Mon, Jul 5, 2021 2:50 PM

Goals aplenty as Knockout Cup begins

news-card
avatar-news-card

Peter Jones

The focus was firmly on Knockout Cup matches at Marlborough football headquarters on Saturday.

Four first round matches were played, with the favoured teams moving through to the second round, which will be played next week.

It was relatively plain sailing for Call Care Hotspurs who accounted for Central Privateers 4-1. First half goals from Aaron Henderson and Connor Baker saw Hotspurs take a 2-0 lead into the break and, although Privateers pulled it back to 2-1 midway through the second spell, goals to Dillan Huxtable and Troy Wilson later in the match got the job done.

The closest match of the day was between division two side Call Care Spartans and first division opponents BV Masters, won 4-3 by Masters.

For parts of this match a major upset was on the cards.

Blenheim Valley scored in the first few minutes, but Spartans fought back to gain parity in midfield. Steve McGinnity’s first goal, after a Masters’ defensive blunder, saw them draw level, then go ahead late in the first half, McGinnity bagging his second after a free kick was deflected into his path.

In the second half, a Spartans’ own goal and a penalty saw Masters reclaim the lead, before Spartans again equalised, Ben Cameron scoring to make it 3-3.

The match’s decisive strike came late in proceedings, Masters slotting the winner the from outside the box to take the honours and avoid extra time.

Defending champs Central Wolves got their 2021 campaign off to a solid start, shading Rangers Clubs of Marlborough 5-1.

The fourth match was claimed by Call Care Trojans, who were defaulted to by Rangers Masters.

Next week Wolves meet Rangers Development, Masters take on Picton, Trojans play Central Buccaneers and Hotspurs tackle Redwood.

Rangers AFC win

Meanwhile, Rangers AFC maintained their place at the top of the Nelson division one standings with a 4-0 win over Golden Bay Mountain Goats in Richmond on Saturday.

On an uneven pitch Rangers dominated but had only a Bjorn Waechter goal to show for their efforts at half time.

With Golden Bay becoming more and more physical in the tackle it took time for Rangers to add to their total. The arrival of striker Adam Rose brought a change of fortune. The lanky striker won a penalty that skipper Tore Waechter converted, then scored the third with a clinical finish. A late goal to Jono Masters completed the scoring.

Best on show for Rangers were Bjorn Waechter, Harrison Pine, Ryan Palmer, Kane Elvy and stand-in keeper Morgan Brewer.

Rangers hold a tenuous three-point lead at the top of the standings, FC Nelson and Richmond, who both won on Saturday, hot on their heels.

Women’s side BV Bullets, who travelled to Saxton Field with the bare 11 players, went down 6-1.

The first half ended 0-0, a fair indication of the even nature of the contest, but BV’s lack of fresh legs in the second spell told on the scoreboard.

Four goals in the first part of the second spell set the home side on their way, before Lauren Sloan pulled one back for the visitors.

Two late goals inflated the scoreline, but took nothing away from the hard work the under-staffed Bullets had put in.

Left back Maddy Rowe was BV’s player of the day.

Marlborough App Logo
Marlborough App
About
Contact
Marlborough App is owned by Top South Media. a locally owned media company.