Fencibles United v. Papatoetoe, 26/4/97

The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home

Hurstfield's Heroics Trump 'Toe

by Jeremy Ruane

How Broadway Tavern Papatoetoe never won this Bluebird Premier League encounter will remain one of life's great mysteries, although Alex Hurstfield may one day get around to explaining it, after he's had as many free drinks as he so desires, all of which will be fully deserved, from his Fencibles United team-mates!!

At Mt. Smart Stadium on April 26, Keith Garland's side escaped with a precious yet scarcely deserved point from one of the most one-sided 0-0 draws seen for many months.

Alan Yates' Papatoetoe team absolutely battered United in the first half, wracking up no less than twelve clear-cut scoring chances. Fencibles were more prominent in the second spell, but still 'Toe were the more creative side. Yet when referee Trevor Stevens - not his greatest game, that's for sure!! - blew the final whistle, amazingly, not a goal had been seen.

It certainly wasn't for the want of trying, particularly on 'Toe's part. The first ten minutes saw three shots fired at Hurstfield's goal. Brian Hawke snatched at the first, after being put through by the electric-heeled Nick Raoma.

Then a Brett Roza shapshot only just cleared the crossbar, after Philip Wye's attempt on goal had been blocked. Finally, Raoma's far post cross was headed into the sidenetting by Andrew Mooney, scant reward for his well-timed run.

In the thirteenth minute, a raking Vaughan Couillault clearance was flicked on by Hawke for Nick Bland. Hurstfield parried his stinging shot, but the ball spun goalwards. Raoma roared in, with two defenders in close attendance, and the ball sailed over the crossbar. Referee Stevens awarded a goal-kick - it looked anything but from this writer's angle!

Raoma, Hawke and Wye each chanced their arm, before a stunning save by Hurstfield drew the applause of all present in the 26th minute. Mark Atkinson's shot was blocked, the rebound falling to Wye. He hit a screamer, but Hurstfield's save matched it - full-length, low to his left, turning the ball round the post in the process. Super stuff!!

Claims for a penalty by 'Toe were ignored by Mr Stevens as Mark Elrick went down under the challenge of Simon Hilton on the half-hour, while further efforts from Elrick - one saved, the other an audacious chip from half-way which just missed its target as Hurstfield beat a hasty retreat goalwards - and Wye, this a crossbar rattler in the 41st minute, kept the goalkeeper on his toes up to the interval.

The home team must have received one or two choice words from "Garlo" during the interval, because within minutes of the restart, they looked more like the highly-rated Bluebird Premier League combination they undoubtedly are. Callum Winton went down under Mooney's challenge, but the resulting penalty appeals met with stony silence from Mr Stevens in the 48th minute.

Moments later, Nik Viljoen whipped in a free-kick which deflected into the path of the inrushing Winton, whose surprise at the sight of the ball in his path saw him direct it tamely into Couillault's hands.

Efforts from Atkinson and Raoma around the hour mark for 'Toe were matched by those of Jason Collett and Viljoen. That of the former North Shore player was the only one of the four to force a save, with Couillault's fingertips responsible for the sphere clearing the crossbar.

Hawke put Atkinson in again moments later, only for Hurstfield to hurtle off his line and turn the resulting shot away for a corner, from which Hawke fired wide. Four minutes later, in the 68th, Richard Cannon's volley strike missed the target - not by much, it must be said - after his timed run from deep had been picked out not by Papatoetoe's defence, but by Nobby Stiles' probing through ball.

Hurstfield was busy again a minute later, the 69th. And how! A double save from the fleet-footed Raoma, no less, was the goalkeeper's next contribution to ensuring the stalemate continued. The second denial he really had no right to make, given his prone position, but up came an arm - picture, if you will, the raising of a submarine's periscope from the depths, to capture an image of the scene in your mind's eye - and the ball was swatted to safety.

That save rendered "Yatesy" speechless, albeit momentarily. It's a wonder 'Toe's coach hadn't resorted to tearing his hair out by this time, so frustrated had he become by the fact that the ball, for all of Papatoetoe's efforts, just would not go in to Fencibles' net.

It got worse for the visitors. After another penalty appeal - Hawke was downed - met with Mr Stevens' stock reply, Elrick created an opening on the right in the 73rd minute, and delivered a made-to-measure cross which Bland somehow contrived to head over the bar when he was virtually right underneath it!!

Then Raoma stretched his legs around the halfway mark, and left numerous Fencibles' defenders gasping for breath as he zoomed off into the distance fifteen minutes from time. He got to the edge of the penalty area and promptly scored a two-pointer on the converted rugby league pitch, which bore the mower marks and the uprights to prove it!!

(I realise this ground is now used at the Warriors' discretion, but rather than have Alan Fraser mow over the redundant white lines on the morning of the game, wouldn't it be easier to arrange for them to be greened out? Or perhaps the Warriors could train on Mt. Smart #3 instead - they only seem to use half a pitch in their games at the best of times, and, more often than not, it ain't the opposition's portion!!!)

Late attacks from both teams failed to break the deadlock. Guy Reeves, Cannon, Viljoen and Winton teamed up well in the 83rd minute for Fencibles, but Cannon inadvertently blocked Winton's shot, and the chance was spurned.

Moments from the final whistle, 'Toe's last throw of the dice saw Tamati Parker combine with Bland to offer Hawke a heading opportunity. It was somewhat appropriate though, given the final scoreline, that the ball should end up being smothered by the one player who, more than any other on the park, made this highly entertaining spectacle a scoreless one - Alex Hurstfield. He really was quite outstanding.

Northern League