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Graeme Cooper/Community Sport12:19, Jun 04 2021
Emilio Garcia
The long weekend will see plenty of football action. (file photo)
It’s a busy weekend for Taranaki clubs as league matches continue on Saturday and cup games on Monday. The quarterfinals of the Central Federation Cup take place on Queen’s Birthday Monday, with four of the eight teams being local sides. Peggy Gordon’s New Plymouth Rangers host Hokowhitu at Merrilands Domain. The Palmerston North club sit mid-table in the Horizon Premiership, the equivalent of the Taranaki Premier League. Coach Andy Hamilton’s only doubt to play is Gregor Forrest who continues to be troubled with an ankle injury. Reuben Warburton returns to the squad after a couple of weeks on the sidelines.
Central Federation League New Plymouth Rangers travelled to Memorial Park, Palmerston North, to play league leaders PN Marist on Sunday. Rangers could not quite reach the same level of performance as last week, losing 4-1. Again Rangers did not start so well with early pressure on their goal. But for some outstanding defensive work by Lizzie Ingham, Jess Browne and goalkeeper Sophie Campbell, the 2-0 half-time score line to Marist could have been worse. Two quick goals from Hannah Buzan and Kirsty Gledhill gave the Palmerston side their lead just after the half-hour mark. The second half saw Rangers begin to lift their own intensity and get in the ball more.
Central Federation League Despite some treacherous conditions, early exchanges were even, with both teams getting chances. Rangers finally broke through when player of the day Saskia Pelham split the defence to lay it on for Lilly Dowsing, who calmly lifted the ball over the keeper to make it 1-0. Shortly after, it was 2-0 when Holly Kleinsman got behind the Whanganui defence and calmly slotted in her eighth goal of the campaign. Wanganui kept pressing forward and were rewarded before half time with two well-taken goals through Jordan Kahl and Vanya Hodgkinson. At 2-2 at halftime NPR needed a similar start to the first half.