Pullar Builders Whakatane vs Taupo

Pullar Builders Whakatane have beaten Federation league leaders Taupo 4-2 and in doing so have been the first team to win at Taupo for more than two years, therefore taking home the Federation Shield, which since its conception has only had one name on it. Whakatane are now also on the same points as Taupo and Matamata who sit with them at the top of the table, although each have a game in hand.  

Whakatane started very slowly again and could easily have been three goals down in the first 20 minutes had it not been for Derek Wordworth in goal making some great saves. Eventually after 10 minutes Taupo did score from a corner kick as the ball cleared the head of everyone who jumped for it and bounced off a suprised Whakatane player and into the net. From here it seemed Taupo could run away with the win but Whakatane were able to get one back on the 20 minute mark when a corner kick of their own turned into a goal mouth scrammble and was stabbed into the back of the net by Brendon Mitchell.

10 minutes later and Whakatane took the lead when Michael Sims did well to get past his defender on the right flank and pass the ball across to an open Mitchell who finished it off to give Whakatane a 2-1 lead.

However moments befor halftime a Taupo player managed to get past his defender and cross the ball into the box. When the shot was saved by Wordworth in goal the ref decided to come back to an earlier infringement (before the cross was made) and awarded Taupo a penalty which was converted evening the scoreline up at 2-2. Whakatane felt hard done by but that is Football.

The second half panned out with Taupo making the first move. A ball was lobbed forward into the path of the Taupo player who was clearly onside but ruled offside by the linesmen. Unfortunate for Taupo but Whakatane felt that had evened things up and so continued to play forward. With more chances being created it was only time before another goal would come. Taupo were getting frustrated and this proved their undoing as they had a player sent from the field and Whakatane took control. Richard Oregen lifted the side with a well taken header to put Whakatane up 3-2 and then Brendon Mitchel secured his hat trick near the end of the game when the ball was deflected into his path and he was easily able to nodd the ball over the line.

The Taupo crowd were very quiet as they now new that the 'Fortress' had been tumbled.

Player of the day went to Michael Sims.

Its not suprising that it was Whakatane who finally managed to take the shield from Taupo. These two teams have had some very even battles over the past few years and so Whakatane can now lay claim to the Federation Shield....which will be up for grabs as they defend it against Ngaruawahia at home this weekend. Kick off 2.45pm.