Waitakere United 2
Canterbury United 1
Waitakere United coach Neil Emblem remains a hard man to please.
After watching his team continue their perfect start to the season with a hard fought 2-1 win over Canterbury United yesterday afternoon he pronounced himself "happy, but still grumpy".
The home side dominated for large spells of the match but often lacked a cutting edge and the southerners, who played most of the match with 10 men, finished strongly and could have come away with a point.
"I lost a few more hairs at the end but the result is pleasing," said Emblem. "I would have liked us to be a bit more patient with the ball. We have not hit our straps yet [but] we are winning every game. Canterbury don't give you anything these days and Keith [Braithwaite] has transformed the club."
All White Aaron Clapham was one of the standouts in a beaten side, continually finding space in central midfield.
"I thought we were going to snatch something at the end," said Clapham. "We were trying to hold on until the last 15-20 minutes and then bomb forward but they're a quality team."
The flashpoint occurred in the 28th minute when Waitakere striker Allan Pearce broke through. Canterbury defender Nick Wortlboer managed to check his opponent, but as Pearce regained his balance and bore down on goal the defender foolishly took another bite. Wortlboer, who received a red card, was feeling slightly better when Tom Batty made a magnificent save to deny Pearce from the resulting penalty.
Just a minute later Michael Gynwther spared Pearce's blushes, sweeping home a low cross at the far post.
In the second half the visitors reverted to three at the back, bravely pushing men forward in search of an equaliser. Most of the chances fell to Waikatere though and moments after a Zane Sole free kick was headed off the line Pearce gained redemption.
Batty was favoured to reach a long diagonal through pass but hesitated in his only error of the match; Pearce nipped in, rounded the stranded keeper and slotted into an empty net.
Canterbury found some impetus in the last 15 minutes with Clapham, Garry McDermott and Ryan Tippett creating openings.
Keith Braithwaite's team finally got some reward for their efforts with the goal of the game in the 86th minute, substitute Danny Atwell powering home a stunning header from an inch-perfect cross.
