Pullar Builders Whakatane vs Rotorua Utd.

Pullar Builders Whakatane Town FC vs Rotorua Utd.

24 July 2010

Puller Builders Whakatane Town FC played and drew 1 all in front of a big home crowd against league leaders Rotorua Utd..

Just over midway through the season, with eight games to go this fixture of the top two teams in the league promised nothing less than a tough battle. In the first round, Whakatane Town convincingly took 3 points in a 3-0 win over Rotorua. Since that match Rotorua Utd. has gone from strength to strength and Whakatane expected a different sort of side from that early encounter.

Both teams started the game positively with attacks on both goals. Whakatane were disappointed early on when a shot by Wouter Vullings was deemed to be cleared of the line following appeals for a goal by Whakatane.

It was Rotorua who struck first when a short Whakatane clearance was picked up by a Rotorua player just outside the 18 yard box and a well driven shot perfectly finding the top corner of the goal.

Shortly before halftime  Whakatane were unlucky not to reciprocate when a beautiful driven shot from distance by centre midfielder Sean Henderson, was kept out only by the crossbar. Player of the day Richard O’Regan was unlucky not to capitalise from the rebound.

With the half time score at 1 nil to Rotorua Whakatane needed to respond in order to remain at the top of the table alongside their opposition. Respond they did, when O’Regan shrugged of his defender on the edge of the 18 yard box turneding inside, and placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to bring the game to 1 all early in the second half.

The game ended with some dangerous wing play from Rotorua in which the Whakatane Town defensive line was well tested, but managed to come out unscathed.   

The team from Whakatane Town FC left the pitch having given their all. The final score line of 1 all  was a fair reflection of a tough match.