Waitemata v. Cambridge 260915

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To Cambridge, The Battle. To Waitemata, The War.

by Jeremy Ruane

Waitemata secured promotion back to the Lotto Northern League Second Division at McLeod Road on 26 September, but did so the hard way after Cambridge came home with a wet sail to prevail 3-2 in the second leg of the teams' promotion play-off.

It was the 2-0 victory the West Auckland outfit recorded in the Waikato a week ago which ultimately proved too great a hurdle for Cambridge to overhaul, although the southerners would have gained promotion via the away goals rule had a chance not gone begging in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time.

Cambridge's hopes of staging a fightback were nearly dealt a fatal blow just 28 seconds into this well-attended second leg affair. Brent Mayhew sent Shane Tanner storming through the visitors' defence before firing the ball past Fraser Nicholls.

Much to the 'keeper's relief, the post came to his rescue, and Tanner was unable to convert the rebound, given it was unexpected - he really should have scored, and given Waitemata a seemingly unassailable three-goal aggregate lead in the process.

Cambridge responded via a third minute free-kick from the eye-catchingly performed Henry Stephen, an effort which Roy Bell smothered low to his right. But it was Bell's opposite number who looked anything but a source of confidence, as Nicholls repeatedly underlined over the course of the next fifteen minutes.

A hanging cross from Jesse Smith found the 'keeper with one eye on the ball and the other on the incoming figure of Daniel Gates, who executed a spectacular scissors effort after leaping for the ball. A pity he didn't make contact … instead we were treated to some Keystone Cops defending in the next few seconds, with the ball ricocheting off Nicholls to safety.

That seventh minute incident was followed up three minutes later by another nervy Nicholls moment, his attempt to clear cannoning off the charging figure of Gates and arcing over the bar.

The ball could just as easily have ended up in the back of the net, which would doubtless have left the 'keeper sporting even more shades of colour on his cheeks than those on view on his kaleidoscopic shirt.

Nicholls' next nervous moment materialised on the quarter hour, when he failed to cleanly gather a seemingly routine free-kick from Craig Wylie, from whom far better was expected performance-wise.

This was a game a player of his calibre and pedigree - Wylie was playing in the ASB Premiership in the early months of 2015, lest we forget - should have absolutely bossed. He didn't perform like a top-flight footballer on this occasion, that's for sure. Anything but, in fact.

There were a number of better-performed players on the park, with Stephen leading the charge for the visitors. In the twentieth minute, his cross picked out Glen Carmichael, who worked a one-two with Patrick Woodlock before doing Sam Sedon a treat in order to engineer space for the shot. Bell smothered the attempt solidly.

By this stage, the tackles were starting to get a little willing, and referee Nick Waldron - he had a great game, particularly in terms of player communication - made it known to the principle offenders that they were treading a fine line.

His words were heeded, as were Waitemata's actions in the 27th minute - they increased their aggregate advantage to three goals. Simon Day - another to shine brightly in this showdown - scorched down the right past two opponents en route to the penalty area before fizzing in a low cross.

Tanner was the recipient on the far post, and a tap-in opener looked odds-on. An air-shot certainly wasn't, but that's what the number nine contrived to do. Thankfully for the home team, Gates was on hand to spare his team-mate's blushes and belt home a beauty into the bottom corner from eight yards - 1-0 Waitemata.

Five minutes later, more Day devilry deserved better fate, as the Conference champions looked to twist the knife and end all hopes held by the Premiership title-winners.

He did two defenders like kippers near the by-line before picking out player-coach Michael Mayne arriving on the far post with the goal at his mercy. The Junior Ferns assistant coach couldn't believe it when he guided his header past the post - it seemed easier to score.

Cambridge promptly made a change, withdrawing the just-booked Shaun Kipara from the fray in favour of Tom Woutersen, who was swift to make an impression.

Carmichael worked a one-two with his strike partner in the 36th minute before letting rip from twenty yards with a shot which was bound for the bottom far corner of the net until Bell's fingertips turned the ball to safety.

Three minutes later, Day provided once more, this time via a through ball which released Tanner through the inside-right channel. Nicholls, having by now overcome his early nervousness, charged out of goal, and the sight of this kaleidoscope of colour careering towards him obviously put Tanner in two minds, as the 'keeper was able to gather the ball relatively easily.

An equaliser before half-time would have been just the ticket for Cambridge, given their need to score at least three to harbour any hopes of a return to the Lotto Northern League for the first time since 2011.

With a minute to go until the interval, they came desperately close to getting it. Stephen's long throw-in picked out Carmichael, who guided the ball down for Jason Szabo to let fly. His whipped shot deflected inches the wrong side of the upright, or the right side of it, as far as Waitemata were concerned.

The resulting corner saw Stephen's delivery arc to the far post, where Woodlock's wickedly struck volley ricocheted off Mayhew and prompted a

stunning reflex save from Bell, who was already diving to cover the ball's original line of flight.

Waitemata scrambled the ball clear on this occasion, but deep in first half stoppage time, handed Cambridge a lifeline via the penalty spot. Dan Jones caught Robbie Greenhalgh just inside the area, and referee Waldron didn't hesitate to point to the place from where the fouled player thundered home the equaliser with virtually the last kick of an entertaining half.

The second spell was barely three minutes old when Waitemata re-established their advantage on the scoreboard in splendid fashion. Some superb target-man play by Gates instigated the move, which featured more wing wizardry from Day before he whipped in a cross which Tanner, arriving to meet the ball at the near post, headed in expertly - 2-1 to the home team, and 4-1 on aggregate.

The game appeared up for Cambridge at this point, and Nathan Claridge's indiscipline five minutes later epitomised their frustration. FIFA U-17 World Cup-bound referee Waldron handled the incident superbly, playing the advantage as Waitemata retained possession despite the offender's late tackle on Wylie, then returning at the first opportunity to book Claridge, having told him during play what to expect.

The visitors quickly got the message, and channelled their aggression towards trying to carve out a second equaliser. Bell thwarted Woutersen at the near post as he looked to turn home Carmichael's 56th minute cross, while Stephen sent a thirty yard free-kick sizzling past the post two minutes later.

Half-way through the second half, Cambridge's fans cheered with delight for a second time, as the visitors levelled the scores again. Carmichael led a left flank raid in front of the roaring hordes before picking out Stephen beyond the far post.

He in turn picked out substitute Adam Brady, who, from twenty-five yards, picked out a beauty six minutes after eventually entering the fray, about which there was confusion aplenty.

Initially he wasn't named on the teamsheet, something which this writer makes a point of sighting pre-match for reporting purposes. Then, when he went to the half-way mark prior to going on, he was wearing a shirt number not listed on the teamsheet - cue a shirt change. Imagine the drama and confusion these circumstances could have created had Cambridge recorded an away goals victory …

As it was, Brady's strike meant they were now within two goals of achieving this unlikely prospect. The visitors duly threw caution to the wind, and piled on the pressure in search of more goals, with Bell smothering a Brady strike fifteen minutes from time after Stephen and Woutersen had combined to carve open Waitemata's rearguard.

Back came the home team, substitute Nathan Rollinson squandering two chances to restore Waitemata's lead inside the next four minutes, in between which Stephen worked an opening in which to pick out Szabo with a cross. Bell grabbed the striker's header greedily.

Nine minutes from time, Tanner cut in off the left as the West Aucklanders attacked once more, and let loose a curling effort which Nicholls could only parry to his left … straight into the path of Rollinson, who was following in.

Time stood still for Cambridge, their play-off hopes hinging on the outcome. Seconds later, they were breathing a collective sigh of relief as Rollinson led Waitemata's chorus of despairing groans, the substitute having somehow guided the ball past the upright with the goal at his mercy.

Was it a sign for the visitors that all was not lost? They certainly hoped so, and four minutes later, underlined the fact by taking the lead, Stephen a most deserving scorer as his vicious low free-kick zoomed round the defensive wall and beat Bell all ends up at his near post.

3-2 Cambridge, with five minutes remaining, a scoreline which left the visitors poised to record their fifth successive victory at McLeod Road, according to the outstanding match programme - a real credit to the Waitemata club, make no mistake.

But they needed another goal to complete their comeback. Shots from Brady and Greenhalgh sizzled over the bar in the next few minutes, with Nicholls, having saved a Tanner strike in between times, a lonely figure inside Cambridge's half of the pitch as his team-mates piled on the pressure in search of a dramatic winner.

Five minutes of additional time were signalled. Could Waitemata hang on? Could they equalise? Wylie had the chance to do so via a free-kick, but his wayward effort allowed Cambridge one last opportunity …

In the final minute of the match, Stephen and Adrian Clark worked a one-two on the right, with the winger delivering yet another cross of quality towards the near post. Szabo arrived on cue, and duly pulled the trigger …

There were only inches in it, but the groans of the Cambridge fans, combined with the audible gasps of relief from the Waitemata faithful, told their own tale - 3-2 it remained. Seconds later, the final whistle brought with it an explosion of local delight - never has a defeat been celebrated so joyously at this venue!

Despite losing the battle to Cambridge, Waitemata had won the war, their 4-3 aggregate victory securing a long-awaited return for the club to the Northern League, a competition the newly promoted club last graced in 2006.

Waitemata: Bell; Sedon (booked, 84), Mayhew, Turner, Smith; Jones, Mayne (Haggo, 71), Wylie; Day (Waldegrave, 80), Gates (Rollinson, 54), Tanner

Cambridge: Nicholls; Coleridge (booked, 53) (Brady, 62), Clark, Hay, Hill; Stephen, Greenhalgh, Kipara (booked, 30) (Woutersen, 33), Woodlock; Carmichael, Szabo (booked, 82)

Referee: Nick Waldron

Northern League