SOCCER - Four-goal spell nails Kamo title

A supercharged Kamo found their mojo in the second half of the Stafford Choat final to score four goals in 20 minutes against Onerahi and claim the trophy - the club's second of the day - at Morningside Park on Saturday.
The Kamo premier side, strengthened by five Northern League players, ran out 7-2 winners in the final after their women's team had earlier beat Hora Hora 1-0 to win a tense Northland women's knockout final.
However, at halftime, Kamo were lucky to be ahead of Onerahi 2-1. Onerahi weathered an early storm and goals to Sammy Oso and Keegan Baddeley to edge their way back into the game with a goal to Harley Freeman. In fact, they were unfortunate to head to the break one down after Josh Paget's shot hit the crossbar just moments before.
Both teams had early chances in the second spell and Oso grabbed another to extend Kamo's lead but it wasn't until the 55th minute, when Oso turned provider for Calvin Erick to score the goal of the match, that Onerahi's number was up.
Captain Sanjay Singh added another 10 minutes later, before Paul Cross chipped in to make it 6-1, ending a sublime period of football for Kamo.
Scott Burgess grabbed a consolation goal for Onerahi before David Healey completed the scoring with five minutes to go.
A jubilant Singh said the team always believed they had the quality to score goals, the bigger challenge was trying to keep a clean sheet.
"That didn't happen but we still scored enough goals to win. I don't think we ever thought at halftime it would be 7-2 but we felt pretty confident that the only way they were going to score was if we made mistakes."
The team's ball players began to find space in the second spell.
"A lot of work off the ball probably helped, the boys were making the runs and that led to a patch there, of 15-20 minutes, which we found our feet and goals came thick and fast," he said.
Coach Russel Baddeley had two good reasons for celebrating after both of his teams won on the day - and he was later named coach of the year at the Northland prizegiving ceremony.
"I'm a very happy guy, they were both excellent games. The first one with the women was tight and tense and Hora Hora was in it all the time - this one was tight and tense up until halftime but then the boys turned on a 20-minute spell that broke their back," he said.
The women's final was decided by a Chelsey Webster goal, 15 minutes into the second spell. Hora Hora missed a great opportunity to take the lead with a penalty in the first spell but Emma Baker just pushed the spot kick wide.