University AFC Gold Diggers 2 V Methven FC 5

 

In a huge error, the kit man forgot the strips and to coincide, Methven forgot how to play their usual attractive game. The first half was very scrappy on the boggy pitch, with very few attempts at goal. It took a 30 minute substitution of the returning Gareth Saltmer to shift the Mountaineers into the right gear and with that the game was turned on its head. Liam Hett did well to follow up a keeper parry to slot home, 0-1. In no time it was 2 with Saltmer himself grabbing a goal with a fine finish to the keepers left. He continued to pull the strings, cutting in from the right wing and squaring his pass to John Peneycad in the box. An exquisite dummy from him, deceived the defender and opened the door for Jan Luccini to unleash a piledriver to make it 0-3 and half time.

After the break Methven continued their fine display and were awarded a penalty after Josh Burrows was felled in the box. Up stepped Thor look a like Liam Hett to hammer home and make it 0-4.

The visitors stepped off the gas from that point and allowed the home side a chance to dig themselves out of trouble, when a penalty was awarded after a clumsy challenge from Darcey Taylor; flattened the striker, the only blemish to what was an outstanding performance from him. Veteran Keeper James Wasley rolled back the years with a superb dive to his right, pushing the ball onto the post but as fate would have it, the ball rebounded back into the path of the striker who thankfully finished, 1-4. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could have done about the second as the Diggers struck gold again. A fluky shot smashed the underside of the bar and the strong wind did the rest to bounce the ball over the line, 2-4

Methven took back the control for the remaining minutes and Liam Hett sealed his hat trick from the spot to make it 2-5, final score on a very wet afternoon in Christchurch.

Watch Methven FC next Saturday at the domain, 2:30 kick off when they go head to head with Burwood AFC. A chance to get revenge for the defeat earlier in the season.

 

In other news the Reserves side got a week off as Banks Peninsula defaulted at the eleventh hour, whilst the 14th Grade shared the points with Ferrymead Bays in a 6-6 classic.