26 sept 04

by Vaughan Hilton

Petherick Drag Flick UnLeished.


26 September 2004 Midlands Mens Coach Sue McLeish, although unhappy with her sides turnover rate, was "pleased they stuck to their game plan" in their come from behind 4-3 win over Southern in Hamilton on Sunday. In an even first half Southern opened the scoring after a sloppy back pass was quickly transferred to an unmarked Jonathan Pooch who kept his composure to slot past Dean Armstrong in goal for Midlands. Richard Petherick put the home side on level terms a minute later with a well directed low drag flick after back-to-back PC's. First half scoring opportunities were at a premium for both sides, with Southern defenders Jeremy Kilner and Jonny Rea both showing patience and precision when tackling in the circle and only Jonny Forbes finding space on attack for Midlands. ABOVE: Australian import, Seyi Onitiri, directs traffic from Midlands centre half position.	ABOVE: Midlands captain Ian Haste clears after keeper Dean Armstrong repels a Southern attack. Southern played with composure and precision to dominate the early second half possession and were rewarded when striker Daniel Harrington cracked his first time shot low past Armstrong. Pooch rocked the home side in stretching the lead with a well taken field goal after a flowing passing movement caught the Midland defense short on numbers. Sparked into action Midland defenders Warren Phillips and Ian Haste pushed forward allowing Australian import and centre half Seyi Onitiri more space to provide quality ball to his strikers. Sandeep Puna toiled hard for possession and created space up the left flank and was rewarded with a PC, which Petherick dragged high to the left of the goal to reduce the deficit. Onitiri showed his class in front of goal after Phillips threw a delightful ball for Onitiri to draw the keeper and provide Puna with an open goal for the equaliser. Petherick clinched the win in a man of the match performance getting his hat trick with yet another well directed low drag flick PC. Southern Coach Chris Aubin was pleased with his sides’ ability to hold possession but said, "at 3-1 up, we only needed to hold the possession, you don't win games playing well for 20 minutes a half". Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury share the lead in the NHL after wins over Central, North Harbour and Northland respectively.
In the women’s game, Midlands started well creating pressure on the Southern defense. Robyn Matthews had another stand out game controlling the midfield but Southern opened the scoring first with a quick break out down the left flank for Toni Townsend to beat the out stretched Karen Smith in goal. Like the men before them Midlands struck back after back-to-back PC’s with Clarissa Eshuis fastest to the rebound scooping high over the goalie. Southern upped the tempo in the second half and only desperate defense, firstly from Katie Cockrem with a diving save and then Kath Drew saving off the line prevented the visitors going ahead. The Midlands forward effort wilted as the game wore on putting pressure on Matthews who was forced to pass back all too often. Southern pressure finally wore down the Midlands defense when Jessica Bagley deftly slotted and Anna Thorpe gave the visitors a deserved 3-1 victory as the recipient of another slick passing move.	ABOVE: Southern striker Shannon Cochrane lures Karen Smith out of the goalmouth for an early goal. RIGHT: Southern striker Kate Dillon on the charge and in control. More photos by Alex Quinn - Thames Valley With a tough away double header next weekend against Auckland and Northland, NHL newcomers Midlands will be hard pressed to secure their first points, but the women’s competition is much closer than the men’s with only Auckland and Canterbury still unbeaten after hard fought 1-0 and 2-1 wins over Central and Northland respectively.