Wednesday, 01 September 2010
IT was a victory fraught with high drama but Plains Rangers survived a draw, extra time and a penalty shoot out to earn a place in the CNS Cup final.
Tauranga City United and Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers faced each other in the cup semifinal on Saturday with an already established history of nail-biting draws this season.
Rangers started out playing some good football but not really getting close to goal. Their experienced opponents, however, capitalised twice following errors and held a good 2-0 lead at half time.
Rangers kept up their work in the second half and got back into the game. An excellent 50-metre diagonal pass from centre back Jeremy Hawkes put right winger Cameron Wills through the defence. He cut inside the advancing keeper and slotted the ball home.
Rangers upped the ante and soon got onto level terms with another top quality goal.
Right winger Ben McPherson chipped the ball over a defender to his captain Christian Wetting, who then chipped the ball over the keeper. However, to Tauranga’s credit, they kept pushing, and put away a header from a corner to again grab the lead.
Substitute Ben Fretwell went to close for Rangers after good work from McPherson, but the minutes ticked away and it looked like Tauranga had done the job. However the City team couldn’t keep out a Rangers corner late in the game and at the end of ninety minutes the score was 3-3.
Both teams were determined to not lose it from there and the extra time period was full of heart-stopping action and physical challenges. Tauranga latched onto a weak clearance to get their noses in front again.
Late in extra time, Rangers swung in a free kick after another bad tackle, and substitute Barrie Hawkes headed it back for Wetting to slot away the equaliser. After two hours it was 4-4 and time for a penalty shoot out.
After five shots each the score was locked again at 4-4, but a save from Rangers keeper John Noblett set it up for Jono Whitaker to put away the winner.
This had been a hugely entertaining game, and Rangers will look forward to the cup final on September 18 against league champions Katikati, who beat Te Puke in the other semifinal.
Rangers’ player of the day was Jeremy Hawkes, a tower of strength at the back.
This Saturday Rangers are back at home on league action, hosting Papamoa. Kick off at Awakeri is at 2.30pm.
In other matches, Pullar Builders were away to federation one league leaders Claudeland Rovers and kept in touch with the Hamilton side, going into the half-time break 0-0. However, during the second half the home side piled on four unanswered goals.
In federation two, Kawerau Town was home to Old Blues in their last game of the season. Kawerau defended well and were down by one goal at half time. However, a Kawerau player was sent off in the second half and the 10-man side suffered, losing 5-0. Brendan Wilson was player of the day.
In the CNS cup Bay second-division bowl semifinal, Whakatane Town played Otumoetai Bay 2. The game was tied up at 2-2 with five minutes to go when Whakatane produced two late goals to finish ahead 4-2.
Craig Lambert was player of the day. Whakatane will play Taupo in the final, also on September 18.
In a federation bowl catchup game, Whakatane Town women reserves were away to Hamilton Wanderers and were down by two goals before they recovered from the journey.
They responded well to level the score 2-2 by full time. Suzy Brown was player of the day.
In the Bay women’s division, Kawerau Town were away to Tauranga City United.
They started well but numerous stoppages due to thunder and lightning proved a distraction and the side lost 7-0. Player of the day was Louise Williams.