Scoring at home proves elusive

By Casey Angland

The weather was more welcoming to the local fans for Young Heart’s second home game of the season, as was the team’s performance with the work YHM have done on their defence shining through in the match against Canterbury.

 The match will best be remembered for a string of yellow cards and aggressive play. The teams are close on the NZFC table with YoungHeart ranked second, 6 points ahead of Canterbury, who currently sit in fourth place with 4 points, the scrappy nil all score line reflected that.

Canterbury made early attacks on goal, but these were no match for the shining defence of goalkeeper Ross Nicholson. Performance was even in the first half with a lot of action at both goal ends but YoungHeart favoured their defensive game using a strong 4-4-2 to break Canterbury’s attacks.

It was Canterbury who felt the heat first and received a yellow card for a high tackle, instantly initiating the confrontation between the two teams and the ref.  Half an hour in YoungHeart striker Des Fa’aiuaso was the subject of a confusing and controversial yellow card for what appeared to a dive. As the half continued Nicholson went on to deter all Canterbury’s goal attempts and the tempers continued to flare. The half ended with the third yellow card issued against Canterbury who continued to push their attacking game.

Young Heart came out firing on attack in the second half with midfielder Cory Chettleburgh kicking a near goal in the first minutes. Young Heart’s Raff de Gregorio was lucky to escape the fourth yellow card of the game for an attempted dive, despite the chaos Canterbury began to feel the pressure making a lot of subs and line up changes.

In the last 10 minutes the action saw YHM attacking Canterbury’s goal area, and coming painstakingly close to securing a win. Canterbury, obviously feeling the pressure, was issued the fourth and final yellow card of game leaving YoungHeart open for yet another set up and an unsuccessful attempt on goal.

It was a highly heated, aggressive but entertaining 90 minutes full of action and controversy but in the end neither team came out a winner ending the game nil all. YHM Captain Adam Cowan was disappointed he couldn’t give the home crowds a win, but they get another chance next week up against Hawke’s Bay United where Manawatu will be aiming for that elusive home win.