The Ginger Diver

In typical stallions fashion 3 people at the ground with only 20 minutes til kick off assessed the turf as soft.  Gradually trickling in the boys looked amped (at  1 mW – roughly the power of a small hearing aid) and ready for the game.

With pony geared up with a lovely offwhite, freedom fighter graced sweatband and matching arm band, Panda finally abandoning the mystery van’s heater, we took the field. What a motley looking crew indeed. A few blasts over the post, while the central midfield practised their pinpoint passing and suddenly Fidel had blown the whistle much to both his, and our, surprise.

Justin Bieber and his BFF made a slick passing move straight through the advancing midfielders, with aplomb. A sign of things to come, it came to nothing – mopped up easily with excellent positional play, great communication and a gargantuan game by the back line.

Although slick passing the norm, fortunately for the stallions, their final pass was absent to say the least. A few shots from outside the box either went well over the top, were deflected by defenders, or in the case of Paul ‘the cat’ Kilford saved brilliantly.

A good ole fashioned tug o war ensued with pressing runs going in both directions.  Until Tangihaere let Beiber go around him, only the once and for half a step further bringing him down with a delicate sledge hammer swing around the ankles. Penalty Miramar. 1-0.

Heads not down at all, the stallions were able to answer almost straight away, Rauru opened up his account early with a well finished goal, followed by another, then some other blokes scored, before Rauru  was able to get both the hat trick and his fourth goal.

Unfortunately for this writer, with so many goals coming from Rauru’s boot, (and god forbid, his head) they have all become a blur. Not mention the concussion received when this writer was viciously shoulder charged by a 6foot 3(around the middle) angry Irishman, who moments before had stopped Lloyds’s  second attempt this year to set a record 810° turn, with a wildly inaccurate swinging arm.

Booked for the first and second infringement, he was asked to leave the field. This started a tirade of misdirected childlike insults regarding the colour of a certain attacking midfielder’s hair (yes I do have red hair, thanks for noticing, but I can dye it – you, me old china plate, will always be a tosser), and his sexual orientation (there was a fair amount of crying in the loo this week over that one). Insults, seemingly having no effect, meant the tackles became harder and more illegal (Bieber and his BFF were seen holding hands discussing the best way to take out old ginge) in complete disrespect for the game.  

Nonetheless there were hand shakes after the game and promises to ‘get me’ never materialised, though I bet Miramar will be looking forward to the return fixture with relish.

Never let the truth (or details) get in the way of a story I say. 

For posterity you may comment on what actually happened. (Goals only - the sending off occurred exactly as written here, apart from some theatrics that had no impact on the sending off whatsoever -he really hurt my head, and the so-called smile was a grimmace)

Rauru, Fergie stole our Stallion/pony celebration!

Stolen from the VUWAFC facebook page:

Certainly not the same old Stallions

Just seen that I started this a month or so ago but never posted it.  Things have changed slightly since I started this post, but the question stands (and is one Tangihaere asked me on Saturday about my goal scoring), what's different about this season?  Very little in terms of personnel, but a lot in terms of results.  Thoughts?

2011: P18 W9 D5 L4 GF32 GA25
2012 (after 5 games): P5 W2 D0 L3 GF20 GA21

A quarter of the way through the season and we've scored two thirds of the goals we did last season but have conceeded more than three quarters of the goals. With more or less the same team, what has been the difference?

Wow

Raiders go down to bottom of the table Marist (who we put 10 against).  Here's their match report:

"Raiders 1 - 2 Marist Inter @ Wakefield.
Well, another game that we could have played better, let's just say that. That's our first loss on the turf this season and we've now given the bottom two teams their only wins. Amazingly we've beaten everyone above us, aside from Wests of course. But hey, we're likely to be no worse than 5th - the other games to finish this round are BNU v Lower Hutt (they're both above us in the table) and either the Clarets or Wainui are likely to go 4th, whomever wins that one.
I hold my hand well and truly up for the loss tonight - had two or three chances with the boot from outside the box and Guy and Iain swung over nice crosses but my heading was off. I think the 'keeper tipped one over the bar. For my troubles I have a splitting headache after their goalie c...ollected me in the second half.
At the moment we're short of a little confidence and last passes and timing (which we had in spades in the opening games) is lacking. People are not putting their foot on the ball and thinking about where the ultimate destination for it is. Too much wellying and low-percentage passes. But you gotta think that we were well off tonight and only lost 2-1, their first goal was pure bullshit.
The Raiders I know will not let two losses and a draw in three games knock us over and we're one half of football away from getting the mojo back. Chins up, let's dig deep to get that sharpness back and give Lower Hutt a good hiding on Saturday."

Fantasy Points as Stallions Hit Six

I'm taking it upon myself in the absence of the Fantasy Points collecter to change some of the rules. I'm not sure if we did it last year but I remember talking about it at some stage that the D should get points if they conceed only 1 and we still win. We decided that they should get 6 points if we don't conceed, and I thought it was 2 if we conceed only 1 but still win. It seems wrong that the D dominated as much as they did against a team with decent strikers and only gets 2 points. So I'm changing it, and if Aaron doesn't like it too bad. He's not fantasy champion anymore, there's a new top dog in town...

Paul - 2pts 60+, 2pts 1 goal win, 1pt 3+ saves = 5pts
Panda - 2pts 60+, 2pts 1 goal win = 4pts
Tangihaere - 2pts 60+, 2pts 1 goal win, 2bp = 6pts
Graham - 2pts 60+, 2pts 1 goal win, 3bp = 7pts
Corey - 2pts 60+, 2pts 1 goal win = 4pts
Spencer - 2pts 60+, 1pt 1 goal win = 3pts (played half game D)
Rob - 2pts 60+, 5pts goal, 1bp = 8pts
Tom - 2pts 60+, 3pts assist = 5pts
Paddy - 2pts 60+, 3pts assist = 5pts
Lloyd - 2pts 60+, 6pts 2x assist = 8pts
Gus - 2pts 60+, 4pts goal = 6pts
Rauru - 2pts 60+, 3pts assist, 16pts 4x goal = 21pts

Stallion = Paul.  Huge save at a critical time in the game.  Would have made it 3-2 or 2-2 (can't remember) and they would have gone into the break with bit more confidence.

Pony = Gus.  Un-Stallion like behaviour.  As a striker who likes a bit of lip though, I can kinda relate.  I wouldn't have dropped to the ground like a pussy like you did to get the guy sent off though.  I only do that when being tackled ;)

Because this is Gus 3rd Pony though, and his last match report was unusual at best, I think Tangihaere should write up the match report since we never got one from him last time and he gave away his 3rd penalty of the season.  A "Heard on the Sidelines" would be "I just wish I smashed him harder!"

Undertakers Undertaken

Gus raises a glass at the post match drinks.

So, the annual trip to Wainuiomata. Cue jokes about slack jawed yockels... ...except this time around it was our own yockel Gus who managed to make the Stallions look like the slack jawed,  forgetting his false front tooth.

Unfortunately the Undertakers were not about to look the Stallions (or "Gift Horses", as we turned out to be), in the mouth. Speaking of Gift horses, the long heralded Stallion stick made its début, with inaugural recipient Tom bringing it out onto the field of play.

The start was all the more auspicious when Spencer pulled up lame during the warm up. Given what was to follow, he'd probably have preferred to be shot than sit though it.

This going was very soft under foot after much rain during the week, so we needed all the subs we could get to push through.

We did dominate the early exchanges, however with Paddy recently recovered from his hamstring injuries and Gus playing a more advanced version of his "Walking Midfielder" role up front, the balls over the top through the middle which have become something of a Stallions staple were not having the desired effect.

Early subs saw Paddy, Robin and Graham all off as the Stallions tried to create something going forward. At one point we did, which almost became a bit too much for Paddy whose high pitched voice had Rob enquiring whether he had injured more than just his hammy in recent weeks.

A slightly bizzare clearance/back pass from Jason was an early candidate for the Pony, as having received the ball forward of his own penalty area and under no pressure at all he proceeded to boot it out for a corner.

However worse was to come, as Graham replaced Aaron in the Defensive Midfielder role and proceeded to  put a big chop on one of their players outside and to the left of our penalty area. It turns out that the player chopped had his season ended by a similar chop in the corresponding fixture last season, but we're glad to report he wasn't so badly affected this time around. The Pony moment then came with Graham at the left edge of the wall, anticipating the ball being struck to his left, moved in that direction, only to see the ball go exactly where he had been positioned. His blushes were partially spared by Paul making a good save, however the lingering impression among some that he had moved to spare himself impact would have to be taken on the chin, as would the Pony paraphernalia.

Wainui opened the scoring when their big centre forward, under attention from both Tangihaere and Graham and with his back to goal, somehow squeezed a pass across the face which found his unmarked strike partner. Paul had no chance with the shot from close range, and the Undertakers were ahead.

We've been full of goals all season, and there was plenty of confidence that the game was there to be won at half time. However, it is fair to say we struggled with the pitch conditions, and were unable to make many chances. There were a few enterprising runs made, however we seemed to get fewer crosses into the box than we managed corners. As the game wore on, we pushed more players up leaving space in behind; it has to be said here that the defence played very well in nullifying their attempts to make use of this space.

It finished 1-0, tragedy turning to farce when we found ourselves waiting in the cold outside their closed clubrooms, only to figure out that they were not coming to open up until after they'd warmed themselves in the changing room showers. We finally gave up and went to the local down the road.

Go Harriet!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=394544030584937

A shame the Stallions have never given Harriet much to cheer about at KP. Though i do recall her laughing when Paddy screwed up once.

Shit day out

Wainui 1, Stallions zip. Couldn't get anything going. A few upsets in the grade too, we lost a chance to make up ground on the leaders.

Stallion: The first time I can remember there was not a single Stallion-worthy moment raised so it went to Tangihaere, who played generally well.
Pony: G-Mann (I'll let you explain this in the match report since there seemed to be so varying opinions on it ...)

MVPs:
3 - Tangihaere
2 - Joe
1 - Paul

Rauru, I think we need a blog post explaining the history and usage behind the new stallion stick.

There will be no fantasy update this week since everybody got 2 apart from the MVPs who got between 3 and 5.

Just noticed that the div 6 ladder has us only winning 2 games this season. Unless I'm wrong we have beaten Inter and the 2 Nth Wgtn sides. Rauru, better get that changed!

Fantasy vs Nth Wgtn Claret

Home on a friday night counting up Rauru's points, very, very sad.

Haven't got that missing assist.
 

Paul	60+, 1 (3+ saves), -1 (2 goals)	2
Tangihaere	60+, -1 (2 goals)	1
Jason	60+, -1 (2 goals)	1
Mike B	60+, -1 (2 goals)	1
Graham	60+, -1 (2 goals)	1
Joe	60+, -1 (2 goals)	1
Aaron	60+	2
Lloyd	60+, 2 assists	8
Robin	60+, 1 bp	3
Panda	60+	2
Tom	60+, 5 (MF goal)	7
Logan	60+, 5 (MF goal), -1 card, 2 bps	8
Rauru	60+, 12 (3 goals), 3 (assist), 3bps	20

That's quite a haul again Rauru, well played Sir.

Here's the top of the table, not quite as close as last week!

Rauru 56
Aaron 38
Logan 35
Lloyd 29
Paddy 25

Cristiano Ronaldo scores hat-trick as Real Madrid hammer Sevilla

Real Madrid's Rauru Walker celebrates after scoring against Sevilla during the crushing 6-2 victory. Photograph: Angel Fernandez/AP

Rauru Walker scored his fifth cap 6 hat-trick of the season as University stallions brushed off my 44th-minute yellow card to secure a crushing 6-2 victory at Johnsonvilla and move back above all those teams below us. Rafa Walker’s side surrendered first place to the Raiders several weeks ago, flailing into a 3 game losing streak.

The Raiders, chasing a Cap 6 title, have been in action at the Club World Cup in Japan this week and meet Brazilian side Santos in the final on Sunday. The League’s top scorer Walker, whistled by his own fans and criticised by the whinging contingent after a poor performance in the warm up, took his league tally to 8 goals, three more than the Raider's world player of the year Lionel Messi.

Tom was able to latch onto a long ball across the goal, taking out North Wellington’s keeper and his right incisor all in one blur of arms and legs.

The Stallion’s second came after NW’s goalie inexplicably adopted ‘The Thinker’, balancing the ball on his fingertips, allowing thief in the night Walker to nod it into the goal.

The Stallion’s third came in bizarre circumstances after Davies had cruelly bodychecked, then hip thrown, a dainty left back to the ground well inside the box. Opposition vanquished and writhing on the ground, Davies had rotated his customary 720° and was going for a record 810° turn (shooting hadn’t crossed his mind) when he was stopped in his tracks by the shrill Tang whistle. After contemplating what he had done for longer than right minded people should, Tang awarded a penalty. Before anyone had realised what was happening, Gustona (another thief in the night) already had the ball placed on the spot and was going through his penalty preparations (visualising the ball in the net, blocking out the crowd and staring at the left corner knowing full well that top right corner is the only option with his dickey knee, hammy and left ankle (list annotated to save space) ed.). Fortunately the keeper moved well before the ball was kicked and Gustona kicked it where the keeper wasn’t.

The Stallions goal post had earlier produced two brilliant saves to deny Manu del Moral and Piotr Trochowski. Del Moral had squandered North Wellington's best effort when, with The Stallions leading 1-0, he somehow skewed wide in front of an open goal (not that open, Paul was there somewhere but my view is obscured, trying to fit in some reality into this stolen news item).

Stallions were cruising with a 3-0 lead early, before attacking centre mid Gustona got yellow card for suggesting the ref was not only a tool, but also wrong and partially sighted. Helped by Walker, Gustona placed the ball kindly for the opposition free kick, where the offence had taken place. Unfortunately for Gustona, the free kick was awarded for offside, and the ball he had placed was 2 metres in his own half.

Jesús Navas pulled one back for the hosts in the 34th minute but it was all Stallions in the second half, with Walker completing his treble with a penalty after being brought down clumsily in the box.

The Stallions were forced to defend for long periods at the end of the second half but North Wellington were caught out in the 66th minute when Lloyd Davies trickled the ball into a defender who obligingly deflected the ball into the back of the net for the visitors' fourth from a well taken Gustona corner (come back soon Paddy, I can’t keep taking these corners).

Walker chipped in The Stallions sixth three minutes later in a fantastic football display of well balanced strength and finesse. The Innkeeper was then called to warn them of our imminent arrival, so they could get some beer in, put the heater on and get the chip oil to temperature. Walker, who has been accused of failing to perform in the big games, said his three goals served to "shut the mouths" of those who had criticised him. "I don't care what people say I just do my job. I have shown that I am focused on the team. Those who criticise me don't understand football. We played well and are the leaders at Christmas which means our goal has been achieved."

The Stallions stay fifth but will be overtaken by Lower Hutt if the ambitious Qatar-owned club avoid defeat on Sunday at third-placed Raiders, who will themselves be chasing a victory that would cut the gap with Western Suburbs to four points.

The Stallions play Wanuiomata, in the bustling metropolis over the hill in the late game on Saturday. Walker will be hoping to add to his tally, and those chasing the golden boot will eye it as a chance to catch up.

 All facts, characters, lies, untruths, insults, big ups in this story bear no resemblance to accuracy or reliability at all. Nor do they represent anyone’s view in the stallions, including the author. Neither did the events occur as written here, but exist only in hazy, mist filled memory banks of the author.

What a finish!

And no, I'm not talking about the EPL.

Aaron's despair when he realised he'd left Jelavic on the bench

The end of the '11-'12 Fantasy EPL season caused as much drama as the real action itself.  While most of the season didn't cause too much drama with Bridesmaid XI, managed by Rafa Walker, being out in front from the word 'go', the end caused a few hearts to flutter.

With only 3 gameweeks to play the Bridesmaids had a comfortable 40-odd point lead over 005 (managed by Arry Lister).  Energy247nz (managed by Alex Goodall) was a further 10 points back, with Lachlan Jol rounding out the Champions League spots another 20-odd points back.  The lead was so comfortable that Lister ever conceded defeat via Twitter (imagine if politicians did that!).

All hell was to break loose though in a round when 8 teams had double headers, and the tweet mysteriously disappeared.  005, with nothing to lose, selected a certain Spanish Scouser reject who went on to bag a hatrick.  He also had R VdV as his captain who earned double points over two games where he scored two, had an assist as well as a nice handful of bonus points.  Jelavic (who it was rumoured would later refuse to play due to wage demands) also bagged a double while Mata got 4 (yes 4) assists in a 6-1 rout over QPR.  All of this meant that an imposing 116 score was posted and the once mighty lead was reduced to...zero.  With 2 game weeks to go, it was all tied up at the top.

The penultimate round found the aforementioned Spanish reject come up with nothing as his team of dickheads and cheats lost 4-1 at the mighty Liverpool, while cross town neighbours Everton played out a bore draw with Wolves meaning Jelavic came up with nothing.  005 panicked and made 2 subs during the week which cost him 4 points (while returning very little), while Bridesmaids XI kept their cool and made just the one free sub.  At the end of the round it stayed close with Bridesmaids clawing back a 3 point lead.

The final round is one that will give Arry and his 005 team nightmares for years to come.  Inexplicably Arry chose to make another 2 subs which cost him another 4 points, as well as keep the previously consistent Jelavic on the bench in favour of the 'hot then not' Torres who wasn't even guaranteed much game time in a Chelsea outfit with an eye on the Champions League final.  The extra sub was used to bring in a personal favourite of Arry (some might even say his man-crush), Moses.  Unfortunately for Arry, Moses failed to part the defense and only scored 1 point in a 57min appearance.  Torres also only picked up 1 point for playing a 22 minute cameo.  The star of the show was Jelavic who picked up a goal and 2 bonus points in an 8 point haul.  For reasons unknown to anyone however, Arry decided to bench his star player.  Some say there were wage demands, others say Arry benched him to accommodate his man-crush, others still say he was benched for not scoring the week before despite scoring 7 goals in 6 games at one point.  Whatever the reason, Arry must feel sick.  The 7 extra points that Jelavic earned over Torres would have been enough to tie with Bridesmaids, and if he had remained calm and composed and not made the extra subs in the final two weeks we would quite probably be looking at different winner.

As it was, Bridesmaids XI, like City in the real game, held their nerve when it counted and did what had to be done to get the result, and just like in the actual EPL, good prevailed over evil.  The Bridesmaids have become the Brides.

The rest of the table had Goodall and Lepper rounding out the CL spots, Hinkley coming in 5th despite missing the first two weeks, with Mead, Aitofi taking to relegation spots and the ironically named 'Team Winning' managed by Kilford getting the ol spoon.

Newcastle were the stars of the Bridesmaid outfit with Krul and the defenders picking up valuable points early on with Ba and Cisse being rotated in and out to drastic effect.

As a side note, Joey Barton has got to be the biggest twat there is.  He tweeted after the game "Once I'd been sent off, one of our players suggested I should try to take 1 of theirs with me..."

Fantasy EURO2013 is just round the corner.  Who's gonna take on the champ?  Bring it.

 

Losing streak broken, 2nd hatrick

Afterwards Rauru commented he could not decide if he was most like Suarez or Carroll.

Have you called the club yet to get yourself onto that honours board again rauru? Although lets not forget some of those other shameful moments (which I'm sure will come out in Logan's match report).

Don't want to spoil the report, but for those of you not there:
Stallions 6 (Rauru 3, Logan, Tom and Lloyd Oggie), Nth Wgtn 2 (Angry, Furious). Tang lucky to leave Jville in one piece.

Stallion: Tom - hitting the back post, getting onto the cross and taking the collison. Bleeding for the team always helps for Stallion votes).  A new entry into the goal of the season poll to your right.

Pony: Logan, A yellow card for dissent (which he tried to pass off to Tristin!).

MVPs:
3 Rauru - hat trick, a glorious assist, great decision to start into the wind. Nicely done.
2 Logan - dissent, 40 meter attempts and absence of passing aside, a damn good game.  Played the AM role well.
1 Shit - I forget - was it Robin for being a nice guy?

Damn

Western Suburbs

4

-

3

Marist Inter

Old Skool

Thanks for the history lesson Rauru, couldn't resist this one (and Panda's sick of looking at his old celebration while scoring shit all goals). Look its the brothers Hodges, young Jules, Mad Men Jason, Jamie with a shoulder that works, impish Paddy, and some other fools I can't recognise. The real star of the photograph are the nets. Class. Crap strip.

Lesson - we need some new photos.

Wonky Fantasy vs Wests

Wests Paul 60+, -3 (6 goals), 1 (3+ saves) 0 Tangihaere 60, -3 (6 goals) -1 Jason 60, -3 (6 goals) -1 -1 Graham 60+, -3 (6 goals) -1 Spencer 60+, -3 (6 goals), 2bps 1 Aaron 60+, 5 (mf goal) 7 Lloyd 60+, 3bps 5 Robin 60+ 2 Panda 60+, 3 (assist) 5 Tom 60+ 2 Rauru 60+, 8 (2 goals), 1bp 11

Remember this time last season when defenders were racking up the clean sheets, getting all the mvps, totally dominating fantasy to the point the strikers were complaining (well, we are talking Gus and Rauru, two whiners of the highest order)? How things have changed. Luckily we have an archive and can check out the points for the game at this time of last season:

Paul 2 (+60), 6 (cleansheet), 1 (3+saves) 9
Tangihaere 2 (+60), 6 (cleansheet), 3 bps 11
Jason 2 (+60), 6 (cleansheet), 1 bps 9
Joe 2 (+60), 6 (cleansheet) 8
Corey 2 (+60), 6 (cleansheet) 8
Graham 2 (+60 - hmmm?), 2 (mf cleansheet) 3
Aaron 2 (+60), 1 ( mf cleansheet), 5 (mf goal), 2 bps 10
Lloyd 2 (+60), 1 (mf cleansheet) 3
 Paddy 2 (+60), 1 (mf cleansheet) 3
Dan 2 (+60), 1 (mf cleansheet), 3 (assist) 6
Nick 2 (+60), 1 (mf cleansheet) 3
Robin 2 (+60), 1 (mf cleansheet) 3
 Logan 2 (+60), 3 (assist) 5
Rauru 2 (+60) 2
So here we are. Let's take the sad case of Tangihaere in 2012. Undoubtedly one of the stars of the side (with the odd net-forgetting getting in the way). Lets look at his points this season. He has played all 5 games with the following laughable fantasy output (2, 1, 0, 0, -1). For a grand total of 2 points - most of us get that per game just by walking out onto the field. I'm crap at maths, but even I know that dividing that haul on a per game basis would get kind of funny.

Then you look at the top end where 2 players lead - a certain goal-scoring, assist-wielding, Tang-loving, heart-breaking defensive midfielder, and oh yeah - that unnamed brother of Tangihaere who has racked up 36 points from 3 games - a phenomenal output.

So, I think this proves a couple of things - the system is designed for professional players, we can't go about changing things due to the nature of our performances - imagine if we had done this last year, the gap would be either larger now (hmm defenders lose points for conceding goals, should strikers lose points for misses, defensive mid fielders for dropping off their men?), and most of all that this means nothing and we should take it all with a grain of salt. It is a bit of fun, but I would imagine it would be less fun if you were getting .0089356170 points per game.

Your Secret is Out Lister

A Look Back In Time

Having a look back at the old blog posts. Check them out. http://unistallions.blogspot.co.nz/2008_04_01_archive.html 

There's match reports from Corey (remember when he used to do them all?), tactics from Nick (remember when he used to play for a good team?), random polls from Aaron, and player profiles.

Aaron, I think we need to do some player profiles on some of the newer recruits. Did Tristin ever do one? Panda? Paddy? Lloyd? There's a heap of material out there waiting to be put up... There's also the "Stallions 1st XI" that was decided a few years back that never went up. I'm sure I have the book somewhere or does Jason have it?

Fantasy

The stallions emerge from the KP changing rooms to meet Wests.

Need some help with the Fantasy. I think we were all too shocked with Rauru's second to notice who gave it the 'assist' - probably a dubious assist since it must have been passed from inside our half, did not put Rauru into an attacking position, and had no intention of being an assist, but it happened. Anyone recall?

Goal 1 Rauru, assist - Panda
Goal 2 Aaron, no assist (homie needs no assistance)
Goal 3 Rauru, assist??

TANG!

Cue an Aaron hatrick.

Stallions 3: Wests 7. Sigh.

Unlike Tangihaere, Gus and the rest of this year's crop, I take this Pony business very seriously.  

The scene was KP on a crisp autumnal day.  The opposition was the unknown (and, if I'm honest, slightly feared) Wests.  Things didn't get off to a great start when it dawned on all concerned that Tangihaere had left the nets under a pile of other muck in his shed.  A quick return trip to Petone was in order, but thankfully our ref and opposition were happy to delay proceedings until we were all ready to go.

Kick off and, as discussed pre-match, we looked to defend and see what Wests had - and hit the on the break if possible.  For the first time in living memory a Stallions game-plan paid dividends.  Lloyd was snapping into tackles with such enthusiasm that you thought that soon it would be legs snapping.  After weathering a bit of early pressure, a slide-rule pass from Panda put Rauru in the clear.  He played Torres to the Wests' keeper's Valdes - rounding him with pace and confidence before tucking it home.  Sadly, Wests hit back pretty sharply.  A pass in behind the full-back gave their striker a chance, which he took despite the angle.  We had the opportunity to regain the lead when Rauru was once again put through.  This time though there was a fatal moment of hesitation which allowed their keeper to narrow the angle and push the shot away for a corner.  The next Wests attack saw their striker get the ball close in, surrounded by defenders, with his back to goal.  The words "I can't see it" had scarcely passed my lips when the ball flew in past my knees - 2:1.  The fighting spirit of the Stallions was evident though because now it was our turn to have a spell of pressure.  It culminated with a ball across to Aaron making one of his patented marauding run forward.  First touch to get it under control before opening himself up beautifully to put it inside the post from 12 yards.  Just when we thought we might be going into the break level, disaster struck - a slaloming run and a finish at the near post.  "That was some goal" screamed the responsible party "I just dorked 6 of your players".  Clearly someone was counting.  At least he got the "dork" bit right.  3:2 Wests at the break.

Less said about the second half the better and, if I'm honest, it was all a bit of a blur.  Wests got their 4th following a corner - a tuck-in at the back post by their self-commentating superstar, who promptly announced his hat-trick to his adoring masses.  The 5th was just one of those things.  A mis-kicked cross dipped and swerved, got caught in a vicious cross-wind, I was temporarily blinded by the sunlight reflecting off the referee's whistle, and the ball lodged gently inside the far post.  Fate had conspired against us/me.  Meanwhile, in more palatable news, a goal-kick cleared the defenders and put Rauru in - his shot was blocked, but our prima ballerina was on hand with what looked like a tasty lob over the stranded keeper.  The wind was once again to blame as the ball bounced cruelly back off the wood-work.  We also held our collective breaths for what we hoped would be another Panda long-range special.  Sadly, it just whistled over.  Wests then goth their 6th, when a man was left alone at the top of the box to have a shot.  It looked like a pretty scruffy effort - but was against an even scruffier keeper, and snuck into the side-netting.  Rauru then decided he'd score from near halfway, because he's like that - something for the neutrals.  A lovely finish and an immediate shoe-in for Stallion moment.  The scoring wasn't done though.  Another Wests break, we all rushed to block a shot that never came.  Instead, a square ball to a player that no-one had bothered to track to tap into an unguarded net.  That was number SEVEN.  We were put out of our collective misery not long after that.

Huge game from Lloyd, who completely dominated the centre of the park.  Wests had to resort to going round him.  Some idiot tried to go through him and quickly learned his lesson.  Big props too to Spencer, who always did a great job of holding up his man, getting a timely toe in and looking up for a sensible pass.  Pony to me for a reason that genuinely remains a mystery.  The fact that I probably should have stopped five of the seven I let in - and got beaten from the sideline - may have had something to do with.  My cheerful mood post-game was further enhanced by the first thing I heard being Rauru say "we let in some soft goals today lads".  Yeah?  We missed some sitters today lads.  Bloody strikers!

Vs Wests

I loved how they were getting angry and frustrated at us for parking the bus and going hardcore defence in the first half - 'you are playing like Chelsea' - it worked (for a while ...). Not to mention we scored twice and had a couple of other good chances that half.


Right, so that's 2 games in a row we have conceded 3 goals in the last 20. Fitness of course is an issue, but its the drop in intensity in that period that is killing us. But there is a lot to take from that game - the first half was great, we scored more against Wests than any team this season, and next time we won't be thinking these guys are going to kill us.  We should be feeling much better than we were this time last week.

We need to get the match report thing going again - Paul, unfortunately you picked up the pony this week, so a few sage words from you may need to be in order.

Pony: Paul
Other contenders: Tangihaere and the nets, Paddy showing up to watch after the game, Aaron chopping everything in sight
Stallion: Rauru - for that second goal - I think you might have to explain the celebration for us all ...

MVPs:
3 - Lloyd - huge game, everywhere , at the heart of everything.
2 - Spencer - again Mr Consistency (that's 3 weeks of mvp points in a row)
1 - Rauru

Heard on the sidelines #482895

Logan: 'Before the game I went to Chipmunks, I saw Paddy there'.

Bet he blew a hamstring.

Big day stallions: vs best team in the league, leaking goals, losing fan support, barely got a team, but what a chance to turn things around  - and we are at KP before it turns into a mudbath.

And the winner of last weeks pony: Tangihaere.

Do not startle the pony

Pony poll for last week's game to right, vote away - winner is he with the most votes on Saturday morning.

Corey definitely gets the Stallion.