Back down to earth with a thump

Wairarapa United were dealt a reality check by Tawa in their Capital Soccer premier division soccer match played before a good-sized crowd at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton yesterday.
Tawa won 4-1 and while it could be fairly argued they were that not much better than the locals on the run of play the clinical manner in which they turned their prime scoring opportunities into goals certainly meant their victory was thoroughly deserved.
The effectiveness of their finishing work was, in fact, in direct contrast to Wairarapa United who often threatened in or about the goal circle but only had the one goal to show for their efforts, and that had a touch of good fortune about it too.
It came early in the game when a Tawa defender slipped, allowing pacy Wairarapa United forward Seule Soromon a one on one situation with the goalkeeper and a player of Soromon's calibre is seldom going to come off second best in that situation.
That was about the only error made by the Tawa defensive unit all game-if indeed it could be called an error- with their double marking of Wairarapa United's danger men Soromon and Pita Rabo invariably forcing them to take hurried shots at goal, most of which were well wide of their target.
Wairarapa United's defence, on the other hand, was anything but rock solid, particularly in the second half when Tawa all too often exposed their tendancy to bunch up in the middle of the field by attacking down both flanks The visitors scored three of their goals then after the score was level at 1-1 at halftime.
It was also noticeable that Tawa were much more assertive in their approach when it came to competing for 50-50 ball,especially in the air where WairarapaUnited's perceived height advantage counted for very little.
And that whereas Tawa's midfield were quick to turn help their backs when the home team were on attack their Wairarapa United counterparts seldom labelled themselves urgent in that respect, something which had one wondering whether their unbeaten record coming into this game had lulled at least some of them into a false sense of security.
In that regard then the magnitude of the loss could prove a blessing in disguise as the season progresses.
From an individual viewpoint this was not a match which many of the Wairarapa United players will recall with fondness.The high workrate of James Oxtoby., both on defence and in linking with his midfield in attacking forays, made him a standout figure, goalkeeper Matt Borren could hardly be blamed for any of the four goals scored against him and impressed with the length and accuracy of his clearances and if Rabo and Soromon were generally contained on attack it wasn't for the want of trying.
As disappointing as the end result was the knowledge that this could be the last premier division match played on the park oval this winter.
It seems such a huge shame not to have games scheduled there on a regular basis as the condition of the surface and the atmosphere the oval engenders makes it a superb venue for the round ball code, probably as good as any in the greater Wellington region.