It's A Funny Game, Football!! by Jeremy Ruane His team 3-2 down to Papatoetoe with fifteen minutes of their Winfield Superclub Northern Regional Championship match to play, Central President, Ivan Zonich, stormed down to his team's dug-out and berated coach Peter Kelly and the other bench occupants. The general idea was to get a substitute put on!! What words interspersed this phrase can't be printed!! By the time Mr Zonich had returned to his position and calmed down, three minutes later, Central were ahead 4-3 - the final scoreline - and just making the desired substitution. It's a funny game, football!! This brief cameo was but one of a series of isolated incidents which made up a fascinating, free-flowing, action-filled match at Kiwitea Street on Easter Monday. Both teams deserved to win - a draw would not have done injustice to either camp. But Central took the points - "I'm gutted", winced 'Toe's player-coach, Ricki Herbert, afterwards. The visitors started brightly, with Gary Kingi twice going close, before a bizarre seventeenth minute opener. Herbert's pinpoint free-kick found Andy Berry, whose volley was blocked by giant Central 'keeper, Brett McMurdoch. But such was the ferocity of the shot that the ball careered back to the falling Berry, and ricocheted off him into the net. No complaints from 'Toe, but ... it's a funny game, football!! Central were smiling two minutes later, and a better finish you'll go a long way to see! Mark Elrick bewitched defenders with his close control before unleashing a glorious drive from twenty-five yards into the top corner. Breath-taking stuff! Ten minutes later, Central went 2-1 ahead, and were looking the part. Elrick the initiator this time, and Matthew Vuksich's inviting through ball was clinically executed by Steven Laus. Benny Hall was relieved - he'd hit the post two minutes earlier. Papatoetoe regrouped, and left their opponents reeling, with two strikes in four minutes right before half-time. Alan Taylor made no mistake from a text-book Herbert corner, flicked on by Berry, for the 42nd minute equaliser. The lead-taker, scored with the last kick of the half, is one which McMurdoch would prefer to forget. Vuksich brought down Darrin Brown in a seemingly innocuous position wide on Central's left flank. Lee Root curled in the free-kick, the 'keeper stood bemused, the net bulged - 3-2. It's a funny game, football!! Attack and counter-attack appeared to be the second half menu, as Central sought to equalise, and 'Toe looked to utilise their pacy attack. Alas, Brown chose to have an off-day, while Kingi's play was patchy. Alf Manuel was replaced outright, as 'Toe sought to close the game down, by strengthening defensive numbers. All was going according to plan, until Mr Zonich gave vent to his feelings. At the same time, Elrick was beginning another right-flank raid, and his cross found Darron Jackson's head - 3-3. Two minutes later, Sean Hird picked out Hall with a beautifully-timed ball. The cross, inch-perfect. The finish from Jackson, with Elrick in close attendance, exemplary. 4-3, and no way back for 'Toe. They deserved better. It's a funny game, football!! Central:        McMurdoch; Laus, Foster, Hird, Stiles, Grove; Vuksich, Jackson (booked, 87), Tavich; Elrick, Hall (Worsley, 79) Papatoetoe:   Gissing; Taylor, Moore, Bright (Hutton, 15), Ramsey; Root, Berry, Herbert, Manuel (Fowler, 55); Brown, Kingi Referee:        Evan Taylor