NEWSLETTER
WELCOME, WEEK IN REVIEW
MAY 27| ISSUE 3
FEATURES Match day reviews
Welcome to the third edition of Te Atatu AFC‘s newsletter for the season! With Juniors and Seniors both kicking off their seasons, it's great to see the club back in full swing after a tough 2020 and 2021. Here’s hoping for a complete and interrupted 2022 season!!
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MAY 27
2022 ISSUE 03
MEN'S FIRSTS
TE ATATU 3:2 PAPATOETOE The lads were back on home soil for the first time in which felt like an eternity since we played there last. After a tough slog against a team two divisions above us, things didnt get easier with table topping Papatoetoe visiting. They were also unbeaten in the league. It was a cagey start from both teams, as they tried to get used to the howling wind. Te Atatu started then to get into a rhythm and started to dominate the game, forcing the Papatoetoe keeper into some fine saves. Rhys Caples weaved through and hit the crossbar before Marc Porter had a header saved from close range and the follow up was cleared off the line. Darrell Hannah had a running battle with the keeper with the keeper coming up trumps so far. Between the front 4 causing havoc, Porter and Dylan Burns mopping everything up in midfield and a largely untroubled back 5 you could sense goals were coming for the boys in orange. Dylan Burns almost scored a postage stamp in the top corner but the keeper pulled a cat like save out the bag. Darrell Hannah put Te Atatu 1-0 up after some great work from Marc Porter to intercept twice before putting the ball on a silver platter for Darrell to finish in the old onion bag. The tally was doubled less than 2 minutes later with Matty Bowman made a mockery of the back line before teeing up Rhys Caples to make it 2 in 2 minutes. 2-0 up at the break and it could have been so much more. The second half couldnt have been any different to the first. Papatoetoe as expected came out firing and put Te Atatu under the cosh. The game changed 5 minutes after the break after a mix up at the back, giving away a cheap corner. The corner wasnt dealt with and left the smallest player on the pitch a free header, this was saved but by Dylan who instinctively put his hands up to stop the ball going in. Red card, down to 10 and a penalty for Papatoetoe. The penalty was slotted and it was game on. They equalised not long after. This couldve gone two ways, lie down and get rolled over or stand up and be counted. The lads stood up and took control. Matty Bowman who out of nothing won a penalty 20 minutes from time. Pete Norris dutifully slotted it to make it 3-2. The game ebbed and flowed but the 10 man Te Atatu stood firm. Coach Matty Johnson made his season debut to help "close out" the game(his words not mine) after coming on for the injured Scotty. The game finished 3-2 to the good guys, knocking Papatoetoe off their perch. It was made harder than it needed to but getting the 3 points was the main thing now just the one point off top spot. It doesnt get any easier with another top of the table clash vs South Auckland Rangers.
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MAY 27
2022| ISSUE 03
MEN'S RESERVES
TE ATATU 8 : 3 BUCKLANDS BEACH DUSTIES The Te Atatu Reserves lads took to Moire Park on Saturday for a game against Bucklands Beach Dusties. Although they didn’t seem that dusty early on in the game! After taking the lead early on in the game ref’d by Reserves coach Peter Thrower, the non-matching kitted side slotted home past Luke Barnaby. The boys seemed stunned for a short while that they managed to concede so early on to a team that had no squad numbers nor matching socks (some even without.) The lead was short lived though as the orange & black turned it around pulling back 2 quick goals to put them 2-1 up. Ethan the Power was having none of it as Bucklands Beach came back again to make it 2-2 at half time. At the back Ethan seemed to be injecting some much needed energy into the lads. Along with a few strategic rotations by the club doctor and Manager Isaac, the game started to slip away from the Dusty men. Consecutive goals started leaking through their 6ft 4 goalkeeper and potential goal of the season by Stu McNeil from halfway were just what the doctor had ordered. Man of the match performance from Te Atatu legend Campbell bagging his first hat trick of the season, followed by strong performances from Ruben (1) and an unlikely goal off the post from Hummels (1). Final score 8-3 to Te Atatu Reserves and onto the next round.
MAY 27
DIVISION 6
2022 | ISSUE 03
BB'S
BB'S 1: 1 PAPAKURA RESERVES (lost 3-0 on pens) The BBs were in cup action this week and had theoretically drawn the most onerous opponent in the form of the Papakura City Reserves. This is a Papakura City Reserves team who are top of the NRF Men Championship Reserve grade having won five and lost one game. The BBs comparatively sit in fourth in NRF Men Div 6 Harbour grade. On paper this is a real David v Goliath situation, but members of this club only need to look back to last year’s cup competition to see that reserve sides should take the BBs lightly at their own peril. The game began truly with the BBs giving the Pap City side too much respect with the opposition being more concerned with fighting each other than winning a football game. A few half chances came and went, but there didn’t seem to be a huge amount of disparity between the sides. A Pap City corner that unluckily deflected and bobbled around saw the opposition go ahead, but instead of this opening the floodgates, the BBs continued at their task and defended resolutely for the game to remain 1-0 at half-time with there only needing to be a few last-ditch Krishna and Ryan saves thrown in. A typically fiery Mark half-time talk had the BBs ready to run through walls into the second half and started building momentum of their own. Pap City’s only response to this was to get frustrated and throw in some dodgy challenges. While the first one went unpunished, when Jack rounded the keeper and was dragged down, the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Ash stepped up and dutifully dispatched it low and hard to the right and the scores were level! The remainder of the game saw Pap City pushing for the win and mostly just giving Ryan the ability to show off his fine keeping prowess apart from one strike hitting the post. Full time came and with 90 minutes unable to separate the sides, the game was straight off to penalties. The less said about the penalties probably the better (even if there may have been an illegal keeper substitution by the opposition) and although the BBs are now out of the cup there is a lot to be proud of. Across the park the BBs played exceptionally well with everyone performing out of their skins leaving this writer effusive with praise and some great momentum to be taken back into the league. MoM Not Named Ryan: Krishna – Of course Ryan had an incredible game again making countless saves, but he was strongly helped by Krishna MD (Master Defender). As per usual Krishna was our rock, constantly saving this writer, thwarting the opposition attacks and ensuring the game stayed level.
MAY 27
STALLIONS
DIVISION 9
2022 | ISSUE 03
STALLIONS 2 : 3 ELLERSLIE The Stallions took on Ellerslie Wild Bucks in round one of the knockout cup. In true Stallion cup form, it was 1 and done as we drove back out west with a 3-2 loss. A cracking brace from Harry in the first half saw him take home MOTM, however, any number of the boys could have taken the illustrious Horsie trophy home this week. Our oppositions goals were nothing to write home about as "howling winds" finished as their top goal scorer on the day, getting 3 wayward crosses over the line. Eddie won our coveted pony of the day award for sporting nothing but a training bib on the side-line and strutting his stuff in front of the dugout. Huge credit to Chris squared this weekend (Felsy for a 90 minute shift between the sticks and Horsley for managing a team of unfit footballers on game day and making a record number of substitutions over 90 minutes). We return to league action next week against... you guessed it. Another Ellerslie side. We have considered taking up residence in Ellerslie this season but the locals have vetoed the move stating that there isn't enough beer to support the thirsty Stallions with the lifestyle change.
MAY 27
OVER 35s Div 3
2022 | ISSUE 03
WESTERLIES
WESTERLIES 5 : 1 BIRKENHEAD . Another Saturday, another trip around West Auckland, this time to our home from home, Massey rugby club. A strong westerly greeted the players of both Te Atatu and Birkenhead, with the open air changing rooms, providing a cool breeze whilst putting the shorts on. A quick warm up, a nice few words from Sammy and the scene was set for a good, challenging game, played the right way. The Westerlies won the toss, took the wind first half, down the hill and started confidently looking for four straight wins. Within minutes, good play down the left, a low cross from Kev and welsh Pete sliding in at the back post, putting the Westerlies one to the good. The wind was causing Birkenhead lots of problems, they just could not get out and the Westerlies duly doubled their lead minutes later with a well taken goal from Pikey. 2-0. It became three moments later, when Kirk broke his duck for the Westerlies with a goal from his 92nd shot of the game. 3-0. Cruising. Shortly afterward, Pikey broke free down the left fired a ball across the goal that was inadvertently turned into his own net for 4-0. Too easy. All before half time. Following a good chat at half time about the price of living increase, the Westerlies set about finishing the job, knocking the ball around confidently and staying out of the wind. Still creating plenty of chances it was 5-0 soon after, Pikey down the left, low cross, Paulie with the heel into the corner of the goal. Not much happened after that, Birkenhead were showing their frustration with their own referee, a great catch in the centre circle from Paulie who was saving the ball from going into the trees. Birkenhead scored a consolation late on from a scrappy long throw in, but it didn’t dampen the day. A good result. 5-1. Four from four. Another good performance filled with heart and determination and no little skill. We did Troy proud with our commitment and hard work, onwards and upwards to the next game against a Mount Albert side, who love a beer and a laugh, and are a good team. Looking forward to it, the magical mystery tour takes us the South Tat park.