Thank you to Andrew Constable from St Paul's for the photographs.
An up beat MAGS first eleven coach Kevin Fallon today indicated
that his 2009 MAGS team would not be too far away when the
trophies were being handed out at the end of the 2009 campaign.
Last year MAGS won the coveted triple of Premier league,
Auckland Knock Out Cup and the New Zealand National
Championship. A feat that Fallon and his teams had
previously accomplished in season 1999 also.
"Last year was a dream run with a team who won all before them.
Unfortunately we have lost many players from that team and
virtually have to start all over again." he stated.
Missing from last year's line up are some key players who
already are making a name for themselves in senior football;
Zane Sole at Waitakere United, Jonathan Raj Auckland City, Adam
Cowen - Team Canterbury, Mark Withers at Northampton Town in
England and Andrew Milne at Glasgow Rangers.
"To lose a batch like that is not easy yet despite those
exceptional players plus others missing from this seasons line
up I still feel the quality we have this season though being
young and inexperienced can still give a good account of
themselves."
Fallon also said the Chatham Cup game against Old Blues of
Hamilton at Alberton Avenue on Saturday 23rd April kick off 2pm
would be another indicator as to future success of this years
team.
MAGS last year got to the final rounds eventually being knocked
out by Central United after losing their goalkeeper in the
opening minutes.
MAGS open their league fixtures a week later May 2nd at home to
newly promoted Sacred Heart College coached by ex All White
Danny Hay, kick off 12 midday.
Kevin Fallon.
The 1st
Eleven has won all seven pre-season games, six against
other school teams, and one against Fencible Utds Mens 1st
team.
The last
game against St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton was a
hard-fought battle, with St Paul's battling for the full
length of the game. For the first 20 minutes, the game was a
very even tussle, until Thomas Boss gave MAGS the lead,
followed up soon afterwards by a classic Dakota Lucas shot.
Just before half time Boss scored again with a scorcher that
sent MAGS to the break with a three-goal lead.
15 minutes into the second half, Lucas scored again to clinch the game for MAGS. MAGS continued to pepper the opposition goal for the remainder of the match, but the St Paul's defence stayed strong, with their keeper in particular denying several strong opportunities.
The team's first match of the season is the first round of the Chatham Cup against Hamilton Old Blues at home at MAGS on Anzac Day - the 25th of April at 2pm at school.
MAGS won
this pre-season game 4 - 0.
Dave Elder.