Relief as lacklustre Ngongotaha grab late leveller

Ngongotaha's Harlem Simiona grabbed a last-gasp equaliser for his sideon the weekend. PHOTO/FILE

Ngongotaha AFC were lucky to "get out of jail" according to coach Shane Davis after they dramatically drew on Saturday.

The only unbeaten side in the WaiBOP Premiership dropped points for the first time this
season after a 3-all draw against WaikatoUnicol AFC-with Ngongotaha's Harlem Simiona grabbing an equaliser in the last minute of the game.

Ngongotaha were leading 1-0 at halftime after a Alan Ferguson strike and Luke Barker extended their lead just after the restart. However, former Ngongotaha striker Ban Ewart pulled one back for the home side and they took the lead after two penalties in the space of six minutes.

Davis said he was relieved his team picked up a point but was disappointed with the overall display.

"We were very lucky to get out of jail. I'm not happy about the result and the boys really dropped their game today," he said. "The team lost their shape and we played quite poorly. I don't know what happened-I think we maybe took things for granted.

"We didn't penetrate their backline enough and surprisingly we lacked our usual quality up front.

"I want to move forward from this result, and the boys should just be happy to snatch that point. That could really help us come crunch time in the league."

Ngongotaha took the lead when midfielder Ferguson beat three players outside the box and chipped the ball into the top corner after 25 minutes. The away side then thought they had wrapped up the points two minutes after the restart when Barker pounced from close range.

However, two minutes later Waikato Unicol AFC put themselves back into the game when talisman Ewart hit a screamer from 23m. And Ngongotaha then conceded two penalties in six minutes-with rightback Jacob Davis committing both fouls.

But in the 90th minute Ngongotaha caused havoc in the opposition's penalty box and Simiona headed in from six yards out.

"They were two silly fouls in the box which didn't need to happen. Their striker was going nowhere. I think Davis just froze for a moment there which can happen," Davis said.

"We'll be working on our shape and structure this week and just put this performance in the past."

Meanwhile, Rotorua United's game against Old Blues also finished in a draw 2-all, with Tawhiao Morrison and Ian Wilton both finding the net for United in the first half.

- RESULTS:

WaiBOP Premiership
Waikato Unicol AFC 3Ngongotaha 3
Old Blues Prem 2 Rotorua United 2
SGS Papamoa 1 Otumoetai FC First Credit Union 2
Melville United 5TaurangaBoys' College 1
Cambridge FC 1Matamata Swifts 2
TaurangaCity United 0 Katikati FC Ambria 4

WaiBOP Championship
Waikato Unicol AFC Reserves 0 Ngongotaha Reserves 0
Cambridge FC Reserves 2 Matamata Reserves 1
Old Blues Reserves 0 Hamilton Wanderers 3
Taupo AFC 2 Tokoroa AFC 2
Whakatane Town 0 Te Awamutu Edmond Judd 4
West Hamilton United 11 Otumoetai FC Reserves 1