Waitakere to the fore to deliver knockout blow to FC Whangarei

FC Whangarei were left with an empty feeling inside after losing the final of United Soccer 1 Federation Knockout Cup 4-0 to a dominant Waitakere side at Morningside Park.
Despite the loss, coach Carl Compaan remained pragmatic and was already looking ahead to their remaining fixtures. "It's just one of those things where you need a winner and a loser ... they were the better team on the day," he said.
Waitakere gained the upper hand from the outset when they  scored four minutes into the match.
"The first goal set us back and just when we were getting into our game, they scored another," Compaan said.
It was an uphill battle, with FC Whangarei playing catch-up despite throwing everything at the visitors, the coach said.
Waitakere added another  goal before the break but the hosts stepped up their defence during the second half and restricted their opponents to only one more.
During the second half, FC Whangarei started to find their stride but they were unable to convert the few opportunities they were presented with.
Even the efforts of centre midfielder Adam Sharp, sweeper Eddie Robert and forward Gareth Webb could not stop Waitakere who have won this competition in the past, Compaan said.
Webb took on a huge workload up front but also came back looking for more ball and to help out the defence, he added.
While the loss hurt the team who have had a diabolical season this year, Compaan said the focus now was on the Stafford Cup competition over the next few weeks.
"We're hoping to make the finals and if we do we will have three Stafford Choat matches ... but anything can happen as they are knockout games too," he said.
"It will be interesting as all the clubs will have their North Force players back now as they have finished their season." Compaan said his side will get two players back from the North Force stable for the competition - Steve Crowley and Waikere Birch.
FC Whangarei also have one Northland Premier League match left as well as the Northland Premier Plate final against Kerikeri FC.
The coach also said he was looking forward to supporting FC Whangarei Premier women in the final of their Federation Knockout Cup next weekend at Albany Stadium against Glenfield.