At Albie Turner park on Saturday, the pleasant conditions belied the onslaught that would confront Nor West’s goal. Nor West came with plenty of spectators and unbounded enthusiasm, prepared to take the day as it came.
It came to them in the 2nd minute when Willie Thompson laid back to Geoff Gray, who then flicked to Steve Nickson. A quick turn, one step away from the player, and the ball was in the back of the net; 1 – 0.
Less than 7 minutes had passed in the game when Danny McHenery was fouled from behind by a tackle from David Healy which should have seen the player at least cautioned by the referee.
Instead, when an expletive passed the lips of McHenery because of the pain, the referee turned to him and sent him off! This decision stunned the crowd and players alike and if anything only served to incense the players at the unfairness of the whole situation.
From that point on, Feltonmix Metro never looked back as a rain of goals occurred. A quick one-two between Thompson and Beck, and Thompson provided a picture perfect cross for Nickson to finish off; twelve minutes gone and 2 – 0.
A mistake by Phil Putland saw him head the ball from outside the penalty area and near to the byline back to Gray on the outside of the penalty box. A quick shot saw the ball go just wide of the ‘keeper and goal.
Then a smart through ball from Carl Jorgenson again released Nickson to run on and finish past the hapless keeper; 15 minutes gone and  3 – 0.
In a rare break into the Metro half, a rush of excitement during a good move by Norwest saw a foul committed by Tony Donovan on Grant Schofield in the Feltonmix Metro goal, and the referee saw fit to show the only yellow card of the game.
Soon after the restart of play, the ball moved wide to Thompson. He passed up the sideline to Nickson, who carried the ball almost to the by-line before passing it back to the waiting Thompson. A sweetly struck goal saw the Norwest ‘keeper, Gregory Kouremetis only able to parry it wide for the corner.
From the resulting corner, there was a slight mix-up in the goal mouth before the ball was cleared out wide to Gray. He passed back to Jorgenson, who then unselfishly laid off the ball for Nickson to net past the stranded ‘keeper. 4 – 0 and just the 24th minute.
Ten minutes passed with the ball criss-crossing the field in an attempt to catch the Nor-west defence offside before a marvelous bit of quick thinking from Nigel Curteis as he saw Nickson making his run, and slotted a ball into the advancing Nickson’s path. No further invitation needed. 5 – 0.
In a rare break, Danny Savage, Graeme Preston and Donovan broke away down their left flank. In some fine interchanges of the ball, Donovan took the responsibility of the final cross, and delivered a sweet floating ball. From nowhere, Kenny Irving rose up to the occasion and managed to get a flying header in, going just wide of the post.
Metro’s immediate response was to release the ball at the back to Aaron Beckham. He passed wide to Thompson, who travelled to the byline before cutting back in and laying the ball off to Beckhom. Wasting no time Beckham placed the ball wide of the ‘keeper in the far right of the goal. 6 – 0.
Just before half time, a mistake at the back of the Nor-West defense saw Curteis pounce on a ball and quickly pass on to Gray. He saw Thompson free and passed  to Thompson who obliged by calmly placing the ball out of the ‘keeper’s reach and in the back of the neck. 44 minutes gone and 7 – 0.
The second half saw an unusual goal from this level. A surge from Feltonmix Metro immediately from kick-off saw the ball eventual go out off Paul Williams. From the resultant corner, Jorgenson managed to provide a wickedly curving ball that seemed to curl straight back in and between two defenders for a goal. A hint of o.g. was there, but it is accepted by most that the ball was over the line when the defender finally reacted. 8 – 0.
From the kick-off, Metro carried the ball up towards the Norwest goal. In a flurry of activity in front of goal, Gray managed to get off a nice shot only to see the ‘keeper make a fine save. Hoani Edwards latched onto the rebound first and slotted the ball home. 49 minutes gone and 9 – 0.
In the 57th minute, a nice pass from Thompson saw Nickson beat the off-side trap, and go round the ’keeper to claim his sixth goal of the game and the teams 10th.
In a two minute blitz, Feltonmix Metro added two more goals, both by Gray. The first was a through ball to Gray from John van Dort which split the defence wide. The offside trap already beaten, the ‘keeper was stranded and Gray slotted home. 11 – 0. The second goal came from yet another through ball which Gray collected and scored. 60 minutes gone and 12 – 0.
A throw-in from Beckham saw Nickson turner his marker and cross the ball . Who should be there but Gray, now relishing the chances occuring as the Norwest team visibly slowed down. He finished sweetly to take the score to 13 – 0.
In a move started by van Dort, continued by Edwards and fishing with a wonderful shot from the advancing Jorgenson, the Norwest ‘keeper again saved the day. Strange though it may seem, especially with the scoreline as it is, the ‘keeper had continued throughout the day to make some fine saves, and this save from Kouremetis, a stretching dive to meet a bullet shot, was one of the best.
From the 69th minute, a blitz of goals occurred with the Norwest team visibly out on their feet. No amount of heart, and they had plenty of it, could keep the AFA 2nd team moving to the pace of this game for a full 90 minutes.
Goals in the 69th minute by Curteis, Gray in the 73rd, Nickson in the 74th, Gray again in the 76th and Edwards in the 78th saw the scoreline go from 13 – 0 to 18 – 0 in just nine minutes.
That ‘keeper raised his head again for the next seven minutes. While his team was struggling, he thwarted first Nickson, two successive shots from Edwards, and a low drive from Jorgenson before a buildup from mid-field resulted in a well finished goal to Gray. 85 minutes gone and 19 – 0.
Edwards flicked a through ball to Nickson who again beat the off-side trap, much to the disgust of two supporters of Norwest on the sideline opposite the clubrooms. However Rudi Hoffman was on the line that day, and he promptly provided the two mistaken supporters with the rules and reasons why Nickson was not off-side. 86th minute and 20 – 0.
In a somewhat anti-climactic end to the whole proceedings, a final cross, pinpoint accuracy and all from Thompson to Nickson, and an equally well taken opportunity from Nickson, ended the scoring for the day. No huge cheers, almost embarrassed silence from all players, and the spectators, treated to a goal feast that will not be seen again for some time, quietly walking into the clubrooms to sit and contemplate the scoreline in stunned silence for a few minutes.
From the day, Nickson had the best goal scoring day with nine goals in all, Geoff Gray had six goals for the day, with contributions from Beckham, Thompson, Edwards (2), Jorgenson and Curteis.
The Norwest goalkeeper, Kouremetis can honestly say he played the game of his life, and only let in 21 goals. The Norwest players, coming off the park can honestly say that they gave it all against a team six divisions higher than it.
The defense of Metro, Schofield, van Dort, Hird and Thompson have had little mention. They quietly, and efficiently went about their job and kept the scoresheet clean.
Metro will move into the last sixteen in Auckland with this result, in ominous form. Is this the year they carry the challenge further? In the next game against Taupo, sterner competition is required to keep the cup fever burning. I’m looking forward to it. Queens Birthday is the day. 1st of June, 1998. Keep it free.
Chatham Cup
Metro vs Norwest
Albie Turner Field Saturday 9th May, 1998

At Albie Turner park on Saturday, the pleasant conditions belied the onslaught that would confront Nor West’s goal. Nor West came with plenty of spectators and unbounded enthusiasm, prepared to take the day as it came.
It came to them in the 2nd minute when Willie Thompson laid back to Geoff Gray, who then flicked to Steve Nickson. A quick turn, one step away from the player, and the ball was in the back of the net; 1 – 0.
Less than 7 minutes had passed in the game when Danny McHenery was fouled from behind by a tackle from David Healy which should have seen the player at least cautioned by the referee.
Instead, when an expletive passed the lips of McHenery because of the pain, the referee turned to him and sent him off! This decision stunned the crowd and players alike and if anything only served to incense the players at the unfairness of the whole situation.
From that point on, Feltonmix Metro never looked back as a rain of goals occurred. A quick one-two between Thompson and Beck, and Thompson provided a picture perfect cross for Nickson to finish off; twelve minutes gone and 2 – 0.
A mistake by Phil Putland saw him head the ball from outside the penalty area and near to the byline back to Gray on the outside of the penalty box. A quick shot saw the ball go just wide of the ‘keeper and goal.
Then a smart through ball from Carl Jorgenson again released Nickson to run on and finish past the hapless keeper; 15 minutes gone and  3 – 0.
In a rare break into the Metro half, a rush of excitement during a good move by Norwest saw a foul committed by Tony Donovan on Grant Schofield in the Feltonmix Metro goal, and the referee saw fit to show the only yellow card of the game.
Soon after the restart of play, the ball moved wide to Thompson. He passed up the sideline to Nickson, who carried the ball almost to the by-line before passing it back to the waiting Thompson. A sweetly struck goal saw the Norwest ‘keeper, Gregory Kouremetis only able to parry it wide for the corner.
From the resulting corner, there was a slight mix-up in the goal mouth before the ball was cleared out wide to Gray. He passed back to Jorgenson, who then unselfishly laid off the ball for Nickson to net past the stranded ‘keeper. 4 – 0 and just the 24th minute.
Ten minutes passed with the ball criss-crossing the field in an attempt to catch the Nor-west defence offside before a marvelous bit of quick thinking from Nigel Curteis as he saw Nickson making his run, and slotted a ball into the advancing Nickson’s path. No further invitation needed. 5 – 0.
In a rare break, Danny Savage, Graeme Preston and Donovan broke away down their left flank. In some fine interchanges of the ball, Donovan took the responsibility of the final cross, and delivered a sweet floating ball. From nowhere, Kenny Irving rose up to the occasion and managed to get a flying header in, going just wide of the post.
Metro’s immediate response was to release the ball at the back to Aaron Beckham. He passed wide to Thompson, who travelled to the byline before cutting back in and laying the ball off to Beckhom. Wasting no time Beckham placed the ball wide of the ‘keeper in the far right of the goal. 6 – 0.
Just before half time, a mistake at the back of the Nor-West defense saw Curteis pounce on a ball and quickly pass on to Gray. He saw Thompson free and passed  to Thompson who obliged by calmly placing the ball out of the ‘keeper’s reach and in the back of the neck. 44 minutes gone and 7 – 0.
The second half saw an unusual goal from this level. A surge from Feltonmix Metro immediately from kick-off saw the ball eventual go out off Paul Williams. From the resultant corner, Jorgenson managed to provide a wickedly curving ball that seemed to curl straight back in and between two defenders for a goal. A hint of o.g. was there, but it is accepted by most that the ball was over the line when the defender finally reacted. 8 – 0.
From the kick-off, Metro carried the ball up towards the Norwest goal. In a flurry of activity in front of goal, Gray managed to get off a nice shot only to see the ‘keeper make a fine save. Hoani Edwards latched onto the rebound first and slotted the ball home. 49 minutes gone and 9 – 0.
In the 57th minute, a nice pass from Thompson saw Nickson beat the off-side trap, and go round the ’keeper to claim his sixth goal of the game and the teams 10th.
In a two minute blitz, Feltonmix Metro added two more goals, both by Gray. The first was a through ball to Gray from John van Dort which split the defence wide. The offside trap already beaten, the ‘keeper was stranded and Gray slotted home. 11 – 0. The second goal came from yet another through ball which Gray collected and scored. 60 minutes gone and 12 – 0.
A throw-in from Beckham saw Nickson turner his marker and cross the ball . Who should be there but Gray, now relishing the chances occuring as the Norwest team visibly slowed down. He finished sweetly to take the score to 13 – 0.
In a move started by van Dort, continued by Edwards and fishing with a wonderful shot from the advancing Jorgenson, the Norwest ‘keeper again saved the day. Strange though it may seem, especially with the scoreline as it is, the ‘keeper had continued throughout the day to make some fine saves, and this save from Kouremetis, a stretching dive to meet a bullet shot, was one of the best.
From the 69th minute, a blitz of goals occurred with the Norwest team visibly out on their feet. No amount of heart, and they had plenty of it, could keep the AFA 2nd team moving to the pace of this game for a full 90 minutes.
Goals in the 69th minute by Curteis, Gray in the 73rd, Nickson in the 74th, Gray again in the 76th and Edwards in the 78th saw the scoreline go from 13 – 0 to 18 – 0 in just nine minutes.
That ‘keeper raised his head again for the next seven minutes. While his team was struggling, he thwarted first Nickson, two successive shots from Edwards, and a low drive from Jorgenson before a buildup from mid-field resulted in a well finished goal to Gray. 85 minutes gone and 19 – 0.
Edwards flicked a through ball to Nickson who again beat the off-side trap, much to the disgust of two supporters of Norwest on the sideline opposite the clubrooms. However Rudi Hoffman was on the line that day, and he promptly provided the two mistaken supporters with the rules and reasons why Nickson was not off-side. 86th minute and 20 – 0.
In a somewhat anti-climactic end to the whole proceedings, a final cross, pinpoint accuracy and all from Thompson to Nickson, and an equally well taken opportunity from Nickson, ended the scoring for the day. No huge cheers, almost embarrassed silence from all players, and the spectators, treated to a goal feast that will not be seen again for some time, quietly walking into the clubrooms to sit and contemplate the scoreline in stunned silence for a few minutes.
From the day, Nickson had the best goal scoring day with nine goals in all, Geoff Gray had six goals for the day, with contributions from Beckham, Thompson, Edwards (2), Jorgenson and Curteis.
The Norwest goalkeeper, Kouremetis can honestly say he played the game of his life, and only let in 21 goals. The Norwest players, coming off the park can honestly say that they gave it all against a team six divisions higher than it.
The defense of Metro, Schofield, van Dort, Hird and Thompson have had little mention. They quietly, and efficiently went about their job and kept the scoresheet clean.
Metro will move into the last sixteen in Auckland with this result, in ominous form. Is this the year they carry the challenge further? In the next game against Taupo, sterner competition is required to keep the cup fever burning. I’m looking forward to it. Queens Birthday is the day. 1st of June, 1998. Keep it free.

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