Methven slip up in narrow defeat

 

Western Generals 2 V Methven 1

 

The Mountaineers player availability crises continued into this match against last season’s main threat. The club’s hierarchy also had to make the difficult decision to forfeit their reserve fixture in order to promote 4 players to make up a squad for the first team. 

The Generals as always offer a physical battle; coincided with a distinct lack of creativity and experience from the away side; the match offered not much more than a scrappy, unorganised affair which would have left a sour taste for the purist fans. Despite the wholesale changes, Methven did account themselves admirably and on another day might have taken something from the game. After having already gone down 1-0 early on, Methven were handed a lifeline from the penalty spot. Up stepped the man mountain, Liam Hett to level proceedings. After that the veteran Keeper was  kept busy as the visitors found it extremely hard to move the ball up the pitch. Seemingly penned in their own box Methven at times put on an impressive rear-guard action, reminiscent of Rourke’s Drift. Alas the lads couldn’t hold on and newly promoted Jan Piotrowski failed to deal with a near post, in swinging corner and unfortunately left the door open for the striker to make it 2-1 to Western. The spoils went to their arch enemies and the top of the table changes yet again. The Mountaineers will definitely need their senior players available again quickly if they are going to continue the pursuit of promotion. 

Methven return home next week to take on Christchurch United Prebbleton Shamrocks at Methven Domain, 2:30pm kick off.