Reserves hang on for epic win

Athletic Reserves goal scorer Takudwza Hove duels with the North End defence in the victory at Wembley Park on Saturday.

Jubilant scenes hit Wembley Park's main ground as the Wanganui Athletic Reserves managed to claim their first victory in eleven weeks over North End in the Western Premiership on Saturday.

Meanwhile the local Charity Cup matches saw results which prime the competition for a tight final Saturday of football next weekend.

It was a well-earned result for the Reserves - reward for weeks of determination and persistence, as they battled hard against the visiting North End to claim a 2-1 victory at the final whistle.

The Reserves had their ranks bolstered with first team experience in the form of Scott Burney, Symon King, and Ryan Holden, which provided a strong squad spine going into the fixture, and the effect of their experience was quickly apparent.

As North End pressed hard against the home side where the cracks would normally have appeared, they found Newton's third law in action - having the same amount of pressure applied right back upon them by the Reserves.

While North End did manage to find the back of the net to get on the scorecard, the Reserves were awarded what appeared to be a soft decision inside the visitor's goal box, gifting them the penalty chance to draw level.

While the expectation was for the more senior Burney or Holden to step up and convert, it was Takudwza Hove who showed enough confidence to come forward and take the ball and backing himself, ultimately rightly, to slot the penalty.

It was not long before Holden placed his influence upon the game, and brought the match in favour of the Reserves by beating the North End keeper with ease with a well-placed shot, which was the result of a successful string of team movements showing the strides the development squad has made since earlier matches.

As the game drew closer to the final whistle, North End turned the screws on the home side, applying more and more pressure as they looked to at least deny the Reserves the full complement of competition points.

But the Reserves were up to the task of denying them their opportunities, although as time wore on the defence became more and more desperate.

With the final whistle sounding, arms were raised in jubilation by the Reserves, with many of the supporters bursting into cheers and applause having just witnessed what they've all hoped to see all season from Athletic's young development side.

The result will do great things for the Reserves as they prepare for their next match, with many of the players likely to be involved with secondary school tournament week duties, and should give them the morale boot they need for the coming weekend.

On the grounds around the No1 field at Wembley, many friendlies were being played as other teams waited for the completion of the Group A fixtures in the Charity Cup competition.

Three teams had their sights set on the top spot coming into the weekend, but only one could emerge holding it, and the clashes which ensued in their quest did not disappoint.
Athletic Cosmos hosted the Rivercity Chiefs, and proved to be too strong for the fledgling club's efforts, registering a 7-0 win in the process.

The Marist Derby between the Celtic and Bhoys promised to be a hard fought match, with the Bhoys going into the weekend with an unbeaten record and a tentative grip on first place.

However it was Celtic who proved to be the stronger of the two squads and recorded a 6-0 victory to temporarily give them the top spot.

The celebrations were short lived as the City Hammers picked apart a defiant Castlecliff United side, earning themselves a 7-0 win, and claimed the all valuable goal difference required to sit atop of the table.

The results now set up a tantalising battle next weekend as each of the Hammers, Celtic, and Bhoys look to claim the top spot in the group and earn the right to play one of Athletic's travelling teams for a cup final berth, or be content with battling to claim a place in the Charity Plate in the upcoming finals.