FC Whangarei's Steve Schimmel was unlucky to receive a second yellow card. Photo / Michael Cunningham
FC Whangarei's Steve Schimmel was unlucky to receive a second yellow card. Photo / Michael Cunningham
It wasn't the performance they were after but Northland FC gutsed out a 1-all draw against Fencibles United at Onerahi Airport to open their account for the 2016 season.
After three home defeats in the Northern Region Football League second division, they are finally under way - and the onlyway is up, co-coach Dave Alabaster said.
"It was the first point for us this year and, while the manner we earned it was slightly disappointing, we've got to be happy with that," he said.
The first half was an even affair but the home side managed to create the better scoring chances, and, although the score remained 0-0 at the break, Alabaster was pleased at his side's progress - especially after losing Scott Burgess to injury just 10 minutes into the game.
"We had four good chances to get on the board and they had one good one. I thought we might be able to get things going in the second half but I'm not sure anyone really took that much notice of what I was saying at the break and it really cost us," he said.
The Fencibles' right back - despite Alabaster's halftime warnings - was allowed to travel through the defence and scored a good goal to rock the home side's morale just 10 minutes into the second half.
Northland continued to turn over ball cheaply and lacked discipline and patience both in attack and defence but finally managed a rare moment of real attacking class.
Junior Kairaki lifted a free kick into the area from deep on the right and Jason Teal rose above the defenders in a crowded box to head the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.
The fantastic goal lifted the side but any chance of their first win was dealt a serious blow when experienced striker Steve Schimmel received a second yellow card soon afterward.
"Steve reckoned the guy tripped over his own feet and he hadn't even touched him, so he may have been a bit unlucky," Alabaster said.
While the visitors looked more likely to break the deadlock in the final quarter, Northland held on grimly to claim its first point of the campaign.
The reserves continue to sparkle in their competition with a 6-1 thrashing of the visiting reserve side in the curtain raiser.
Langi Elisala opened the scoring in the first minute followed by a Mitch Hanmore strike in the 10th minute.
Fencibles pulled one back before Steve Crowley knocked in two goals in two minutes to take a 4-1 halftime lead. Daniel Hanmore and Ben Mortimer finished the scoring off in the second half.
Northland FC face a tough task today with their first away trip of the season against Te Atatu and they may struggle for numbers with a number of injuries and suspensions to contend with.
