Soccer: United happy with away draw

Hawke's Bay United's Tom Biss deserved yesterday's 90th minute equaliser in the wake of a huge workrate at Fred Taylor Park. Photo/Glenn Taylor.

In his prime playing days Hawke's Bay United soccer team's assistant coach Perry Cotton was known as a good bugger.

The type of bloke who shunned the limelight as much as possible but would do his utmost no matter which team he was turning out for. He was always a strong believer in a team rather than individuals receiving glory.

It's no different for Cotton with his assistant coach cap on. He found it hard to single out individuals after helping guide Kinetic Electrical Hawke's Bay United to a 2-all draw with Waitakere United at Whenuapai's Fred Taylor Park yesterday.

"This is a great result for us. Not many teams come up here and leave with points," Cotton explained shortly after emerging from a jubilant changing room before the team's flight home last night.

"There were no outstanding individuals. It was one of those collective top team efforts which is what you want in these sort of encounters ... the boys got stuck in during the last 20 minutes," Cotton said.

However after some gentle prodding Cotton didn't have too much difficulty listing some individuals. Top of the list was forward Tom Biss who scored the crucial equaliser in the 90th minute.

"Tom never stopped working hard throughout the match. He played with confidence and deserved our second goal."

Next on the list was another of the forwards Tomas Mosquera.

Midfielder David Mulligan got stronger as the game went on and put in some big tackles while captain Bill Robertson and fellow defender Aaron Jones combined well at the back.

Had Cotton's troops, who are now fourth on the table, won this encounter they would have pushed up to second. They had the perfect start when fullback Danny Wilson scored in the ninth minute after latching on to a loose ball in a freekick situation.

The hosts opened their account in the 19th minute when Jordan Lowdon burst clear and set up Australian Richard Cardozo. Seven minutes before halftime promising target man Dylan Stansfield put Waitakere in front after receiving a pass from Chad Coombes and turning to beat Bay keeper and former Waitakere player Richard Gillespie.

Stansfield's goal looked increasingly like the matchwinner until Coombes picked up a pair of yellow cards within two minutes. Cardozo received his marching orders for an elbow on Mulligan in the 87th minute, just three minutes after Coombes' departure, and eager to capitalise the Bay lifted the tempo providing Biss with his memorable moment.

Cotton pointed out Waitakere got around the back of his defenders too comfortably in the second quarter so the necessary changes were made at halftime.

"We put a bit more pressure on them and enjoyed more dominance in the final quarter. This draw brings Waitakere back into the pack and in the wake of their ordering offs their depth will be tested during the coming weeks.

Cotton added there were no further additions to his injury list after the match which is the ideal situation to be in as they prepare to host Canterbury United at Bluewater Stadium on Saturday. Canterbury United will be oozing with confidence when they arrive in Napier following a home 2-0 win against Team Wellington yesterday.

On Saturday Waikato Bay of Plenty United beat winless Southern United 4-2 in Cambridge.

It took less than a minute for Canterbury's highly anticipated match against Wellington to take a turn towards the home side. James Musa brought down Russell Kamo to concede a penalty which Dragons All Whites midfielder Aaron Clapham gladly converted, albeit off the post.

There was no doubt about his second. Clapham brought the crowd to its feet as he collected the ball on halfway and beat four players before slotting past fellow All White Jacob Spoonley as the game's scoring wrapped up in just the 27th minute.