Put bluntly, a penalty-kick shootout in knockout cup soccer is "crap".
That is the verdict of Wanganui City Reserves coach Steve Welch after his side pipped Ericksen Honda Port Hill United at Marewa Park, Napier, in their Federation Cup match on Saturday.
"We're delighted to win but not the way we won," Welch said after coming through 6-5 on penalty kicks after the sides were locked 2-2 after extra time.
"I don't like going to penalty kicks because it just becomes Lotto."
Port Hill coach Tim Claudatos agreed with his counterpart.
"It was a bit disappointing because I had only sub but that's no excuse,' Claudatos said, lauding young referees' assistants for providing three-point control in a game that was pretty even and played in good spirit.
Port Hill 2 (Shay Wall 2) Wanganui City 2 (Zane Robinson, Nathan Berry). HT: 1-1.
Wanganui won 6-5 on penalties.
Havelock 4 HBHS 2
They put up a good battle to be locked 2-2 at halftime but the schoolboys couldn't sustain the pressure at Guthrie Park, Havelock North.
Best Travel Havelock North United eventually came through 4-2 on two goalkeeping errors from Hastings Boys' High School first XI.
"We were putting pressure on them and asking questions," village coach Bruce Barclay said.
"They were young fellows who put up a good battle but that's cup football," Barclay said.
Havelock 4 (Carl Shackleton hattrick, Scott Saurin) HBHS 2 (unavailable). HT: 2-2.
Western Rangers 0 Levin 2
The visitors were an unknown quantity and the hosts didn't know how to prepare or respond at St Leonard's Park, Hastings.
Levin beat Western Rangers 2-0 on a "very windy day".
"We were just flat," lamented Rangers coach Ritchie Howard after Levin scored both goals in the first half.
"Naivety led to both goals. We didn't take the best options so it cost us," Howard said, adding his lads were disappointed but now they could focus on the league.
Western Rangers 0 Levin 2 (Josh McLean 12th, Jules McBrierley 35th). HT: 2-0.
Hawera 2 Rovers 2
Another nail-biter at Skoglund Park, Palmerston North, and another goalkeeper was the hero.
Locked 2-2 in regulation time and then 3-3 after extra time, Promotem Napier City Rovers pipped Hawera 8-7 in penalty kicks with goalkeeper William Stockill denying the rivals a match-winning goal but also planting one in the net.
Twelve players from both sides took penalty kicks to be level 4-4 after the first set of five.
"It was atrocious conditions and it rained whole game. It was like a mud bath after halftime," Rovers coach Matt Hastings said.
"It could have got nasty and we were lucky no one got hurt.
"It was an absolute leveller because we beat them 8-0 last year so credit to them," Hastings said.
Hawera 2 (unavailable) Rovers 2 (Luke Horn, Nick Matheson pen). HT: 1-1.
Extra time: 3-3 (Corey Jensen).
Rovers won 8-7 in penalty kicks.
Moturoa 0 Taradale 4
It was Skoglund Park but Cape Physio Taradale defied the stiff wind to be 2-0 up in the first half.
"It was uphill, if you like, but we were happy to be 2-0 up," Taradale coach Robbie Parker said.
"We scored early and controlled the game so it was a solid performance from us," Parker said after the 4-0 victory at Palmerston North.
Moturoa 0 Taradale 4 (Mike Daly, Chris Bruin, Dean Johnston, Kelvin Mills). HT: 2-0.
Maycenvale 2 PN Marist Res 1
Skipper Nick Lucas got his marching orders from the park with 30 minutes but Cru Bar Maycenvale United still prevailed 2-1 against Wanganui City in Hastings.
"I got sent off for a sliding tackle. They were doing it the whole game so we got in a couple of our own but never mind the boys hung in there," centreback Lucas said, after scoring a goal, too.
Maycenvale 2 (Nick Lucas, Craig Clark) PN Marist Reserves 1 (u/a). HT: 1-0 Vale.
Federation League:
Wanganui City 1 Dale 3
They did it with lynchpin Chris McIvor away overseas for a month.
Your Solutions Taradale beat Wanganui City 3-1 away at Wembley Park.
"Our forwards, Nat Wright and Keegan Bright, had good games," says vice-captain Corey Charlton.
Wanganui City 1 (own goal) Taradale 3 (Nat Wright, Rhys Corbin, own goal). HT: 1-0.