Watson strike magical moment

PROLIFIC STRIKER: Hamish Watson on the ball for Wairarapa United with Nick Roydhouse in support.PHOTOS/FILE

Gun Wairarapa United striker Hamish Watson remained in contention for the Golden Boot award in the Central League when he scored an "absolute screamer" from the halfway line during his team's 3-2 win over Petone at Maidstone Park.

It was the 10th league goal for Watson this season, the same number as Samuel Mason-Smith of Miramar Rangers and one more than another Miramar Rangers player in Henry Fa'Arado and Petone's Paul Whitmarsh.

Experienced Wairarapa United midfielder Aaron Spierling has seen many goals in his 150-plus appearances for the club's premier side and he said Watson's effort on Saturday was as spectacular as any of them.

"He had an earlier crack from well out and missed but this was a beauty ... he obviously saw the keeper was off his line and just smashed it.

"They don't come much better it was an absolute screamer."

Spierling and Thomas Hemi scored the other Wairarapa United goals in a performance which mirrored many of their other efforts in 2014, a mixture of good and indifferent.

"We were up 2-0 at halftime and pretty much all over them but the second half was ordinary," Spierling said.

"We let our guard down and they came back to 2-2 but fortunately we had the last say with a third goal in the last few minutes. Overall we probably did enough to deserve the win but we still weren't consistent enough, there were too many mistakes."

Memorable as Watson's goal was he was not given his team's player of the match award. Instead it went to goalkeeper Matt Borren who made several saves during the game, particularly in the second half.

"Matt was terrific, he was put under a lot of pressure at times and he responded really well," Spierling said.

This Saturday, Wairarapa United are scheduled to play Western Suburbs at Maidstone Park and Spierling is anticipating spirited opposition from a Wests line-up who have a reputation for playing a possession-based game.

"They can frustrate the hell out of you ... they put a lot of emphasis on retaining the ball for long periods and waiting for something to give."

Wairarapa United are fourth on the league table with 18 points, just one place and one point ahead of Wests.