Defending champions Feltonmix Metro moved into second place, two points off the pace, at Albie Turner Field on June 20, sweeping aside the challenge of Waitakere City 5-0 in their catch-up Bluebird Premier League fixture.
All did not go according to plan at first, as a partial floodlight failure meant only five pylons were functioning, and a delayed kick-off ensued. Not that Metro were phased, for they were quickly into their stride.
After Roger Noll had tipped a Chris Whalley effort around the post, the home team took the lead in the fourteenth minute, through newly-capped All-White Kenny Harlock. He hit a thirty-yard screamer on the run which no goalkeeper, never mind Noll, would have had a hope of stopping.
Stu Roberts - a great first half from him - and Danny McHenery had chances in the next few minutes, but when Harlock crossed for Whalley on the half hour, the youngster’s stooping header meant Waitakere had a mountain to climb.
Sakdy Phommahaxay, McHenery and Whalley had chances for Metro soon after, as did Steve Cain for City. But the visitor’s player-coach could not believe his eyes when Wayne Roach’s outstretched leg diverted his shot to safety.
Harlock was having a fine time in midfield, and his 44th minute pass sent Whalley scampering away. Hot in pursuit was Carl Mutha, whose long legs closed the gap before stretching out like the tentacles of an octopus to produce a goal-saving tackle.
You had to feel for the young defender a minute later, however. A Harlock-inspired attack saw John Van Dort’s shot take the biggest deflection possible off Mutha, leaving Noll helpless to prevent City from going to the break three goals down.
It was 4-0 within nine minutes of the resumption. Roberts, who was having a field day against young Scott Jordan, delivered a lovely cross for Whalley, who first effort was parried by Noll. The goalkeeper couldn’t recover quickly enough to deny Whalley his second goal of the game.
Hereafter, Waitakere played with a passion and committment too often lacking from their first half efforts. Metro struggled at times to cope with their precocious opponents, but ultimately the home team side’s greater collective experience, coupled with the sheer weight of numbers they put in behind the ball, meant City’s efforts to score were fruitless ones.
Not for the want of trying, however. Chris Braithwaite, Liam Mulrooney, Cain and Jonathon Smith went close, while Scott Bult missed probably the best opportunity of the entire match in the 73rd minute.
So it was a little against the run of play when Whalley claimed his first hat-trick at senior level in the 81st minute. Steve Goddard sent Roberts away down the right, and Whalley met his cross on the volley, a difficult chance which the youngster executed with the aplomb of a veteran.
5-0 it finished, but McHenery and Benny Hall could have made it even more humiliating for City. Thankfully for them, Noll was equal to their efforts in what was a very open, free-flowing encounter.

Result:
Feltonmix Metro 5 

Waitakere City 0

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