Waihopai senior men’s football coach Phil Williams had a smile from ear to ear when he left the Surrey Park playing arena on Saturday having just watched his underdog labelled team demolish AMP South Old Boys by 5 goals to 1.

The Tansley Electrical sponsored Waihopai unit will now face McLellan Motors Queens Park in the Charity cup final next week and providing it can field the same eleven could threaten Park’s grip on the trophy.

Queens Park was gifted its final spot when Appleby Tavern Southend United failed to muster enough players and defaulted the game.

With the return of his Spirit FC players and a new found striker in Chris Montgomery Williams was able to field his strongest starting eleven for the Saturday’s game and was rewarded with the impressive result.

It’s defensive trio of Davey Price, Dion Cameron and Carl Henderson in particular proving to be almost impregnable as Old Boys tried desperately to get something from the game.

Waihopai finished last of the four competing teams in the Southland Finance senior men’s competition but had a series of results where just one goal separated it from its opponent and which with an ounce of luck going its way might have led to a better fate.

On Saturday though it was always in control against the Old Boys unit and from the time Montgomery struck the first of his two goals 6 minutes into the game looked to have the confidence to go on and win it.

Another newcomer Morgan McCarrison also grabbed a brace of goals for Waihopai the first of which was timely as it rocked Old Boys back on its heels following a period of play mid way through the first half when it seemed likely to equalise.

Waihopai had its veteran goalkeeper Shane Harpur to thank for keeping Old Boys at bay as he made two remarkable point blank saves from the Old Boys strikers before McCarrison struck.

They say the best time to strike at the heart of an opponent in football is within the five minutes following the half time break and Waihopai did just that when at the 3 minute mark a clumsy challenge on Montgomery led to it being awarded a penalty kick.

Chris Langley was entrusted with the kick but it was parried away by Old Boys keeper Phil Grubb. However the ever alert Brendon Lloyd quickly seized on the opportunity and lashed the rebound into the net to give Waihopai a 3-nil cushion.

It was just reward for Lloyd who gave an outstanding display in mid field for Waihopai and had a hand to some degree in three of its other four goals.

Five minutes later Frank O’Boyle gave his Old Boys team a glimmer of hope when he struck a fine goal and reduced the deficit to 3-1.

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