Manurewa v. Waitakere City, 30/6/95

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Like Watching Liverpool

by Jeremy Ruane

Perfection, that ideal to which we should all aspire, is something rarely witnessed in any walk of life. On a football field, the perfect game has yet to be played.

But every once in a while, a match takes place in which one of the teams involved raises its game to previously untouched heights, and produces a performance to be savoured by the spectators priviledged enough to witness it, long after its conclusion.

On June 30, 1995, the hardy souls who braved the elements to make the pilgrimage to Manurewa's Gallaher Park for the visit of Waitakere City, were rewarded for their loyalty to the game they love by just such a performance.

The visitors set a number of Smokefree Superclub Championship records in winning, nay, triumphing 11-1. Perhaps the most significant are:

The biggest scoreline, not just in Superclub history, but in the history of league matches in top-level club football in New Zealand, i.e. since the inception of the National League back in 1970.

The largest aggregate of goals in a league match in top-level football in New Zealand, again since 1970.

The first instance of three players scoring a hat-trick in the same match in league matches in top-level club football in New Zealand - until Carl Jorgenson later claimed a goal accredited to Thomas Edge! Spoilsport!!

But let's not get buried in the goldmine that is New Zealand soccer statistics. A special match has been played, to which the written word will attempt to do justice.

The encounter was initially delayed by ten minutes, due to motorway traffic congestion, which forced the late arrival to the ground of a number of the visitors' players. When Waitakere eventually ran out for their kick-in before the kick-off, the heavens opened, and the players got drenched!!

Manurewa waited for the downpour to pass - local knowledge sometimes has its advantages - before running out, and the game duly commenced.

Within sixty seconds of the start, Waitakere had forced the first corner, from which Gareth Juddery saved an Edge header. Before a further forty seconds had passed, the first goal had been registered - by Manurewa. Rhys Bresnahan broke through and drilled one low past Grant Schofield to open the scoring.

It seemed that everything was against the league leaders. First the traffic, then the downpour, now this setback. But there was nothing to indicate that their response, in the face of such adversity, would be eleven unreplied goals.

The first of them came as the clock notched up minute number three in play. Geoff Gray's shot was blocked, and the resulting attempted clearance cannoned off the legs of Edge, sorry, Jorgenson, into the net. 1-1.

Within seconds of Gray unleashing a screamer which flashed narrowly past the upright, the young goal-grabber had notched Waitakere's second of the match, after a typical battering-ram run from Jorgenson had punished Manurewa's defensive hesitancy, and set Gray up for a shot into the top corner in the twelfth minute.

Schofield brilliantly denied Mark Weddle on the quarter hour, and sprung an attack that saw Edge beating defender upon defender before losing control of the ball at the death.

It was 3-1 after 23 minutes, Gray thumping home gleefully after the ball had stuck in the mud following an Edge drive.

Schofield again denied Weddle, while Gray and Edge again caused mayhem in Manurewa's defence. But neither of this pair had a hand in City's fourth goal. Kevin Smith led the celebrations in the 32nd minute, after firing home on receipt of a superb through ball from Jorgenson.

Waitakere, by this stage, were rampant. When one takes into account the conditions - slippery, muddy surface, wind, rain ... the quality of their football had to be seen to be believed. I don't mind admitting that, at times, it was like watching Liverpool. From me, that's praise indeed.

Ironic though it may seem in hindsight, but the two moves in the game most deserving of goals did not see a change to the scoreline. Neil Woodhams culminated a dazzling five-man move with a chip which clipped the top of the crossbar seven minutes before the break.

Two minutes later, a six-man attack of bewildering speed and precision passing, which began about ten yards from Waitakere's goal-line, deserved a far better fate than that which befell it, but all credit to Juddery for doing enough to foil the finish of Tui'one Faleafa.

In between these close shaves came goal number five, with Edge finally getting in on the act after the contributions of Faleafa and Smith down the left flank.

With half-time looming, Smith made it a round half-dozen, after bursting through from deep with Jorgenson and Juddery for company. Around the 'keeper the winger went, and into the net the ball went. 6-1, a fitting reflection on the scoreboard of a period of play that had approached, if not at times attained, perfection.

After their command performance, it didn't surprise that Waitakere took a while to get going in the second half. The inspiration for their revival? An Alex McDonald header which flew over the top of the goal on the hour, after one of Manurewa's all-too-rare excursions towards Grant Schofield's goal.

"Right lads, enough of this", you could almost hear player-coach-captain Steve Cain saying to his troops. "Let's get back to doing what we did so well before". City's response? Three goals in five minutes. "Happy now, boss?"

Woodhams loomed large on the far post in the 61st minute to convert Faleafa's cross, after a clever back-heel by Edge had created the opening for his young team-mate.

On 64 minutes, Smith finished his hat-trick in style, contemptuously curling an effort around Juddery with the outside of his left foot. But what about the role of Schofield in this one? Credit the goalkeeper for his quick distribution, which created the attacking opportunity in the first place.

Finally, Jorgenson, with virtually his last touch of the ball before being substituted, headed home number nine in the 66th minute, after defenders and the crossbar had blocked the efforts of Cain and Edge respectively.

At this point, Manurewa's chairman, Neville Callendar, was heard to say, "The sooner ninety minutes comes round, the better!!"

Ten minutes later, Danny Hay looked to get in on the act, his mazy run seeing him beat defender after defender. Suddenly, only Juddery stood between him and the goal of the night. But the defender fired over - only just.

Not to worry, for within seconds, the magic ten had been reached, much to the consternation of the scoreboard operator, poor lad, who had no space available in which to register double figures!!

The goal itself came from Gray, a looping header on the near post to complete his hat-trick, after Cain had fed Woodhams on the right.

A couple of fine-cum-fortunate saves by Juddery gave Manurewa fresh heart - after all, they were leading 1-0 on the scoreboard!! Bresnahan immediately looked to make it two, but his shot hit the post then stuck in the mud on the line - there's no justice! Hay determinedly cleared the danger.

The final act of note came from Edge in the 84th minute, after Smith and Faleafa had combined again. This made the score 11-1 - staggering stuff! Yet it could have been twelve, or two, as referee Gary Fleet, by my watch, blew for time ninety seconds early - ah well, pobody's nerfect!!

The burning question after the match was "Who will coach Waitakere upon Keith Pritchett's return?" Stand-in coach Cain provided a quick answer. "He will. I'm hanging up my coaching hat now!!"

And who can blame him, quitting while he's ahead, after this performance? It was one to savour. It, at times, approached perfection. It was, at times, like watching Liverpool. Bliss!!

Northern League