- Fergus Neil

6- Matt Kennedy

18- Andy Bevin

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0'-

Its the central provincial derby between YoungHeart Manawatu and Hawke's Bay United - Hawke's Bay have fashioned a successful run of three away wins versus the hosts but YoungHeart coach Bob Sova will be feeling confident of a first home win as Adam Cowan gets set for his 100th NZFC appearance

7'

Des Faauaiso played through by Chettleburgh but he was caught offside

9'

YoungHeart win two corners and a freekick in quick succession but Bay clear the danger each time

10'

Richard Gillespie throws out to release a quickbreak - Andrew Abba gets clear but his cross-cum-shot hits the sidenetting

11'

Good play by YoungHeart - Suele Soromon gets clear but pulled up for offisde

12'

Joachim Rande shoots for goal but Nicholson saves - Rande's follow up shot goes wide..!

16'

Good play by Chettlebrugh leads to a shot by Nobuyoshi saved by Gillespie

18'

hawke's Bay breka down the left cross by Hastings is gathered by Nicholson

19'

Ball by de Gregorio sends Fa'auaiso but his touch was too heavy and Gillespie gathers

22'

Ishi plays Fa'auaiso into space but Gillespie is equal to the task

23'

Dangerous situation for the hosts as Abba's effort gives Nicholson plenty to worry about - but YoungHeart survive..!

27'

Fairly open match but the midfield has congested - YoungHeart look to have the edge so far

30'

Matt Hastings fouled by Jimmy Haidakis - 25 yards out freekick worked nicely but shot straight at Nicholson

34'

Pressure by Hawke's Bay but home side break with Soromon but attack breaks down

36'

Chris Greatholder has a shot but drags it wide from 25 yards out

37'

Freekick floated in from halfway - shot by Greatholder into a crowded box but no danger

39'

Soromon played in but Hawke's Bay player boots it out of Memorial Park - the crowd enjoyed that bit of 'finesse'!

40'

Joachim Rande gets clattered by Adam Cowan - Rande stays down and the match is delayed while the Solomon Island player gets treatment

43'

Rande rejoins the fray just as Andrew Abba is clattered - Abba looks to be alright

44'

Cory Chettleburgh shoots from long range but misses narrowly..!

45'

Two minutes of time added on is to be played - looks like the teams are deadlocked at the break...will Cowan gets his 100th NZFC win that he craves?

Halftime

0-0 at the break in an evenly poised match - more to come in the second half

46'

SUBSTITUTION 12. Sam Jacob in, 4. Chris Greatholder out - Hawke's Bay United

46'

  YELLOW CARD 21. Stuart Ferguson

46'

Seule Soromon miscued a header from point blank range - easier to score..!

50'

  YELLOW CARD 12. Sam Jacob

51'

Scott Robson shoots from 25 yards and clips the top of the crossbar

52'

Des Faausuio played through by Soromon but his weak effort is saved by Gillespie

53'

 YELLOW CARD 16. Raf de Gregorio goes into the book

60'

2. Noboshi Ishi breaks cuts on his right foot lays it off for Faaiauso goes wide

66'

Soromon and Ishi combine well down the left - but Ishi can't finish

67'

  Soromon shoots - Bay pause for offside - rounds Gillespie and scores..!

68'

Cory Chettleburgh shoots but Richard Gillespie has managed to get it clear...!

69'

SUBSTITUTION - 23. Campbell Banks on 17. Des FAAUASIO off

73'

Joachim Rande hits the post for Hawke's Bay United and Adam Cowans clears off the line

73'

  YELLOW CARD 21. Cory Chettleburgh

78'

SUBSTITUTION - 20. Jimmy Hadaikis off, 22. Daniel Benson in

84'

Hawke's Bay sneak a corner Nicholson tipped over

86'

Cutback by Ishi, good strike by Chettleburgh but the shot is blocked

87'

Ishi has a strike but Gillespie saves at the near post

90'

Three mins added on

90' +1

Hastings corner flies into the Manawatu area hits the top of the crossbar and disappears to safety..!

FULLTIME

YoungHeart Manawatu score a valuable win and its that man Seule Soromon who proves the difference. Adam Cowan - YoungHeart skipper - celebrates his 100th NZFC appearance with a first up home win - for Hawke's Bay United its a case of nearly as two efforts strike the woodwork...