Hoax puts fire into United?s effort

A shudder went through the crowd at Howard Booth Park on Saturday as news swept around the ground that Western Suburbs was leading Miramar Rangers 5-0 at halftime, and Rangers were down to nine men.
If true, it meant Wairarapa United's title hopes were hanging by a thread, and its own match against Wainuiomata was already going badly.
As it turned out, the Western Suburbs tale was just that, a tale, and a cynic might have thought that the story was put about to motivate a Wairarapa side which was not being given an inch by their feisty Wainui opponents.
In the end, Wairarapa triumphed 1-0 and Western Suburbs, which needed to beat Miramar by seven or eight goals, finished with a 2-2 draw, meaning Wairarapa didn't have to rely on goal difference to lift the Capital Soccer division one title.
The match itself however, had more than a few of the several hundred supporters who turned out frustrated.
They had come to see goals. They had come to see their side triumphant. And the script wasn't being followed.
The Wairarapa side, which was able to dominate Miramar last weekend, was up against a much more resolute opposition on Saturday. In fact, it was hard to see how Wairarapa had triumphed over this side 7-0 earlier in the season.
Wainuiomata, though not a particularly skillful side, hustled and bustled Wairarapa all day, refusing to allow the home team to settle into any sort of rhythm.
The game plan from the visitors was simple, but effective ? scrap hard for everything and make Wairarapa work for every inch of territory or possession.
Wairarapa started well enough, with Murray Burling putting one over the top of the Wainui goal early on, but Wainui battled its way into the game and camped at the Wairarapa end of the paddock for several minutes in the first quarter.
Despite the effort, though, Wairarapa's goal was not really under any serious threat and eventually, United achieved a measure of dominance.
They certainly had opportunities to score, with Lai Gataurua coming close in the 23rd minute with a shot which bounced and was then pushed aside by the Wainui 'keeper, and Andrew Taylor's free kick also being kept out by the goalie in the 35th minute. Sakeo Valevou put one way over the top 37 minutes into the game and Taylor looked to have a clear chance right out in front just a minute or two from the end of the first half which ended up being swallowed up by the swarming Wainui defence.
In the end though the halftime whistle blew with both sides locked at 0-0 and the alarming rumour about Western Suburbs' progress still ringing in some of the spectators' ears.
Wainui had not really threatened to score, despite some indifferent work at the back by Wairarapa's defenders, average midfield play and disappointing finishing up front.
The previous weekend Wairarapa had turned on a glorious second half against Miramar and there was hope they would do the same on Saturday . Wairarapa certainly came out a lot more aggressively in the second spell and appeared determined not to be out-muscled during the final 45 minutes.
Three minutes into the half Valevou had another crack at goal which went wide, and in the 15th minute, Taylor put one over the top.
It was starting to look as though the match was heading for a goalless draw and there was agitation creeping in. Burling was lucky not to get a card after a tussle with two Wainui players ended with him hooking one of them round the ankles and bringing him down.
And then, 17 minutes into the second spell, a long ball through to Valevou saw him scoot from just past the halfway, easily break the defence and slip it past the Wainui keeper for a 1-0 lead.
There were other chances, but nothing that really looked like extending the Wairarapa lead and, in the end, it was enough.
Not pretty, but ultimately it didn't have to be.
For Wairarapa there were no real stars. Keeper Charles Kendall was never under major threat, but he was up to the mark when needed.
The boys in the back had a much more solid second half, with Paul Watkinson and Robbie Bull in particular showing that while they might have been around awhile their experience is a major asset.
Likewise in the middle where Andrew Taylor and Murray Burling turned in solid, if unspectacular displays. Up front Gataurua wasn't the dominant player he was the previous week against Miramar, but he and Valevou showed plenty of speed and a bit of aggression when it was needed to unsettle Wainui in the second half.
A word of praise too for Aaron Spierling who was a little terrier up and down the line and for Anaru Te Rangi, who showed some deft touches when he came on in the second half.