Wairarapa United get the job done

SOLID DEFENCE: Wairarapa United goalkeeper Matt Borren punches clear as Island Bay United mount an attack. PHOTOS/CHRIS KILFORD

Keinzley Agvet Wairarapa United are through to the fourth round of the Chatham Cup after their 3-0 win over Island Bay United at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday.

This though was far from a vintage performance from the home team in the national knockout competition.

They play one tier above IBU at club level and went into the game as favourites.

In fact, if the final scoreline was solely dependent on territory and possession, the end result would have been much closer.

It was, as they say, very much a game of two halves, with Wairarapa United looking the better of the two sides in the first half and Island Bay United likewise in the second.

There was a touch of good fortune about Wairarapa United's going to halftime with a 2-0 advantage.

Their first goal was a cracker, with Seule Soromon threading his way through a bevy of defenders with a mix of speed and clever ball control before passing to Magno Viera who himself rounded a couple of defenders before slotting the ball home.

The second, though, was an own goal with an IBU defender looking to clear off his line only to see the ball rocket into the back of the net.

To IBU's credit that stroke of bad luck did not see their heads drop.

They came out for the second half all guns blazing and consistently troubled the Wairarapa United defence with their attacking intent.

The ease in which they probed gaps must surely be a concern to Wairarapa United coach Paul Ifill as his team progresses to the next round of this competition. A team with better finishing skills than IBU would probably have scored three or four goals, such was the number of prime scoring opportunities created.

As it was, however, it was Wairarapa United who scored the only goal of the second half, with youngster Liam Hare netting only a couple of minutes from fulltime.

It was appropriate too that Hare got himself on the scoresheet as he was one of Wairarapa United's standout players.

His distribution skills in midfield were excellent and he worked hard on defence, picking up a number of important intercepts along the way.

Both Viera and Soromon looked full of running on attack in the first half for Wairarapa United but had only limited chances in the second.

While the overall defensive effort of the home side was shaky two players who were outstanding in this area were fullback Adam Cowan and goalkeeper Matt Borren.