Soccer: Game Takapuna test Waitakere

By Terry Maddaford

Waitakere City overcame tenacious non-league Takapuna City 4-0 yesterday to book a Chatham Cup final showdown with last year's beaten finalists, Dunedin Technical.

Technical made the most of their home advantage in wintry conditions to beat Napier City Rovers 2-1 but will have to wait at least a day or so to find out when the cup final will be played.

Waitakere, winners of three cup finals in a row from 1994, eventually wore down a spirited Takapuna side who gave their huge band of supporters plenty to cheer about.

In front of one of the biggest, and definitely the noisiest, crowds of the season, Takapuna should have taken the lead on the half-hour.

When Takapuna were awarded a dubious penalty, captain Paul Hobson muffed the chance to give his side a huge advantage when his shot was well saved by Waitakere goalkeeper Bruce Plunket.

Accepting that let-off, the home side won a freekick. Terry Torrens hoisted high, Ryan Dawkins nodded on and Paul Stephens headed home.

Five minutes on, Ian Fearns should have equalised but his shot was a woeful attempt after he had been put clear by Greg Staines.

And it just got worse for the visitors.

From an early second-half corner, Fearns headed home a Hobson cross only to have referee Graham Whitford rule it out.

Fearns, who had been cautioned in the incident which led to Waitakere's opening goal, was booked for a second time. His game was over.

Takapuna continued to press but became more and more frustrated with Whitford's rulings and allowed Waitakere to take control.

With so many well-qualified referees available for such important cup games, the appointment of Whitford and other non-panel officials did nothing to enhance the crucial tie.

Waitakere went further ahead in the 66th minute when the linesman failed to rule that a ball was out of play - which it clearly was - and Dawkins, who had had his nose rearranged in an earlier clash, played the ball to substitute Nik Viljoen, who drew Takapuna goalkeeper Dave Wilkinson before scoring.

Seven minutes later, Dawkins stole the ball from Wilkinson's hands. It rolled loose and Viljoen grabbed his second.

Right on time, substitute Andrew Campbell celebrated his late arrival by heading home a Darren Young corner.

It was a typical cup tie with the non-leaguers competitive for the first hour or so before the conditions and the disadvantage of playing a man shy told.

Waitakere continued their late-season charge and if they can rally the same support Takapuna enjoyed yesterday, they could well go all the way and collect the coveted cup for the fourth time.

Dunedin Technical went 2-0 ahead over Napier with goals to Paul Hughes and Jeremy Seales before Chris McIvor got one back for the visitors in the 86th minute.

With the Otago side firmly on course to win the South Island League and a place in the grand final against the North Island League winners, the end-of-season log-jam is going to take some sorting out.

The winners of that final will represent New Zealand in the Oceania club championship, which starts in Fiji on September 18, the day the Chatham Cup final is scheduled to be played at North Harbour Stadium.

In the women's equivalent, the WSANZ Knockout Cup, Three Kings, 1-0 winners over Lynn-Avon with a Jennifer Kelley goal, will play Wairarapa, who beat Nomads 7-0.

Meanwhile, the promotion race in the Bluebird northern league first division has intensified.

Eastern Suburbs sneaked into second place ahead of Onehunga Sports with a 3-1 over Western Springs at Madills Park yesterday in a game celebrating the opening of Suburbs' clubrooms - their first real home since their formation in 1934.

Takapuna City are already assured of promotion to the premier league in 2000.