Two Hat-Tricks And Two Gems In Nine-Goal Spectacle by Jeremy Ruane Ellerslie came from behind to down Three Kings United 6-3 in their Northern Premier League encounter at Keith Hay Park on June 29, a nine-goal spectacle which featured twice as many near-misses, two hat-tricks and two absolutely exquisite goals, the sort which, for all the run-of-the-mill action one may see during the season, make going along to watch a game of football well worth the effort, and reaffirms your faith in "The Beautiful Game". Three Kings were out of the starting blocks right from Graham Whitford’s first whistle, and deservedly took the lead in the eighth minute, and a stylish goal it was, too. Scott Hall ghosted past Scott Meikle on half-way, and rewarded Matthew Keene’s fine off-the-ball running down the right with a made-to-measure pass right to his feet. A first-time cross to the far post found Carl Bennett lurking with intent, and Alex Hurstfield could only stand and watch as the striker’s header arced over him into the back of the net. United kept the hammer down, and were desperately unlucky in the eighteenth minute, when referee’s assistant Glenn Williams flagged for offside against the wrong player. Hall’s through ball rewarded Bennett’s well-timed run, but Damian Schade had been in an offside position on the other side of the ground when the ball was played, prompting the flag. As United groaned in displeasure, to put it politely, Williams drew the attention of referee Whitford and admitted his error, which prompted a change of decision from a defensive free-kick to a drop ball. Now it was Ellerslie’s turn to be up in arms, but this was soon placated by the instruction that Three Kings employ Fair Play, and return possession to Ellerslie immediately upon the resumption of play. Ellerslie duly sent the ball forward, and within ninety seconds, were on level terms. Nick Russo, playing in defence after his front-running role earlier in the season, hoisted the ball to the far post, beyond Greg Ovens, United’s goalkeeper, who was called into action at the last minute following a pre-match injury incurred by regular custodian Stewart Naylor. Ovens flapped at the sphere, much to the delight of Terry Torrens, who headed the ball across goal for Joel Facon to re-open his account for the club after a brief spell at Metro. Seven minutes later, Ellerslie took the lead with one of the afore-mentioned exquisite strikes. The visitors were awarded a free-kick thirty yards out from goal, and there was only one contender to take the kick. While Ovens finally got his four-man wall organised, and positioned himself near the far post, Torrens patiently waited - you just knew he was going to score, such was the lack of order in United’s defensive preparations. Sure enough, he did, but what a free-kick! He curled the ball around the wall, the sphere curling relentlessly towards the top left-hand corner of Ovens’ goal, not that far from where the goalkeeper had positioned himself. But despite his proximity, he was beaten all ends up - a fabulous strike!! Within seconds, United were hell-bent on drawing level, and Keene picked out Craig Jamieson with his right-wing cross. United’s captain’s shot hit Hurstfield - the ‘keeper knew very little about it - and Schade was unable to capitalise on the rebound. Back came Ellerslie, a rousing right-wing raid culminating in Facon firing over the crossbar. From the resulting goal-kick, United drew level. Jamieson’s inch-perfect crossfield pass found Bennett racing in on the blind side of Meikle, leaving the striker one-on-one with Hurstfield. The ‘keeper came off his line, but Bennett rounded him and slotted home - 2-2. After both teams were given a general warning about their language by referee Whitford - a good piece of man-management by the official, United continued to press, via a couple of Bennett corners. Robert Cooper headed the first of these over the crossbar, while Hurstfield fumbled the second, but no-one in a turquoise shirt was on hand to capitalise. In the 39th minute came the other exquisite finish of the afternoon, every bit as good as Torrens’ strike. A poor goal-kick by Ovens got the punishment it fully merited, with Gary Walton more than happy to provide it. As the ‘keeper tried to retrieve the situation, the seasoned Ellerslie campaigner found himself with time aplenty to line up a thirty yard chip and measure his angles to perfection before going "Doink!" Up and over the floundering figure of Ovens the ball arced, its ultimate destiny inevitable, much to Walton’s undisguised delight - 3-2 to the visitors. Walton nearly had a second two minutes later. Tony Goldsmith picked out Torrens with an early cross, and the midfielder headed it down into the path of the fast-arriving striker.      Walton’s diving header was parried to safety by Ovens, who, after a Jamieson effort was blocked on the line at the other end of the park, then fumbled a seemingly innocuous cross from Peter Downer seconds before the break. Thankfully for United, Bogard Hanchard was on hand to mop up. Within three minutes of the start of the second half, Ellerslie extended their advantage to 4-2. Goldsmith and Downer combined on the right, presenting Walton with a shooting chance. The diving Ovens got his hand to the ball, but could only divert it into the path of the predatory Facon - nothing but net! Fortune was not favouring United. Already injury-hit, their lack of luck extended to directly in front of Ellerslie’s net, it seemed, for twice in the next six minutes, they had chances to pull a goal back. But Matthew Jones headed the first of them over the bar, while the second, a deflected cross from Keene, spun across the face of goal, with not one player from either side reacting to divert it in any direction - all opted to watch and wait. In the 56th minute, Ellerslie went nap. Torrens delivered a pinpoint corner to the near post which Jamieson, in attempting to head clear, sent crashing onto the inside of the far post. The ball ricocheted out, straight into the path of Nathan Palmer, who simply couldn’t miss from virtually under the crossbar - 5-2. Despite having five goals to their name already, the visitors kept pressing for more. Hurstfield’s raking ball forward in the 62nd minute was misjudged by Hanchard, much to Torrens’ delight. He whipped in a first-time cross which Walton met on the volley, and the ball screamed narrowly wide of Ovens’ right-hand post - it deserved better fate. Moments later, Russo headed a Torrens free-kick straight at the goalkeeper, who must, by now, have been feeling somewhat under siege. Bennett heading a Jamieson cross wide at the other end of the park soon after offered the custodian a brief respite, before the onslaught recommenced, Torrens unleashing a twenty-five yard free-kick which Ovens grabbed gratefully twenty minutes from time. United then enjoyed a good spell on attack, but couldn’t find a way past the burly figure of former Eden goalkeeper Hurstfield. Ellerslie’s number one denied Keene, Bennett and Schade in a four-minute spurt, before looking on as Bennett, released by Jones down the right, whipped in a cross which fizzed just behind the fast-arriving figure of Hall in the 76th minute. Ellerslie gathered the loose ball and set off downfield, Torrens ultimately finding himself unmarked in the middle. Michael Ritchie played the ball across to the much-honoured campaigner, but just too far ahead of him, meaning Torrens had to retrieve the ball and play it back for Wagner Feuerharmel, who had arrived in support. His cross to the far post picked out Facon, who completed his hat-trick by guiding his angled header beyond Ovens and into the far corner of the net - 6-2. After Ellerslie had scrambled clear Hall’s low cross to the near post, the home team finally had a break go their way, in terms of getting another goal. Downer’s under-hit back-pass was pounced on by Bennett, who evaded two challenges before slotting home his hat-trick goal past Hurstfield. And still they pressed. Torrens picked out Downer with a perfectly weighted pass, and his fine cross was pawed to safety by Ovens. Palmer was hurtling in, and sent a header bulleting off the inside of the far post and back into play, much to United’s relief. After Bennett and Facon had both gone narrowly close to scoring yet again - both sent twenty-five yard drives narrowly over and wide of the target respectively, United’s day was best summed up in the last minute. Daniel Turner picked out Bennett on the right. He sent in a low cross to Keene, whose shot was blocked. Jones was following up, and let fly from close range, only for Schade to block his team-mate’s goalbound effort on the line. In the end, a priceless win for Ellerslie. It was a real six-pointer for Dave Witteveen’s team, as defeat in this match would almost certainly have left them fighting an uphill battle to avoid relegation. But in winning 6-3, they’ve given themselves a lifeline, and dragged Three Kings right back into the battle to avoid accompanying Manukau City into Division One. Three Kings:     Ovens; Hanchard, Gray, Cooper; Keene, Jones, Hall, Turner, Jamieson; Bennett, Schade Ellerslie:     Hurstfield; Goldsmith (Ritchie, 62), Russo (Martin, 77), Horgan, Meikle; Downer, Hansen, Torrens, Palmer; Walton (Feuerharmel, 71), Facon Referee:     Graham Whitford