Thu, Sep 22, 2022 7:00 AM
Season ends on a high
ŌTOROHANGA Football Club’s Bailey Ingham team came out top of the second division on Saturday after a tough season. PHOTO ALASDAIR LAWS
Staff Reporter
THE Bailey Ingham Ōtorohanga football team has brought home the Waikato plate with a two-nil win over Cambridge in the final at the weekend.
The team was keen to end their season on a high after being hit hard by Covid sickness and injuries at key times.
The second division Ōtorohanga team wasn’t taking anything for granted in their match against Cambridge’s division three team and played with intent, passion, and their trademark teamwork.
Like many games during the season, Ōtorohanga Football Club started strong and put pressure on their opponents from the opening whistle.
Players camped in Cambridge territory for most of the first half and ŌFC steadily built pressure from continuous attacks and set pieces.
From a corner in the eighth minute, ever-present Michael Jones powered in a header straight past the keeper to give ŌFC the lead.
A second goal to ŌFC was disallowed due to being offside and one was cleared off the line in a last-ditch effort to protect the Cambridge goal.ŌFC were able to deal with any attack their opponents threw at them and took a slender one-nil lead into the break.
In the second half, ŌFC had a small spell of having to soak up some continuous pressure from Cambridge, but the game was sealed when Nathaniel Wrack broke away in the 62nd minute, outsprinting the last defender before coolly rounding the out-charging goalkeeper before placing his shot into the bottom corner.
From there on ŌFC kept hold of the ball and made their opposition chase, but they were unable to break the team town and didn’t help themselves when they were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes to go.
They rounded out the season with a two-nil win to take home the plate. Coach Gary Anderson said the club would like to thank all its supporters who cheered from the sideline and all the club supporters who have helped out during the season.
The team was keen to end their season on a high after being hit hard by Covid sickness and injuries at key times.
The second division Ōtorohanga team wasn’t taking anything for granted in their match against Cambridge’s division three team and played with intent, passion, and their trademark teamwork.
Like many games during the season, Ōtorohanga Football Club started strong and put pressure on their opponents from the opening whistle.
Players camped in Cambridge territory for most of the first half and ŌFC steadily built pressure from continuous attacks and set pieces.
From a corner in the eighth minute, ever-present Michael Jones powered in a header straight past the keeper to give ŌFC the lead.
A second goal to ŌFC was disallowed due to being offside and one was cleared off the line in a last-ditch effort to protect the Cambridge goal.ŌFC were able to deal with any attack their opponents threw at them and took a slender one-nil lead into the break.
In the second half, ŌFC had a small spell of having to soak up some continuous pressure from Cambridge, but the game was sealed when Nathaniel Wrack broke away in the 62nd minute, outsprinting the last defender before coolly rounding the out-charging goalkeeper before placing his shot into the bottom corner.
From there on ŌFC kept hold of the ball and made their opposition chase, but they were unable to break the team town and didn’t help themselves when they were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes to go.
They rounded out the season with a two-nil win to take home the plate. Coach Gary Anderson said the club would like to thank all its supporters who cheered from the sideline and all the club supporters who have helped out during the season.
