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 BIG
GAME REVIEWS
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Queenstown 3, Spirit 1; May 10th
Queenstown took
just ninety seconds to grab a 1-nil lead against Spirit FC in their Soccersouth
premier league game at the Frankton Events Centre on Saturday and in doing so
set the foundation for an upset but convincing 3–1 win.
Former Southland Football and Softball icon Peter Ottley (Left) and his friend
came along.
Remember to bring the boots next time Pete...i'll look after your friend mate.
It was a day of major form reversals in the competition as lower rated teams had their day-in-the-sun.
Otago Youth defeated University 2-1; Mosgiel held the powerful Caversham unit to a 1-all draw and Northern defeated highly fancied Roslyn Wakari 3-2.
The only game going with form was that between Technical and Grants Braes where Technical moved to a clear competition lead with a 7-nil win.
At Frankton the early confidence and surety that Spirit has shown in recent games deserted it as Queenstown ran riot in the first half leading 2-nil at the break.
The home team was
thwarted from having a much wider margin by a player of the day performance from
Chris Pearson in the Spirit goal.
Queenstown’s Lee
Osborne was the thorn in Spirit’s side for the day as he tormented his Spirit
markers physically and verbally but more importantly contributed 2 goals to his
team’s tally.
The first bundled over the line following that early attack on Spirit’s goal the second swept in five minutes after the halftime break when Spirit left gaping holes in defence that Queenstown took advantage of with a swift passing movement which Osborne completed to give his team an unassailable 3-nil lead.
Five minutes before the break Thiago Gomes had delighted the extremely vocal gathering of his South American compatriot supporters with Queenstown’s second goal.
The last five minutes of the first half became quite feisty and the teams went to the break still bickering with ominous signs that the game may erupt.
Fortunately referee
Wilson James and half time advice from the respective coaches helped deal with
the situation and the tone quietened significantly in the second period of play.
If Spirit coach Ken Cresswell took a positive aspect away from the game it had to be the strong second half performance by talented youngster George Hercus.
Hercus was subbed
on at the half time break and showed a maturity beyond his years with a display
of good ball protection and distribution. Not perfect, but a sign that he is a
player to be watched.
When given a chance to strike on goal Hercus responded by lashing the ball into the Queenstown net for his team’s only goal of the day.
The win was Queenstown’s first for the season and the end-of-game expressions of delight and celebration was in true “Brazilian” style.
Round one of the Southland Finance premier league was completed on Saturday and three of the four teams are locked on 6 points with each having lost one game. McLellan Motors Queens Park grabbed the Larry O’Rorke challenge cup from holder Southend United with a 3-2 win in the feature game at Turnbull Thomson Park.
Domnik Katvik with 2 goals and Scott Morton were on target for Park while Nic Barclay netted Southend’s two.
Old Boys was made to work hard by Phil Williams improving Waihopai unit in the other game played at Surrey Park. Old Boys had a narrow 1-nil lead going into the break and after an entertaining second spell eventually claimed a 3-2 win.
Glen McMurdo with 2 and Blair Maddison scored Old Boys goals and it was one from veteran Mark Buchanan and a Nick Hamlin strike that competed the scoring for Waihopai.