Villa take 7 3 drubbing

Douglas Villa were making no excuses for their 7-3 defeat by Victoria University Gossies in their Capital second division football match played at the Park Sportsground in Masterton on Saturday.

"We were just beaten by a better side ... probably the best we have played over the last three seasons," experienced campaigner Nathan Cottle said. "We tried hard and had some good patches."

Remarkably, all of the goals bar one were scored in the first half which ended with University ahead 6-3 and, while some of Villa's defensive work wasn't up to scratch, Cottle was full of praise for the skills of the two University strikers.

"They were brilliant, they gave us all sorts of problems," he said. "The second half was certainly an improvement for us but it was all over by then."

Not helping the Villa cause was the fact that five of their regular first string players were out injured but Cottle was quick to play down that situation, saying all teams had injury concerns from time to time and it was "something you have to handle".

Michael Kempson had his usual consistent game and others to stand out were Troy and Cory Burling, who scored a goal apiece. Alex Silverwood netted for Villa as well.

Gardner Electrical Masterton were beaten 3-1 by Lower Hutt in their Capital third division match on Saturday but were unlucky not to have at least shared the honours. Two of the Lower Hutt goals came from penalties which were marginal at best and Masterton shared the honours as far as territory and possession was concerned. Goalkeeper Charles Kendall was player of the game for Masterton and their goal was scored by Chris Kirkham.

Wairarapa United seconds went down 4-1 to Lower Hutt Ancient Ones in a Capital fourth division game.

First round matches in the Wairarapa Knockout Cup football competition were played on Saturday and results were: White Swan Greytown 4, Trevs Sports Masterton Athletic 2; Carterton Social 3, Turkey Red Greytown 2; Carterton Skulls 5, Wairarapa Evergreens 1; Masterton McAuleys 6, Masterton Pacific United 2; Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 8, Laser Electrical Douglas Villa 0; Farmlands Masterton Presidents 3, Carterton Shoe Clinic Social 1; Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 3, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 0; Masterton Lions 3, Featherston United 1.