Pre-match, the Stallions were quietly confident - we are good team on the turf and by all accounts the last thrashing by these guys was an aberration. The game started largely as you'd expect, the teams feeling each other out. North Wellington, with the wind at their back, perhaps shading it with some tidy passing, but our defense holding reasonably firm and restricting them to a couple of shots from distance or acute angles. For our part, there was some nice movement and plenty of enthusiasm on display.
Suddenly, under pressure and with a distinct lack of helpful calling from his team-mates, Tangi found himself in a blind alley on defence, got robbed and a speculator from outside the box took a wicked deflection of Spencer's back and into the corner. The game had changed. Our goal now resembled a shooting gallery. NW were winning possession in their own half and flooding forward; swamping our midfield, forcing our back four into retreat and taking advantage of the space in front of them to launch long-range wind assisted efforts on goal. That said, when the second goal did come it was as poxy as hell. A shanked cross from the left wing looped over a rather red-faced keeper into the far corner. The third wasn't far behind - one of those speculators paid off and snuck inside the left-had post.
All the while we weren't playing that badly when we did have the ball. Time and time again the final ball was all that was lacking - just under or over-hit when someone was well placed. The few final passes that did stick were capably dealt with by the opposition keeper or were thwarted by last-ditch tackles.
The defensive shambles of the first half was perhaps best summed up by an exchange that went something like:
Tangi: Graham, tuck in, he can have the space out wide
Dan (30 seconds later): Graham, you need to go out to your man - he's got too much space out there
Graham: For f*ck sake you two, which is it!!
Stallions roared into the second half and had largely the better of it for no reward. A lovely interchange down the right wing finished with Rauru playing a beautifully weighted square ball to a perfectly positioned Rob, who was denied by a stunning save by the NW keeper doing his best starfish impersonation. A matter of minutes later Rob had another chance from a bouncing ball, only to see the ball crashing against the top of the upright - unfortunately the upright in question was the rugby one 10 meters behind the goal. To my lasting shame we than conceded a 4th. The NW striker turned sharply and let go a decent snap-shot, but no self-respecting keeper should be conceding at his near post from that sort of angle. Then, although there was about 30 minutes left, the game seemed to peter out a bit. We had by far the best of the territory and possession but couldn't make it count - some presentable chances came and went, but we never really threatened to get back into it.
So that was it - they actually only scored one decent goal (the third one), but thoroughly deserved their victory. We can at least pat ourselves on the back for not taking their number 5 apart limb by limb - admirable self-restraint was the winner on the night.
With the Petone and Accies results going against us the promotion dream has died. Still, to be in the hunt up until the second-last round in our first season in Div 6 is a massive achievement and not one that we should lose sight of amongst all the thoughts of what might have been.
We should vote on MVP if it hasn't been done already. For what it's worth, I would go:
3 - Rauru, who deserved the points for having the stones to abandon his mrs on her birthday to chase a Stallions promotion dream, but was also involved in some great link-up play and showed loads of energy.
2 - Tris, for having the foresight to dull the pain before the game even started. I bet in hindsight he wishes he'd had a couple more drinks.
1 - Lachie, for being the only Stallion to have an error free game
Nothing to lose in the next game. I'll get in early by begging for a run in the outfield. My view is that two people who have never donned the gloves in their lives should be given a half each between the sticks.
