Soccer: United romp to 8 goal victory

It was Sahara Rush's sixth birthday on Saturday, but it was her dad Neil's team, Rotorua United, who took the cake with an 8-1 win over Old Blues in the WaiBop Federation League.

After eight games without a win there was a feeling of disbelief rather than relief among the United supporters as they savoured their first victory of the season.

Playing into a stiff breeze United started tentatively, but to the relief of the home supporters Hara Smith scored in the 20th minute. The goal gave the beleaguered United supporters some hope, and when Josh O'Sullivan scored 15 minutes later they had a two-goal lead for the first time this season.

Just five minutes into the second half Old Blues pulled one back. They hit the bar and Hayden Fowke latched on to to the rebound and lashed it past keeper Andrew Gibbs. But United were not about to throw in the towel and a great strike from Bryce McKillop restored their two-goal margin.

Goals to Lawrie Scott and Gary Hamilton-Irvine made it 5-1 and then O'Sullivan scored his second.

The home team were now playing with confidence and goals to Hamilton-Irvine and Niki Te Miha completed the rout.

In the home dressing room it was all smiles and backslaps as the players enjoyed the moment.

"It has been a tough season but the boys have never lost belief," Neil Rush said as he opened a celebratory bottle of fizz. "We have worked hard with no reward until today, so we will soak it up. What a way to break our winless run."

While United had no trouble finding the net, Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis was lamenting his team's inability to hit the target.

Melville United took the lead midway through the first half after a defensive blunder by the Villagers and hung on to win 1-0.

Taupo, after a substandard performance against Tauranga Boys' College at Crown Park last week, were back to their best in the return game on a substandard Southey Park pitch.

Alan Lamb gave Taupo the lead and Paul Stewart made it 2-0 before stand-in keeper Mark Lightfoot lost the ball in the sun and Tauranga Boys' made it 2-1 at the break.

The second half was one-way traffic and goals to Ben Thessman, Ben Westerman and Dave Stewart underlined Taupo's dominance in a 5-1 win.

It was scoreless at Fergusson Park between Otumoetai and Whakatane Town at halftime, but Whakatane were down to 10 men after having a player red-carded.

Matt Collins gave the home side the lead 15 minutes into the second spell but Whakatane dug deep and although they finished the game with nine men, it was a late goal from Joel Hollinshead that gave Otumoetai a 2-0 win.

In other games, Claudelands Rovers were untroubled to beat AFC Fury 4-1, while Otorohanga pushed Waikato Unicol all the way before losing 3-2.

In Division two, Katikati surprised leaders Tauranga City with a 1-0 win, while it was a narrow 3-2 win for Clube Alegria against lowly West Hamilton.

Cambridge loom as potential champions after beating Tokoroa 4-1, while Te Awamutu beat bottom-of-the-table Matamata 3-1.