Nelson Suburbs squandered a golden opportunity to climb to second place on the Ansett National Club Championship table on May 7, when held 1-1 by Delta Tapware Metro at a rain-soaked Anderson Park.
The visitors started like the proverbial house on fire, finding the net after just 155 seconds of play. Brent McNabb sent the ball forward to Commins Menapi, who fed the overlapping Julius Kolk before hurtling forward in search of a return pass. It duly arrived in the form of a made-to-measure cross, which the league's leading goalscorer sent powering into the far corner of the net with a towering header from fifteen yards, Grant Schofield's despairing efforts notwithstanding.
Metro sought a quick riposte, both Mark Foster and Sakdy Phommahaxay going close inside the next eight minutes, before Nelson's OlyWhites goalkeeper, Robbie Barraclough, was called on to save at the feet of James Pritchett, the Junior All White having been released on the right by Paul Field, whose first half performance was most impressive.
Phommahaxay spurned a golden opportunity to equalise in the 22nd minute, heading over a Sean Hird cross unchallenged. Pritchett came closer still two minutes later, clipping the top of the crossbar with a rising twenty yard drive following a free-kick.
Menapi was proving to be a right handful whenever Nelson threatened, but Metro's rearguard were able to cope with most things the visitors attempted. They were struggling somewhat in the 28th minute, though, as the hard-working Bronson Keeler weaved past three challenges before setting up his Solomon Islands' team-mate.
Menapi lured a defender towards him before slipping the ball into the path of Francis Wasi. Brian Ogg cleaned him out from behind big-time, leaving referee Brian Precious with no option but to award a penalty. Following a pause for a good cause - a wayward labrador invaded the pitch at the other end of the ground - Menapi stepped up, and made a right meal of things from the spot - it is debatable whether Schofield has had a more comfortable save to make from the twelve yard mark.
The goalkeeper received a greater test from Wasi's solidly struck drive two minutes later, and the same player headed straight at Schofield following a Paul Brydon corner delivered ten minutes before the interval. Brydon was guilty of firing the ball well wide of the mark in the shadows of half-time, but by then, Metro were on level terms, and deservedly so.
Ogg's deep free-kick was headed back towards Barraclough by the well-performed Mathew Ayloff, but Graham Green was onto the opportunity in an instant, and sent a looping header over the stranded goalkeeper and under the crossbar by the far post.
At 1-1, the second half was nicely poised, and Metro were prevented from altering the scoreline seconds after the resumption by Ayloff's headed goal-line clearance. Hird and Pritchett combined on the right, with the latter's dee cross picking out Foster on the far post. His downward header beat Barraclough all ends up, but Ayloff was on hand to thwart the bottom-of-the-table team's hopes of a come-from-behind victory on this occasion.
After Schofield had been somewhat startled by a Jon Harahap free-kick, Foster headed a Pritchett cross wide of the mark at the other end of the park, the flank player having evaded two challenges before floating his cross to the far post.
Just shy of the hour mark, Wasi contrived to produce the miss of the match. A quickly-taken Nelson free-kick saw Menapi through on goal with just Schofield to beat. He drew the 'keeper out of the target before squaring the ball to his fellow Solomon Islander. How Wasi managed to prod the ball well wide of the goal only he can explain.
The game lost some of its sparkle soon after, a result of the injury-enforced departure of Menapi. Aside from this, and Schofield saving a Brydon twenty-yarder in the 71st minute, there was little of note which took place until the final six minutes of play, when both teams went in search of a late winner.
Nelson's chance came first, Mitch Brydon catching Metro out on the counter-attack. Ogg was left trailing in the youngster's wake as he scampered through, Schofield now in his sights. Wide of the 'keeper he went, this on the edge of the penalty area, from where Brydon struck what looked a certain match-winner.
It would have been, too, but for the athleticism of the former All White custodian. Schofield was still on his feet - a good lesson for all goalkeepers in a one-on-one situation - so was still able to influence the outcome. This he most certainly did, flinging himself back and to his right to pull off a fabulous point-saving save.
It inspired the home team to one last attack of their own, with the ever-influential Hird linking once more with Pritchett on the right. Green was sent scooting clear, but Metro's leading goalscorer was unable to add to his tally on this occasion, drilling his shot across the face of goal to ensure both sides ended up with a point apiece from this 1-1 draw.

Metro: Schofield; Mair (List, 74), Ogg, Phommahaxay (booked, 65); Pritchett, Worsley (Maguire, 79), Hird, Field, Beckham; Foster (McHenery, 63), Green

Nelson: Barraclough; McNabb, Dirou (booked, 32), Ayloff, Harahap; Kolk (Frost, 53), Kroon, P. Brydon, Wasi (booked, 74) (Misiosi, 76); Keeler, Menapi (M. Brydon, 63)

Referee: Brian Precious

Scoring: Metro: G. Green (39),  Nelson: C. Menapi (3)

Arcus Trophy: M. Ayloff (Nelson) 3; J. Pritchett (Metro) 2; P. Field (Metro) 1

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