On the end of a thumping

ON THE BALL: George Andrew (left) in action for Team Gisborne this year. Andrew and PJ Goodlett played for Hawke’s Bay United against the Phoenix Academy in the national youth league at the weekend. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE’S PJ Goodlett and George Andrew were on the receiving end of a 6-1 thumping when their Hawke’s Bay United team were beaten by the Wellington Phoenix Academy side in the opening game ofthe national youth league in Wellington at the weekend.

Goalkeeper Goodlett, in his second season with the team, played the full game while rightback Andrew came on for the last 30 minutes, with the score at 4-1.

“Obviously no keeper likes picking the ball out of the net six times but four of their goals came from one-on-one situations,” Goodlett said.

“That sounds bad for our defence but it wasn’t as bad as that.

“We were only 2-0 down at halftime but, pushing forward to try to get a goal in the second half, we got caught on the counter-attack.

“If there was one thing we learned from the game, it is if you give the ball away at this level you get punished.”

Goodlett said Hawke’s Bay United coach Jamie Dunning was not too hard on the team.

“He said we did some things well, but we had only four weeks together whereas the Academy players trained every day all year.

“I’m not taking anything away from the Academy side; they played well, were well-organised and their speed on and off the ball was the difference.”

Andrew, in his first season with the team, admitted he was ““really nervous but enjoyed the experience”.

“I was suprised at the aggression and speed of their players,” the Gisborne Boys’ High School defender said.

“They played only two at the back, with a strong midfield and players out wide. They liked to build it out with a lot of passing but they were more aggressive than I thought they might be.”

A touch of Gisborne biasWhile Goodlett was full of praise for Andrew — “He played really well, defended well and got up to support the forwards” — Andrew said that assessment might carry “a touch of Gisborne bias”.

“But I did enjoy the experience and hope I get to start against Manawatu in Napier on Saturday,” Andrew said.

Goodlett said travelling around the country by car and planes was a great opportunity to see the calibre of players around the country.

“Our parents, along with Josh Adams’s parents (Adams was not available at the weekend) share the travelling to Napier for training once a week.

“Last week we travelled by car on Saturday, stayed overnight in Napier and then flew to Wellington on Sunday for the game,” Goodlett said.

“This week is a car ride to Napier and back on the same day.”

Manawatu United beat Hawke’s Bay United 1-0 in a pre-season friendly but Andrew said it was a close game.

“Jamie told us not to get too down about losing to the Academy and he said he was happy with the way I played. I’d love to start this week but I’m not getting carried away.

“When I was on the sideline last weekend I saw Ernie Merrick (Wellington Phoenix head coach) watching the game and you could see their players trying to impress him.

“This youth league is a pathway to a possible career as a footballer but, even if nothing comes from it, it’s a great experience.”