Delta Tapware Metro pulled a goal out of the bag with time up on the clock to earn a draw against hosts Waitakere City at Fred Taylor Park.
In a game that was mixed with flashes of inspiration and classic goals, the points could have all gone to Waitakere City, yet this would probably have been an injustice.
Stuart Roberts opened the Waitakere defence up in the fourth minute with a probing run down the left, rounding his opposite Nobby Stiles before the ball went over the line before being able to cross.
Only two minutes later, and Neil Woodhams, using all of his experience, slipped past Jason Thompson. His low cross at the by-line seemed to be a simple clean up job until Andrew Campbell popped in front of Kara Waetford and slipped the ball past the outstretched fingers of of Schofield and in the ball went off the far post.
Metro came forward again, with Jonathon Perry carrying the ball down the right , and crossing the ball early. Only the attentions of Ryan Dawkins on Roberts saw Roberts header sail over the bar.
Hoani Edwards made his presence felt when he received a ball from Perry, and in his typically direct fashion, cut in from the left, and drilled the ball through the decreasing gap, only for a well-positioned Nigel Kelly to comfortably take the ball.
In the 25th minute, a substitution for Waitakere with Terry Torrens off, hardly visible in the game up until then, and on came Jonathon Worley. He immediately made a difference to Waitakere as he pushed a ball through the middle of a flat Metro defense for Cam Miller to run on to.
Miller’s shot was way off target, but for the next ten minutes Waitakere had a good run of the play culminating in the 2nd goal for Waitakere. During that time, Paul Stephens, injured through a collision with Edwards earlier was substituted, replaced by Heath Dickenson. Shortly after, a clash between players saw Liam Mulrooney receive a yellow card.
But it was the change of Dickenson that brought about the second goal, as a through ball from Dickenson down the left was sqaured by Liam Mulrooney to Cam Miller. He looked up and saw Campbell timing his run perfectly to break past Metro and the off-side trap.
With his back to the goal, he let the ball run past him, and turning, found his way  to the goal clear of all defenders, except the stranded Grant Schofield in goal. Keeping his cool, he slotted the ball past Schofield for Waitakere’s second. 40 minutes gone, and Metro were 2 – 0 down.
In danger of losing it’s way, Metro replied the way they are best known. Only four minutes later, and from deep inside their territory the ball was flicked by Sakdy Phommahaxay to Roberts. He looked up and saw McCormack making his run behind, and a neat flick from his head saw the ball carry to McCormack who was off.
McCromack’s measured pass to Edwards in the middle was made all the more sweeter by the finish of Edwards, who carried the ball across the face of the penalty area until he could see the angle he needed, and calmly drilled the ball low and hard pass the desparing dive of Kelly.
At the break the crowd was left in wonder at three superb goals, and thinking about what the second half may deliver. And it didn’t take long for the delivery.
Only one minute in to the new new half, and another through ball, catching the Metro defence square  saw Hamish Carmody go past Thomspon, and drivew the ball low into the bottom right of the Metro goal. Waitakere 3, Metro 1.
It could have gone all wrong for Metro right then, yet again, Metro dug deep, and conspired to pull another great goal out of the bag. Only four minutes later, and probing down the right, Phommahaxay looked up to see a cluster of players, Metro and Waitakere alike, in the middle of the goal.
His teasing cross curved across the face of the goal and over to the patient Jason Collet waiting at the back of the bunch.  Up Collet went, and his header back across to the far post saw the ball fall in over the outstretched fingers of Kelly. Waitakere 3, Metro 2.
With 67 minutes gone, Metro made it’s first of two substitutions. Nigel Curteis came off, and Willie Thompson came on. Three minutes later, and Metro had a yellow card as referee Derek Rugg saw more in a tackle from Jason Thompson than most did.
For the rest of the match, as happened against Mirimar and Lower Hutt, the Metro side dominated possession, and after 75 minutes of play, it looked like the equaliser.
From broken play in the middle of the field, the ball was passed to Roberts, who took on and beat two players down the right of the park only for the ball to pass across the goal untouched by all, including the stretching Heath McCormack.
Two minutes later, and the second Metro substitution of the day saw Stuart Davidson on for Jason Thompson. Before Thompson had sat on the bench, his substitute was facing the war as Woodhams, tireless as ever, latched on to a ball, looked up and slotted the sweetest pass, over the head of Waetford and into the path of the ever-present Campbell.
This should have been 4 – 2, but the final shot was heading skyward as it left the boot of Campbell.
In the 80th minute, the final substitution of the day saw Woodhams replaced by Graham Green, and the supporters were gracious from both sides in acknowledging a superb effor from the veteran.
Metro continued to press forward, yet time and again, their efforts on goal were snuffed out by desparate defence. It took another cliffhanger attack on the Waitakere goal to secure the equaliser, and it was another beauty.
Again moving the ball around in its defence, a smart ball from Stuart Mair saw Sakdy Phommahaxay flick the ball up  the line to Collett. His cross to the far side saw Roberts nodding the ball down in front of McCormack.
In front of goal, and Heath McCormack made no mistake, meeting the ball on the half-volley, and calmly driving the ball in to the net. Waitakere 3, Metro 3.
There was no time left as the restart was immediately followed by the final whistle. Waitakere were left ruing a chance lost to secure a valuable three points, whil the Metro side can only wonder at their need to be behind in goals before their best football comes forward.
For Metro, the outstanding players were Collett, Phommahaxay and Edwards yet all team members were workmanlike in their efforts. For Waitakere, the play of Campbell and Carmody would give the team heart to go on in the season. Overall, a draw was a fair result.

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