Another week in and another game to photograph.
This week brought round two of the NRFL Premier League and trip over the Auckland harbor bridge to Manukau Utd. This was also the first away game of the season for shore against the team that finished second in the league the previous season.
Manukau Are Expanding
On arriving at Mangere Central Park Stadium,Ā I took a seat in the stand to watch the second half of the reserves game and read the match day programme.
The programme starts of with some great news from the board announcing the two extra teams starting this season, the under seventeensā and Womenās Senior team were both beginning their seasons this weekend. Great news for both teams and the club.
First Half
The game began as the rain stopped meaning I was dressed in full waterproofs for the heat that hit us, traffic. With only twelve minutes gone shore pushed into the Manukau half and crossed the ball into the box low when Nick Quinn slotted home to get his first of the season.
The game carried on pretty evenly on both sides but for me shore looked hungrier for a second. Mid way through Denver McDonald fell in the box after crossing a ball. After some help from the Manukau physio he was substituted and Adam MacPheat stepped into the left back position.
A short while later shore let striker Sanni Issa through who calmly chipped over the approaching shore keeper Josh Dukstra to make it one all at half time.
Second Half
Both sides came out firing on all cylinders but it took until the sixty ninth minute Manukau to gain the lead when Christian Niyonsaba scored a cracker from outside the box. End to end play commenced and shore continued to drive for the equliaser and were finally rewarded for their efforts when substitute Shaydon Young pounced on the ball and drove it into the net in the eighty sixth minute from inside the box, GAME ON!
Comeback Completed?
Shore had the momentum now and Manukau looked shocked and bewildered as they tried to keep shore at bay. Only two minutes after equalizing a high ball in the box was met with Borislav Simicās head and flew past the keeper and into the net.
Surely game over?
Manukau kicked off and started to pressure the Shore defence again in an attempt to get the draw and during stoppage time they got their reward when Jeremias Perez picked up a cross in the box and fired home the equalizer. Moments later the ref blew for full time.
Still Undefeated
The result sees North Shore sit in third place with four points after the first two games in the league and the challenge of taking on the league leaders Eastern Suburbs at home next week.
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On The RoadĀ Again Another week in and another game to photograph. This week brought round two of the NRFL Premier League and trip over the Auckland harbor bridge toā¦