Fairytale Finale For Hird As Metro Retain League Status by Jeremy Ruane Metro's player-coach, Sean Hird, bid his club adieu in fairytale fashion at North Harbour Stadium on September 3, engineering their come-from-behind 3-2 defeat of Caversham in the Qantas National Club Championship Promotion-Relegation play-off, and scoring the winner into the bargain just four minutes from time. Metro hadn't looked likely in the first spell, especially after Caversham stormed out to a 2-0 lead inside the first seventeen minutes. Just three minutes in, the outstanding Marc McGregor had smashed the ball home from close range following Rodney Fleming's low cross from the right. Metro responded by hitting the woodwork twice in the next seven minutes, Sakdy Phommahaxay and Aaron Beckham the unfortunate duo. After Andrew Coburn had narrowly lifted the ball over the bar from close range on the quarter hour, McGregor and Fleming reversed their roles to double Caverham's lead in the seventeenth minute. McGregor scampered through a static Metro defence and unleashed a shot which Grant Schofield saved superbly. Fleming swooped on the rebound, and steered the ball home into an empty net. Rattled, Metro struggled to get back into the match, two Graham Green efforts all they could muster before the interval, as the southerners looked well worth their two-goal advantage. Indeed, they could have extended it still further before the break, Schofield thwarting two efforts from Nathan McCullum, then racing off his line to prevent McCullum and Fleming from bursting through two minutes before the break. The second half was a complete contrast, as Metro responded to Hird's half-time team talk, but all they could muster in the first twenty minutes of the spell was a couple more shots from Green. Caversham, meanwhile, continued to press, McGregor twice forcing saves from Schofield, while Michael Imre was on hand to clear the danger posed by Fleming following the impressive Bradley Scott's free-kick just after the hour. It was around about this point that Caversham, beaten in just one game - a Chatham Cup tie at Halswell United - this season, hit the proverbial "wall". And one opponent was primed and ready to take full advantage. Hird had had his moments in midfield throughout this match - his battle with his Caversham counterpart, Steve Fleming, was one of the individual highlights of the game. As the second spell wore on, Metro's mentor's influence continued to increase, and as the Dunedin side slowly ground to a creative halt, Hird grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and turned it the Auckland side's way. In the 68th minute, he clipped the ball over Caversham's defence to Green on the left. He cut into the penalty area and slipped a low cross into the path of Danny McHenery, who lifted the ball over Dave Cunningham and high into the net to give Metro a lifeline. After Schofield had saved a Coburn shot at full stretch, Hird steamed onto a Caverham clearance near the edge of the penalty area and deftly evaded a challenge before inviting Paul Field to let fly. Cunningham's one-handed save was right out of the top drawer, but his efforts to keep out the inswinging corner from Green which resulted were anything but. Into the net the ball flew, and at 2-2 with sixteen minutes still to play, it was all on for young and old, a place in next season's Qantas National Club Championship the prize for the victors. Within seconds, Hird had sent Green powering forward again. Past three defenders he charged, before unleashing a twenty-five yard screamer which had Cunningham beaten all ends up, only to crash back into play off the 'keeper's right-hand post. Three times in the next ten minutes, McHenery went close, Cunningham twice saving at the striker's feet. Still Metro pressed, but Caversham were resolute in their defensive duties until four minutes from time, when another clearance fell invitingly near the edge of the penalty area. And whom should it fall to but Hird. Upon taking the player-coach role in 1994, he promptly steered Metro to the Bluebird Northern League First Division championship, then the Bluebird National Superclub Championship two years later, followed by the Bluebird Northern Premier League crown two years ago, as well as a handful of records along the way. Given this background, you could be forgiven for thinking that the destination of the ball, on this occasion, was virtually pre-destined. And sure enough ... top far corner, on the volley, BANG! 3-2 Metro, the scorer instantly engulfed by delighted team-mates, well aware that this goal all but secured their league status for next season. There was still time for Caversham to attempt to snatch a dramatic late equaliser, but Hird's strike proved to be the breaking point for the gallant southerners, "The Wee Man" signing off  at Metro in much the same manner he started there seven years ago - as a winner! Caversham:   Cunningham; Kelly, Potrac, Almond; Puna, S. Fleming (booked, 64), Coburn, McGregor, Scott; R. Fleming, McCullum (Mandry, 76) Metro:           Schofield; Mair (booked, 41), Phommahaxay, Field; Imre, Curteis, Hird (booked, 30), Green, Beckham; McNeil (Foster, 83), McHenery Referee:         Steve Sargent Scoring:         Caversham: M. McGregor (3), R. Fleming (17)                       Metro: D. McHenery (68), G. Green (74), S. Hird (86)