Martinborough WFC: First-ever home game

The all-important stats:

Result: Irrelevant, but Martinborough Women scored at least 2 good goals.

Enjoyment factor: as a spectator 10/10

Enjoyment Factor: as a player: 11/10

Effort and commitment: off the scale.

Possession: Marty 58%; the opponents in Green: at times a bit less

Shots on target: 3; goals 2.

Shots off target: 4.

Good saves: quite a few.

Martinborough Women’s soccer team have been in existence for only a few months.

Saturday 11 May in front of a near capacity crowd they played their first home game.

After a mere 3-0 loss the previous week against Carterton, spirits were high for the first homer  against a very strong Wairarapa United FC.

Before 11 May Martinborough Women’s FC had played only one game. To be in Martinborough and to be able to see footwork with the ball that even Ronaldo would be pleased with, eventually beating 3 players, was a treat. Forwards. Backwards. Nut-megging the opposition. Dinking and dunking. It was a treat that one hardly ever sees from “The Phoenix.”

Lionel Messi put in some fine and sublime ‘slide-rule’ passes into space and allowed Peter Crouch or ‘the Gazelle’ on the wing to run on to the ball.

The determination of the imported Argentine player, Maradonna, paid off with some stunning tackles and a ‘never give up’ attitude running back at speed to collect a free, but 50-50 ball.

She got it.

The play was an unselfish real team effort _ particularly evident in MWFC’s second goal. With the supreme confidence of Hannah Wilkinson, under huge pressure from the defence the ball was passed square. In the style of Ali Riley, the ball passed back and on a 10-cent piece the striker pirouetted, connecting with the ball to score a stunner. It was a goal-of-the-season contender.

The stopper between the sticks for MWFC, the next Victoria Essen, put in some fearless saves. Blocks from close range, low post skimmers, covering the back post at corners and flying through the sky with the determination of a purposeful kereru. 

This team has so much potential, it won’t be long before the first win is on the board. 

The skill level is evident. The determination is definitely present. The sense of teamwork is

obvious. A few more games, more work on the training pitch and a national holiday will

be declared in Martinborough. All coffees in Marty will be free.