IT'S MAGS IN A CLIFF HANGER.
A last-minute Dakota Lucas touch of class sealed a 3-2 win for
Mount Albert Grammar School at Alberton Avenue this afternoon.
MAGS opened the scoring in the eighth minute from a
well-executed corner that resulted in Conrad Poi nodding home
at the near post. At this stage of the contest, it looked like
how many MAGS would score with Lucas and Te Anau proving to be
a handful down the flanks. Despite the MAGS pressure they
survived and went in at the interval only a goal down.
It was a half where MAGS had a number of opportunities to
secure the win, but Westlake doggedly stayed within reach with
the odd attack themselves,
getting in
behind the MAGS back four with direct balls over the top.
In the 45th minute MAGS appealed for what looked like a
certain penalty kick. A Westlake defender deliberately handled
the ball in the penalty area. Referee Pat Barratt overruled the
protesting players and crowd and seconds later blew for half
time. Pomare Te Anau was cautioned by Barrett continuing his
protest walking from the field.
Half time MAGS 1 Westlake 0
The second half sprung into life with a Westlake equaliser in
the 46th minute. A long throw was dispatched into the MAGS
penalty area and Myers volleyed past a diving Patrick George in
the MAGS goal.
Eleven minutes later Westlake were ahead with another set play
that the MAGS defence failed to clear. A long ball was played
to the back of the MAGS defence and there were a number of
opportunities to clear, but the net result saw Patrick George
once again picking the ball out of the back of his
net.
MAGS had a
game on their hands and Westlake had knocked the home team
out of their usual stride with no time for composed football.
Then another free kick found Conrad Poi again lurking on the
edge of the Westlake penalty area. He turned, shot and scored
with the ball bouncing off the post 2-2.
Now the game had rebounded back MAGS way with Dakota Lucas
latching onto a dropped ball from the Westlake keeper.
Unfortunately, he blasted the ball over the bar in the 61st
minute.
Caleb Duncan replaced Jude Fitzpatrick in the 62nd minute.
Duncan was having his first outing in three weeks. No doubt
coach Kevin Fallon wanted the substitute to settle a defence
that was looking increasingly shaky at times.
Then the save of the game in the 84th minute. MAGS
goalkeeper Patrick George hurled himself fearlessly in front
of the oncoming Westlake attack to save the day for his
team the shot rebounded only for George to quickly
reorientate himself to save the ball again this time safe in
his hands.
The moment had passed for Westlake and in the last minute
MAGS broke down the Westlake left flank and Dakota Lucas tore
them apart, then delivered a perfect shot to give his team a
3-2 win.
MAGS had done it just, but for Westlake it was one
that got away.
Final score MAGS 3 Westlake 2
MAGS:
George, Elder (c), Fitzpatrick,
Rowlands, Porter, Poi, Boxall, Boss, Te Anau, Lucas,
Hamilton.
Substitutes:
Duncan for Fitzpatrick 62nd
minute
Atherton not used
Levesque not used
Lynch not used
Kiddell not used.
Cautions:
Nikko Boxall, Pomare Te Anau
Dismissals:
Nil
Goalscorers
: Poi 8 57 Lucas 89
Man of The Match: Patrick George
Referee:
Mr Pat Barrett.