Reserves Battle Out Another Draw

Monday, 09 May 2011 19:40

BMAFC Senior Reserves failed to find the level of intensity from their previous match against unbeaten Bucklands Beach, for last Saturday's encounter against fellow Division 3 cellar-dwellers Otahuhu United. The match finished at 2-2 at Te Puru Park, and highlights a luckless and win-less start to 2011 for the Reserves.

Perhaps the anticipation bore too much pressure for Beachlands - who had high hopes of securing an elusive win against Otahuhu. The home side failed to find third gear, playing into a stiff breeze in the first half. As Beachlands struggled to find their way out of their own half, possession was gifted all too frequently to Otahuhu. A misplaced pass offered Otahuhu's first chance on goal, and was gleefully accepted to take the visitors to a 1-0 lead part way through the half.

Lady Luck abandoned Beachlands when a rare first half shot was spilled by the Otahuhu keeper, and a hard-running Reid Szopa got just a little too little of his little toe to the loose ball! The puggy ground foiling the attempted toe-poke that was required to earn Beachlands' parity with Otahuhu.

Reid's fortunes turned around in the second half however as his continued hard work was rewarded during another goal mouth scramble. A Beachlands attacking corner was cleared by Otahuhu, but not to safety and defender Justin Irvine smashed a rocket back at the goal. The was shot saved but again not adequately cleared, and Reid found the end of his brother Caid's cross, which blasted across the face of the goal mouth from an acute angle.

Fighting back to 1-1 and with the strong wind now in their favour, the positive feeling began to flow again for Beachalnds. Sadly, this was short lived as a wind-whipped through-ball proved too difficult to read and the blunder offered Otahuhu another well-earned and eagerly accepted chance on goal.

In form striker Matt Woodhead clawed the match back to level terms minutes later, but Beachlands was looking tired and shaky in the end had to settle for a 2-2 draw. One more point in the bag was a better result than one of the alternatives: a loss for Beachlands would have seen them overtaken by Otahuhu who settled, too, for the draw and for their first point of the season.

Beachlands Reserves next match is against seventh-placed Three Kings Elk Hider at Kieth Hay Park at 1:00pm next Saturday.