Irish luck runs out
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Christchurch United Prebbleton Shamrocks 0 V Methven FC 5
On another day the heavy rain and severely boggy pitch would have resulted in the match being postponed but seen as Methven had made the journey, the game went ahead.
Despite the marsh like conditions, the Mountaineers found their groove early on and against all the odds, were playing some fantastic football, applying constant pressure on the hosts with wave after wave of attacks. The deadlock was almost broken 10 minutes in when the Governor pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box, however a defensive garrison swarmed the goal mouth and his placed shot was cleared off the line. Methven didn’t slack and were relentless, the difficult terrain lead to many goalmouth scrabbles and eventually Methven’s good egg, Jan Luccini was first to react to another loose ball in the box; poking his effort beyond the keeper, 0-1. The visitors would need another to really settle any nerves kicking in and it wasn’t long before they got one before halftime. The Governor quickly took a freekick on the halfway line into Liam Hetts stride, who in turn found Luccini, then to Stimolo, who threaded through for Nick Eden to slide the ball under the keeper, 0-2.
The second period commenced with yet more water raining down on the surface, but Methven’s spirits were by no means dampened and the onslaught continued. Luccini has been in fine form in recent weeks and again the talisman was amongst the action, gloriously releasing Josh Burrows into a one on one with the keeper, the outcome, 0-3.
Luccini appeared to be everywhere and as we already know, he is somewhat of a set piece specialist. His dangerous, in swinging corner was begrudgingly met by the head of a Shamrock defender, sending the ball past the forlorn keeper, 0-4. His nightmare afternoon was concluded with a penalty, which Luccini of course took himself. However it’s not often we see his spot kicks saved but the Czech showed good composure to pounce on the resulting parry and launch his rebound into the roof of the net, 0-5.
The referee called the game early due to the deteriorating pitch and that was that. Methven have won 8 out of 8 in the latter stages of the season and have proven they are a force to be reckoned with. They will now wait to see if Mainland schedule a cup knockout stage before calling an end to the football season.
In other scores Methven Reserves finally recorded their first win since June, beating FC Twenty 11 Thunder, away 2-3. Also Methven 14th Grade came out on top in the early blockbuster, defeating CBHS 14th Grade Black 4-5.