The conditions were perfect at Morningside Park for the clash between Metro Reserves and Whangarei Football Club. Whangarei FC had previously recorded two wins from two starts whilst Metro had faired a little less better in gaining a draw and an unlucky loss in atrocious conditions from two away fixtures.
Thus the scene was set for a battle royale between two young and enterprising sides for three very valuable points.
Metro started by far the brighter of the teams and dominated the first half, territorially and in the possession stakes. Long - term injury victim and first teamer Christian Martin, gaining his first start of the season and livewire Tenoha de Schoenburg-Waldenburg were too much for the home defense up front. Both created several opportunities in the first stanza which were squandered or denied by desperate defending and some very fine keeping from the home side goalie.
However, the pressure told midway through the first half when a spilled shot by the goalkeeper was slammed into the net by Martin. Apart from a couple of good raids from the home team, one producing a superb one handed save from Metro goalkeeper Alan McFarlane, the game continued in the same pattern. Half time 1-0 to Metro.
De Schoenburg-Waldenburg was substituted at half time - the victim of the dreaded flu - for William Kgosana.  But this was not enough to deny a determined Whangarei side, who came out the more hungrier and determined.
After fifteen minutes of concerted pressure they scored a fine goal to Darren Cripps after a buildup of several one touch passes. From then on it was end to end football as both teams, realising the importance of three points, went searching for the second goal that would surely make the game theirs.
It seemed that whoever cracked and made the first mistake would surrender the advantage and would most likely hand the game to their opponents. Unfortunately it was Metro who made the error and threw away what in retrospect would have been a valuable point away from home.
A speculative long ball was launched into the Metro half. Duncan Clark, who had a commanding game at center back, made the call for the free header.  Bizarrely Rhys van Khan raced in, overcalled Clark who promptly left the ball, only for van Khan to also leave the ball to sail over both player’s heads and into the path of Darren Carter, who raced away drew the keeper and tapped the ball into an empty net! It was now 2-1 to Whangarei with twenty minutes to play.
The last twenty minutes saw Metro pound the opposition goal in search of a deserved equaliser. To the fore was young attacking midfielder and subsequent man of the match, Yukin Naidoo. He was ably assisted by midfielder Nick Sneddon an early second half replacement for captain of the day Glenn Goodwin.
Alas Metro could not make the “onion bag” bulge for a second time with the whistle blowing leaving them hot on attack once again. A disappointing away loss to very good opponents and a long drive home was all that was theirs from a game they should have at least shared the spoils.
Tonight the team is looking to make amends and record their first win on their first home appearance of the season. They are committed to playing enterprising, attractive and attacking football and hope all supporters will be vocal and parochial. With some good luck a home victory will be the result, but the team guarantees that all fans will be entertained regardless!
Good luck to both teams and may the best team win.

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