Great comebacks by Wainui footballers

By Ryan Imray

Both the Wainuiomata premier team and the reserves made great comebacks to claim points in the latest round of the Capital Football competition on 8 April.

Both teams were slow off the mark and trailed at half time in the double header at Richard Prouse Park.

The Wainuiomata premiers, playing in the Capital Premier division , defeated Lower Hutt 2-1.

The game was evenly poised in the opening half but it was the visitors who took the lead three minutes before half time as Wainuiomata’s keeper Adam Trott was unable to get down quickly enough to prevent the low effort on goal from hitting the back of the net. The second half began with Wainui pressing for the equaliser but Lower Hutt seemed to have an answer for everything thrown at them.

Heading into the final 10 minutes of the game coach Mark Foster made some changes as they went in search of the equaliser.

Cheered on by the vocal Wainuiomata faithful behind the goal, Isaac Harper stepped up with a contender for goal of the season in the 88th minute.

A Baxter King corner was cleared by the Lower Hutt defence and from 25 yards out on the volley, Isaac hit the ball into the top corner past a Lower Hutt keeper who didn’t stand a chance.

In the 93rd minute a goal mouth scramble saw the ball trickle past everyone and over the line to seal a memorable comeback as Wainuiomata walked away 2-1 winners.

Curt Trotman got the Wainuiomata reserves – playing in the Capital 4 division – off to a great start when he found the back of the net in just the 4th minute of the game.

Island Bay responded in magnificent style as they scored four goals to give them a 4-1 lead at half time. Wainui came out the second half inspired by whatever coach Gregg Watson said at half time.

Under 17’s player Nikesh Goundar – in his first season playing senior football –scored two goals in the 50th and 55th minutes to reduce the deficit to just 1.

The home side had their tails up and it was only five minutes later when the scores were level as Rowan Whitfield beat the keeper