Double Header Disappointment for Wellington United

Jo from Wellington United Associated Football Club

Wellington United came away with just one point of a possible six from the double header of Ultra Football Women's W-League and Men's Central League against Wairarapa United in Masterton on Saturday.

In the first game, the Ultra Football W-League, an under-strength Diamonds went down 3-2 to a determined Wairarapa United team. Diamonds took the lead in the 29th minute when a Natalie Olson screamer found the top corner. They doubled their lead after Wairarapa keeper, Nicole Hyland, pushed Diamonds Jemma Robertson to the ground in the penalty area and Robertson converted the spot kick.

Wairarapa were determined though and probably felt hard done by being two goals down, but they pulled these back with two almost identical goals, Meisha Boone and Anna McPhie both chipping Roni Lipi in the Diamonds goal, in the last two minutes before half time.

With the game looking as if it would end in a draw, Wairarapa's Sydnie Williams popped up and made it 3-2 with nine minutes left on the clock. Wairarapa United coach Paul Ifill was obviously pleased with his sides win, while he acknowledged that Wellington United were below strength and said that the performance they put in showed the depth of the club, he said his team knew this would be one of the best chances to get a win over the reigning champions and his team stuck to their plan and fought all the way to the end.

Diamonds coach Guille Schiltenwolf was proud of the way his team, who had an average age of 16, competed and despite it being the first league loss since 2017 it would be a valuable learning experience.

The Ultra Football Men's Central League game turned out to be something of an epic, ending in a 4-4 draw. Wairarapa United's Paul Ifill opened the scoring after just six minutes with a shot so hard that the Wellington United keeper never even saw it. Wellington United responded immediately when captain Manny Achol got his fourth goal in as many games. Paul Ifill was on fire and made it 2-1 in the 14th minute after a weaving run through the penalty area, he could've had a hat trick a minute later but saw his shot hit the cross bar. Both teams were creating chances and the posts and crossbars at both ends took a bit of a battering. Wairarapa through Paul Ifill were starting to dominate the game, so it was a relief to Wellington United when Ifill pulled up with a hamstring strain in the 35th minute and was replaced by Sam Murray.

The second half started with a bang with Wellington United's Michael McCutcheon scoring straight from the kick off, 13 minutes later he had a second and Wellington United had a 3-2 lead. five minutes later, Wellington United's keeper Crawford Plenderleith was penalised for handling the ball outside his area when he was kicking it out. Wairarapa United's Hugo Delhommelle stepped up and hit his free kick over the wall into the top corner, only for the ref to make him take it again as he hadn't blown his whistle. He did exactly the same with the retake and it was 3-3.

Some nice passing play over half the field between Manny Achol, Owen Smith and David Silva ended in Silva netting and giving Wellington United a 4-3 lead with 15 minutes to play. That 15 became 22 with 7 minutes added on and right at the end of that time Wairarapa got a free kick on the edge of the area. Hugo Delhommelle again stepped up and again hit the ball into the top corner with what was the last kick off the game.


ENDS
Match Details
Saturday 27 April 2019
Masterton Memorial Turf

Ultra Football W-League
Wairarapa United (2) 3 (Meisha Boone, Anna McPhie, Sydnie Williams)
Wellington United (2) 2 (Jemma Robertson (PEN), Natalie Olson)

Ultra Football Central League
Wairarapa United (2) 4 (Paul Ifill 2, Hugo Delhommelle 2)
Wellington United (1) 4 (Michael McCutcheon 2, Manny Achol, David Silva)

Monday 29 April 2019
Words Dave Webster, WUAFC Media
Photo TJF Photo