Renee Bennett (left) in action for Te Awamutu against Thames
Te Awamutu had to wait to get the rub of the green, but when it came it was a key factor in securing the team’s first points of the season in the WaiBop football premiership.
After two defeats, Te Awamutu Gisler Architects drew 4-4 with West Ham after trailing 4-2.
The shock of the round came in Rotorua where Waiariki, soundly beaten in two outings to date, held high flying Otorohanga to a 2-2 draw.
Huntly also raised eyebrows with a 4-3 away win at Taupo.
The result left Papamoa as the only team with three wins from three – and they host Te Awamutu on Saturday.
The game in Te Awamutu was played between two sides looking for their first points on a very wet home pitch that didn’t help either side. The clash was littered with overzealous challenges resulting in bookings on both sides.
Te Awamutu scored first with a well taken finish from Steffan Foulkes after 10 minutes, but it was quickly cancelled out by a penalty for West Ham when keeper Josh Peterson brought down an opposing striker.
Te Awamutu fell further behind and then finished the half 3-1 down after a second penalty, award against captain Aaron Mills in what looked a harsh call,
Te Awamutu started the second half the stronger side and scored early with a great finish from Joel Roil.
After good work from Hayden Roil, TA thought they had equalised, only to be thwarted by an offside flag, which, again, the home side thought was a tough call.
It looked even worse when, from the resumption West Ham broke and made it 4-2.
Foulkes then scored his second to make it 4-3 and the call which helped seal the result then came when West Hamilton was reduced to 10 men after a robust challenge on Man of match Gareth Webb.
With a man advantage Te Awamutu pushed hard for the equaliser and it came with 10 minutes to go courtesy of another fine finish from Roil.
With the game now level at 4-4 Te Awamutu pushed hard for the win but could not score again with the West Ham goalkeeper pulling off a great save in the last minute to deny them a deserved win.
Results: Unicol 2 Matamata 0, Waiariki 2, Otorohanga 2, Taupo 3 Huntly 4. Ngaruawahia 2 Papamoa 3, Te Awamutu 4 West Hamilton 4.
Te Awamutu’s Edmonds Judd Men’s Div 3 team lost 3-1 at home to Northern United Humblebees.
Player of the Day Dane Mitchell scored a stunning goal, but despite the home team keeping the visitors under pressure, they could not convert possession into more goals.
The team plays Otorohanga on Saturday.
Te Awamutu Men’s Div 5 Team continued their winning streak with a 4-1 win over Cambridge.
The match was level at half time thanks to a Bradley Eaglestone goal, and TA took it up a notch in the second half with Jamie Bell, Ben Monkley and another Eaglestone goal sealing the deal for their third win on the trot. Player of the Day went to Kylan Atkinson who shone at the back. The team host Tokoroa on Saturday.
Thames Senior ladies travelled to Te Awamutu to play The Pink Ladies Women’s Team on Sunday and made their trek worthwhile, winning 3-2 after the scores were level at the break.
Jade Hagger and Sydney Russell netted for TA, who travel to Ngaruawahia on Sunday, while the Edmond Judd Women, who had a bye travel to Thames.
Junior Results:
Raglan Thresher Sharks 6 T.A Spurs 2, T.A Rovers 3 Southwell School 8, T.A Lightning 1,2 Cambridge Daredevils 1,1, Southwell School Ngaio 3 Ohaupo Terminators 7, T.A Diamonds 1 Cambridge France 0, T.A Hotshots 0 Fairfield Intermediate School Boys A 3, T.A Hurricanes 4 Woodstock Wolves 0, T.A Storm 3 Cambridge Tigers 1, Tamahere Titans 0,2 T.A Red Devils 3,1, Glenview Thunder 3,3 T.A Thunder 2,3, Glenview Storm 3 T.A Wolves1, T.A Terriers 3 Cambridge Sampdoria 4, T.A Blades 2 Western Utd Spurs 10, T.A Galaxy Girls 0,0 T.A Comets 3,3.
