MAGS
FALL TO PAPATOETOE
It was always going to be a difficult assignment for Mount
Albert Grammar School today in the Chatham Cup competition.
It was made even harder by six of the squad unable to play
through injuries or in Dakota Lucas' case being suspended.
Despite that, they pushed the senior opposition up to half
time, going in at the interval 0-0.
Indeed if lady luck had been shining on them, Faitalia
Hamilton's far-post header in the 12th minute had goal
written all over it, but sadly it flashed past the upright,
with the Papatoetoe goalkeeper, Robbie Graham, well beaten.
Five minutes later, hard-working midfield player Thomas Boss
found himself one versus one with the goalkeeper, but his
shot was smothered. Papatoetoe at this stage of the game were
definitely playing second fiddle in the ball possession
stakes.
Their first serious threat was presented to them by MAGS
goalkeeper Patrick George who pushed his luck dribbling the
opposition striker. Fortunately, he recovered quickly to drop
on the ball after being hotly pursued by the opposing
forward. Approaching the half hour mark, Pomare Te Anau was
beginning to dance inside Regan Peverley, only to send his
shot straight at the keeper. At the other end, Kopravic
turned and shot wide.
Te Anau certainly looked the most likely to score for MAGS,
but was thwarted on two more occasions prior to half time.
At half time, debut boy Callum Kiddel was replaced by
another 14 year old, Harley Tahau.
Papatoetoe started the second half well with a goal in the
47th minute. A long ball was hiked down the field for the
striker, Faheel Khan to find a big hole in the MAGS defence
between Central defender, Jude Fitzpatrick, and skipper Ryan
Elder. He made sure, firing the ball under George to give the
senior team a valuable lead. Five minutes, later Papatoetoe
sneaked in around the other side with Hayden Porter and
Mathew Rowlands being done for pace.
Patrick George blocked the first attempt, but it was bundled
over the line on the follow up.
The game looked over for the schoolboy team, but, to their
credit, they kept looking for that elusive goal. In the 60th
minute Faitalia Hamilton doggedly forced a corner. Te Anau
crossed and Nikko Boxall headed over when it was easier to
score.
Three minutes later, Te Anau set up Conrad Poi on the edge
of the penalty area but he lashed his opportunity
wide.
The final
nail was hammered home by Daniel Kopravic in the 66th minute
when he placed his shot wide of George from what looked like
an off-side position. The MAGS protests were waved away and
Papatoetoe were comfortably ahead 3-0.
Kevin Fallon was disappointed, but chiefly with the way the
goals were given away, by poor defending and not being able
to convert the half dozen chances that MAGS worked hard to
create. He said, "Some players grew today, others lacked that
belief needed to beat senior opposition. What they have to do
as young players is to be more self critical and
realise how they could have done better."
Final result: MAGS 0 Papatoetoe 3.
Referee Mr I Lawrence
MAGS:
George, Elder(c), Fitzpatrick,
Rowlands, Porter, Boxall, Te Anau, Boss, Poi, Hamilton,
Kiddell.
Substitutes:
Tahau for Kiddell 46 minute, Lynch for Tahau 85th
minute, Atherton not used, Lowrie not used and Levesque not
used.
Man of the Match Thomas Boss
