GOAL FEAST AT RANGITOTO.
"Wither's four bring home the bacon."
The opening
fifteen minutes of the match were keenly contested on a
windswept day at Rangitoto College.
All Mount Albert Grammar had to show for their efforts in
the opening quarter was a solitary Zane Sole shot that
flashed wide from 18 yards.
In the fifteenth minute, the unheard of happened, MAGS were trailing to a spectacular cross that MAGS goalkeeper Macrae Sloper misjudged.
In the 28th
minute Malcolm McRae headed straight at the goalkeeper. It
was a golden opportunity to equalise.
Another Pomare Te Anau cross was slotted home by Mark
Withers on the half hour; MAGS were on equal terms.
Seven minutes later, MAGS went ahead. It was Withers receiving a Ryan Elder throw. His first effort hit the foot of the post, he safely dispatched the rebound. MAGS 2 - 1. At this stage of the game they were beginning to dominate.
On the stroke of half time MAGS went 3 - 1 ahead. Kojo Owusa crossed into the penalty area and Milosh Nikolic received and shot to put MAGS 3 - 1 ahead at the interval.
Half time: MAGS 3 Rangitoto College 1
Straight from the second-half kick off Mark Withers completed his hat trick, turning and confidently firing home. At this stage MAGS looked to have put the result beyond Rangitoto's reach, or so they thought.
Kojo Owusa lost the ball in midfield and suddenly the Rangitoto striker fired home past Macrae Sloper in the 48th minute.
With the
score at 4 - 2 to MAGS, Rangitoto brought on the substitutes
in the 66th minute. MAGS fifth goal developed from yet
another Pomare Te Anau cross that found Mark Withers with his
back to goal. He managed to pick his spot and give his team a
three goal cushion in the 76th minute.
MAGS were
given a further opportunity to score in the 77th minute when
a left-wing corner from Pomare Te Anau was headed over the
bar by stopper Ash Solly. Karlo Pavic replaced the four-goal
hero Mark Withers in the 84th minute.
Then, when time was up, MAGS gave away possession on the
right wing and the loose ball was headed down the right wing
. The cross found an unmarked attacker who fired past an
indecisive Macrae Sloper in the MAGS goal.
Team:
Sloper, Elder, Parmenter, Ah Kuoi, Solly (C), MacRae, Sole,
Owusa, Te Anau, Nikolic and Withers.
Substitutes:
Killip for Owusa (76), Pavic for Withers
(84)
Goal
scorers:
Withers 30, 37, 46, 67. Nikolic 45.
Cautions: Nil, Dismissals Nil.
Final Score: Win to Mount Albert Grammar School 5 -
3.
Man of the Match: Mark Withers
