Our trip to Bluewater Stadium proved fruitless on the result front but worthwhile in terms of the performance. Yet again.
WaiBOP United Head Coach, Peter Smith, was philosophical after the match. “With the injuries to Aaron [Scott] and Masa [Masaki Nomoto], we had a pretty young and inexperienced side out on Saturday and maybe that led to our inconsistent start,” said Smith after the match. “We were a bit soft early on and Hawke’s Bay scored some pretty good goals, but we came back into the match as it neared half time then we all but won it in the second half.”
Smith could have been left cursing the performance of Hawke’s Bay’s keeper Richard Gillespie, who pulled off three fine saves in the second half, but he preferred to focus on what his team could control. “We had the chances to win the game and we didn’t take them,” he explained. “As good as our comeback was, the fact we didn’t score was up to us. I guess we’ll look back on the match as another case of what might have been.”
Competing well but coming up short is becoming something of a recurring theme for the team this season. “Of course, that’s pretty frustrating for all of us but it’s something we have to work through,” said Smith. “There’s nothing I want more than to get out there on a Saturday and pick up the three points. But we’re not, so all we can do is get stuck into it at training this week and come back stronger next weekend.”
Click here for the match report, including photos and movie.
WaiBOP United plays three of their last four games at home. We play Wanderers SC at Links Ave this coming Saturday with kick-off set for 2pm. The youth team plays Auckland United in the curtain raiser (11am kick-off).
