The indiscipline of Feltonmix Metro ultimately proved to be their downfall at Kiwitea Street on August 24, where Central United came from behind to defeat the defending champions 5-3 in their crunch Bluebird Premier League encounter.
The first half dismissals of  Shaun O’Mara and Steve Goddard, both for overly robust challenges, spoilt the game as a spectacle for the many spectators present, and left Central with what, for a while in the second half, proved to be a problem for them – how best to utilise a two-man advantage.
The home team had opened the scoring through Michael Loftus in the eleventh minute, and only O’Mara’s goal-line clearance prevented Ivan Vicelich from extending that lead nine minutes later.
Willie Thompson and Bruce Hill exchanged efforts before O’Mara blotted his copybook by upending Central’s player-coach, Billy Harris, in the 31st minute. Harris had to be substituted soon after, but referee Brian Precious ensured that the defender’s return to his Summer League club would not last ninety minutes, and off O’Mara trudged.
He was joined in the changing rooms soon after by Metro’s assistant coach, Jimmy Colligan, who was ordered away from the bench by the referee.  Meanwhile, Thompson and Scott Farrington kept interest in the on-field activities alive, before Metro equalised right on half-time.
The ten men sliced open Central’s misshapen defence, with Danny McHenery playing a lovely slide-rule pass into Stu Roberts’ path.  The striker had fired into the side-netting from a similar position after just 42 seconds, but this time made no mistake, clinically clipping the ball home beyond Peter Evans.
Within seconds of drawing level on the scoreboard, Metro found themselves further behind on the player count.  Goddard’s rash [and that’s being kind!] lunge at an already prone Vicelich was completely uncalled for, and Metro’s player-coach, Sean Hird, himself suspended, was quick to express his decided displeasure over the midfielder’s actions after the match.  Rightly so, too.
The second half began with Central looking to play too much football, so it was ironic that when Metro took the lead in the 61st minute through McHenery, they showed their opponents how best to utilise their numerical advantage.
Central weren’t slow to heed the lesson, Vicelich’s low cross being turned into his own net by Stuart Mair within seconds.  Two minutes later, the felling of Sean Bell gave Matt Fowler the chance to convert from the penalty spot.  Wayne Roach rose to the occasion, however, saving the spot-kick well.
The outstanding Sakdy Phommahaxay cleared off the line from Bell moments later, while Wynton Rufer’s shot from the rebound was saved by Roach, who, soon after, saved with his legs from the All White playmaker.
Three goals in ten minutes killed off Metro. Vicelich and Rufer linked neatly to set up Fowler, who sweetly struck Central’s third goal in the 68th minute.  Four minutes later, Rufer headed home a Bell corner, after Roach’s fine save from Fowler forced the set-piece.
Central’s final goal was simply sublime in its concoction. Rufer gained possession and took on Metro’s defence.  After gliding past John Van Dort, he completely mesmerised the luckless Mair with some scintillating close control, before crossing to Vicelich, who headed in from point-blank range.
Metro screamed for offside against the scorer, but it would be no surprise if the official upon whom they directed their outbursts, Mike Anscombe, was as spellbound as all those present by Rufer’s dazzling display of close control.  That said, to have disallowed a goal as good as this would not have found favour with those among us who appreciate the game’s finer points – it really was one out of the box!!                
Central pressed for a sixth goal before the finish, but Vicelich, Greg Uhlmann and Loftus all failed in their quest.  Metro, however, scored a third goal, Thompson tucking in from the tightest of angles after Evans had parried McHenery’s drive five minutes from time.
Central’s win sees them surge past Metro into third spot, and the defending champions look to have once again fallen away in the home straight when the championship was theirs for the taking.  
 

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