Onehunga Sports climbed to an overnight fourth placing on the Northern Premier League table on May 2, after defeating Metro 1-0 in a well-contested Central Auckland derby at Albie Turner Field, despite the inclement conditions.
“The Green Machine” nearly secured the perfect start, captain Noel Kilkenny combining with Carl Bennett inside the first twenty seconds of the match, with the former Three Kings United and Bay Olympic midfielder acrobatically volleying his team-mate’s measured cross narrowly past the far post.
It set the tone for a vibrant first half, which saw both teams make light of the rainy conditions to serve up a fast-paced encounter, the first between the clubs since 1998.
Both Andrew Shepherd, who just failed to get on the end of a Michael Loftus cross in the seventh minute, and Metro’s Doug Teo, who sliced his shot wide when put through by Peter Hendriks’ well-flighted free-kick, went close to scoring in the sixth and seventh minutes respectively, while the Sports’ striker squandered a glorious opportunity two minutes later.
The rampaging run of Willie Osborne came to a spectacular halt when Metro’s captain left the ball behind in his haste, allowing Peter Spelman to pounce and surge up field. His through ball found Loftus, who promptly turned the ball into the path of Shepherd. Through he scampered, rounding a defender, then Metro goalkeeper Craig Wilkins, to leave himself with an open goal … or so he thought, as Hendriks blocked his shot on the line.
Nigel Curteis and Osborne both saw shots smothered by Greg Garlick in the next ten minutes, as the home team began to get on top of their rivals, while in the 27th minute, a vital touch by Sports’ goalkeeper thwarted Rab McNeill, as he homed in on a Gerard Smith cross from the right.
After Wilkins had saved from Shepherd following a Bennett free-kick, the visitors took the lead in the 36th minute. An under-struck back-pass by Teo let Loftus in on goal, and despite the challenge of Mike Horne, the striker got a shot on target.
Wilkins, who had raced off his line on seeing the threat, managed to block the effort with his knees, only to look on in horror as Blair Ramsey pounced on the rebound, rounded an opponent and calmly placed his shot past the retreating goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Within seconds, another surging run from Osborne culminated in a shot which skidded just past the diving Garlick and his near post, while in the 39th minute; a superb cross field ball from Paul Taylor released the lively Krish Singh down the right. His cross for McNeill looked certain to result in a goal, but the retreating Spelman’s interception was superb, and Ben Murphy was on hand to complete the clearance.
Right on half-time, Metro spurned a great chance to go to the dressing rooms on level terms. Taylor sent Osborne hurtling through from half-way, with Spelman racing back in a vain effort to cover. Garlick careered out of his penalty area in an attempt to win the race for the ball, but the Fijian flyer was too quick for him, open air all that stood between Osborne and the equaliser.
But Spelman’s dogged pursuit proved its worth, as Osborne, rather than going closer to goal, let fly early at the target, and directed his thirty-yard effort past the unguarded net - a huge let-off for the visitors.
Sports came on strongly early in the second spell, with Horne’s splendidly timed tackle thwarting Shepherd in the 54th minute, despite protests to well-positioned referee Hayden Sentch that the player had been taken out by the defender.
The impressive Richard Beeston stood his ground seconds later, as Kilkenny let fly following a cross from Loftus, while Kilkenny turned provider in the 56th minute, his target Murray Saunders, who was still up in the attack after Sports’ last raid. The midfielder was thwarted by Wilkins, who saved well at his feet as he looked to steer the ball home.
After the back-pedalling Garlick had punched out a teasing Taylor cross-shot from under his crossbar just seconds after Wilkins’ save, McNeill and Osborne directed headed attempts at the goalkeeper in the next ten minutes, as Metro kept pressing for an equaliser, but all too often found Sports’ defence to be impenetrable - Scott Foster and the superb Spelman were instrumental in this being the case.
But the home team wasn’t out of it, and thirteen minutes from time, McNeill was about to slam home the equaliser from close-range when referee Sentch blew his whistle - the player-co-coach had inadvertently used his arm in controlling a Beeston cross while under pressure in the penalty area.
Worse was to come for McNeill in stoppage time. After substitute William McClure had sent a twenty-five yard exocet flashing narrowly past the right-hand post of the diving Wilkins, a surging run forward by Beeston culminated in an angled cross which dropped perfectly for McNeill to head home.
But the goal was ruled out for offside and ten-man Sports - Steve Bradshaw was sent off for his second bookable offence eight minutes from time - held on for just their sixth win in twenty-three league encounters with their near-neighbours.

Metro: Wilkins; Beeston, Hendriks (booked, 29), Horne; Singh, Smith (Rhodes, 83), Curteis, Taylor (booked, 33), Teo (Sow, 59); Osborne (Dundas, 69), McNeill

Sports: Garlick; Murphy, Spelman, Foster, Ramsey (McClure, 66); Bennett, Kilkenny (booked, 61), Bradshaw (booked 38, 82 - sent-off), Saunders; Loftus (Robb, 69), Shepherd

Referee: Hayden Sentch

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