Lynn-Avon United v. Mt. Albert-Ponsonby, 9/8/04

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MAP Edge Lynn-Avon In Rip-Roaring Local Derby

by Jeremy Ruane

A stunning fourteenth minute volley from Andrew "Nudge" Campbell settled a rip-roaring Northern League First Division local derby at Albie Turner Field on August 9, as Mt. Albert-Ponsonby edged Lynn-Avon United 1-0 to climb to third spot on the league ladder at the conclusion of a well-attended affair which suggested that a regular Monday night fixture would be worth considering by those in positions to do so.

The result all but left Lynn-Avon needing a miracle to retain their First Division status, but you would never have picked them to be the side propping up the competition on this performance, as they gave MAP a real run for their money and then some.

It was a ding-dong go from go to woe, with United enjoying the better of the early exchanges in this keenly contested encounter, in which the commitment of both teams was absolute - both had plenty to play for, with MAP chasing a play-off spot at the right end of the table.

David Smalley and Brian Pepper teamed up on the left flank for United just five minutes into play to create a chance for John Key, but Robbie Graham was quickly off his line to foil that threat.

Seven minutes later, Steve Cumber sent a snapshot sizzling across the face of goal, before MAP opened the scoring with their first attack of note in the match. Daniel Mulrooney delivered the ball to Michael Imre, whose header through sent Campbell scampering into space on the right.

The striker unleashed a breathtaking volley in full flight, the ball searing across the diving Mark Iszard before crashing into the net by the far post - a cracking goal to grace any game, never mind a pulsating local derby.

Lynn-Avon were stunned by this setback after their start, but were quick to look for an equaliser. A slip-up by Jerry Upson let in Pepper, but MAP’s captain, who had a superb game at the heart of his team’s defence, quickly recovered to thwart the danger.

Five minutes later, Upson linked with Imre to send Warrick Hickman down the left. His sliced cross fell nicely for Paul Colegate, but the player-coach’s tame volley provided Iszard with his first save of the match, and a comfortable one at that.

United’s ‘keeper was beaten all ends up two minutes later, however, as MAP’s twin strikers carved open their opponents with a quick-fire counter-attack. From a Lynn-Avon corner, the ball was cleared by Adam Schofield to Campbell, who sent Hamish Carmody off down the right before surging forward.

The pair interchanged passes again before Campbell peeled off towards the far post, his imminent arrival made known to Carmody by a call indicating where he wanted the cross. The man in possession, meanwhile, got the better of Graham West before delivering a measured cross right onto the head of the goalscorer, whose header flashed narrowly past Iszard’s left-hand post.

After Iszard had raced out of his penalty area to thwart John Blower, Lynn-Avon began to gain the upper hand once more, and such was their dominance of the game until half-time that the many present at this well-attended encounter were left wondering how they weren’t on level terms come Hengo Sioneloto’s half-time whistle.

The reason in the 26th minute was Graham, who made a couple of stunning saves to keep his side in front. Greg Clark was picked out by a Key cross, and Lynn-Avon’s captain played the ball inside to Cumber. His volley flew through the crowded goalmouth, and despite not seeing it till very late, Graham somehow managed to keep it out.

The ball was scrambled clear to Smalley, who immediately lobbed it into the danger zone once more. Clark rose highest of all to direct a header goalwards, and the ball was creeping in by the far post when Graham flung himself low to his right to paw it to safety.

Chances came thick and fast in the last ten minutes of the first half, with Schofield blocking Smalley’s twenty-yard volley at point-blank range, seconds before Clark rattled the stanchion with an effort from even further out.

MAP retorted with a teasing cross-shot from Imre which Iszard did well to collect under pressure, before MAP’s goal once again led a charmed life in the 39th minute. James Hodgson and Smalley combined to pick out Key, who found himself one-on-one with Graham. The ‘keeper blocked the shot with his leg, but the spin on the ball took it goalwards. Cue Jason Conquer, who appeared from nowhere to head it off the line.

Still United pressed, with Cumber lashing a shot into the sidenetting and both Pepper and Hodgson drilling

shots narrowly over the crossbar in the moments before half-time, during which Imre spurned a chance to double MAP’s advantage, firing wide after Colegate and Blower had earned their side a brief respite from Lynn-Avon’s relentless raids.

The half-time whistle did little to draw United’s sting, with Hodgson firing narrowly wide three minutes into the second half, following a quick Smalley free-kick. But MAP gradually drew their fire, and began to get on top again just before the hour mark.

A technically superb thirty-yard volley from Lynn-Avon old boy Imre cleared his old club’s crossbar by not a lot in the 54th minute, while five minutes later, a Campbell free-kick wasn’t cleared, allowing Upson to lift the ball through for Carmody. Iszard came off his line but way too late, and the striker’s header crept past him, but past the post as well - it was Lynn-Avon’s turn to breathe a sigh of relief.

Two minutes later, they were breathing fire, as a sickening ring rang round Albie Turner Field, bringing players and spectators alike to full attention. Conquer had stuck to Hodgson like glue all evening, but on this particular occasion, the adhesive parted, and regardless of whether or not it was by fair means or foul, the sound - as much as the sight - of Hodgson crashing into the metal railings was numbing.

As their striker lay prone, Lynn-Avon’s players understandably directed their ire at their opponents, particularly Conquer, given his proximity to Hodgson as they chased the ball near the point of impact.

Graham responded to United’s barbs with some biting sarcasm regarding Lynn-Avon’s league status which incensed many on and off the pitch. In the circumstances, with a player lying injured and possibly unconscious, it was totally uncalled for. Thankfully, Hodgson was able to resume relatively unscathed, his arm having taken the brunt of the impact.

But as a result of his outburst, the respect and standing Graham merited prior to mouthing off will, in the eyes of many, struggle to reach the heights of Lynn-Avon’s league status for some time to come.

MAP’s goalkeeper was in the firing line for all the right reasons twenty minutes from time, smothering a Hodgson shot after substitute Sebastian Perez had engineered the opening. Perez himself tested Graham from twenty-five yards seven minutes later, but in between times, both goals had survived scares.

In the 74th minute, Campbell sent Imre charging through with a fine cross, but Iszard raced off his line to thwart the danger, and spring a counter-attack, Cumber leading the charge. But some super defending by Upson put the skids on that potential opening for United, who had Iszard to thank ten minutes from time as he plucked the ball off the head of Campbell, following the combination work of Carmody and Hickman.

Time was beginning to run out on Lynn-Avon’s hopes of grabbing an equaliser few would have begrudged them. Clark, Perez, Smalley and substitute Karl Phipps linked up, but Schofield headed clear in spectacular fashion, the ball being cleared to half-way, where Campbell was lurking. He sprinted into United’s half and unleashed a screamer from thirty yards which crashed to safety off Iszard’s right-hand post.

Back came Lynn-Avon, providing a grandstand finish to a highly entertaining encounter. Even player-coach Glenn Sheppard had joined the fray now, and he rolled back the years with a couple of neat touches to give the likes of Michael Bodley and Marc Halfpenny a first-hand lesson regarding footballing life - what you may lack in youth is more than compensated for by irreplaceable experience.

But try as they might, the bottom-placed side weren’t to score. The closest they came to doing so in the time remaining was in the 87th minute, when Hodgson and Perez teamed up on the right, the latter seeing his shot tipped over by Graham.

It ensured MAP retained their 1-0 advantage to the finish, and earned them a welcome three points as they bid to finally get out of a First Division competition in which they have been bridesmaids all too often in recent years.

Lynn-Avon don’t deserve to be where they are on the table on this display, but with just four games left to secure their First Division future, their frustrating inability to enhance their performances with goals looks like it may yet cost them dearly.

LAU: Iszard; Hiebendaal, Clark, Townsley (Perez, 59), West; Key, Illing, Smalley, Pepper (Sheppard, 84); Hodgson, Cumber (Phipps, 75)

MAP: Graham; Schofield, Upson, Conquer (booked, 61); Mulrooney (Halfpenny, 90), Colegate (Bodley, 71), Blower, Imre, Hickman; Carmody, Campbell

Referee: Hengo Sioneloto

Northern League