12 April 2025
- Tahuna FC Office
- Apr 14
- 7 min read
Division 1: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 1st XI Division 2: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 2nd XI
Division 3: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 3rd XI Division 4:
Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Breakers Masters Football: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Masters
1st XI 1-1 Richmond FC
Location: Jubilee S1
Goals: Seth Watson
Match MVP: Stan
Football is back!!!
The smell of deep heat and shower beers returned as the Firsts headed out to Jubilee to check out the new changing rooms.
The boys in blue started off started off as we finished last season, scoring against Richmond. A fine cross from newbie Nick rebounded off Mr Tahuna Seth Watson's head and into the back of the net!!
The scoreline stayed that way until oranges, the boys looking strong and in control of the first half. However, the second half was Richmond's. A great defensive effort saw the home side kept away until a corner with 10 minutes left. A bit of pinball in the 18 was finished off smartly with a finish into the bottom left. Despite pushing for a winner, the game was shared, a decent way to start the campaign.
MOTM and a free pint went to debutant Stan, whose throw ins are more deadly than corners. UP UP 🤍💙
Match report by Joe Robertson.
2nd XI 3-2 Wakefield
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals: Danny Hampton, James Owen, Gary Walker
Match MVP: Gary Walker
It's been a long time coming but the 2nds were ready for a big outing with our first match of the season at home. A new look to the team this year, with a few of last years first XI taking the step up to the big leagues.
It was a strong start to the game with a well taken goal from James Owen followed by another from Danny Hampton.
Some passive play saw Wakefield get one back before the half.
The game should have been put to bed but the 2nd half saw a good fight back from Wakefield who drew level with a penalty.
Fortunately that got Tahuna fired up for the last 20mins and Gary Walker decided to take it on himself to win the game, which he did by lobbing the keeper from 30 yards out to see us home.
Good start. Hopefully more to come against Loco next week.
Match report by James Munday.
3rd XI 3-0 FC Nelson.
Location: Neale Park
Goals: Sayha x2, Diego
Match MVP:
In what was thought to be a hotly contested game between last seasons div 4 winners FC Nelson and the Tahuna 3rds could not have been more different. With a new look backline Tahuna looked the stronger of the 2 teams in the first 10mins.
Some neat interplay between Will Simpson and Sobi in the midfield began to set the tone. Binh and Dong running menacingly along the wings was causing some problems for the FC Nelson defense.
Sayha was hounding the CBs mercilessly and finally about about 20mins Sayha got his goal he deserved. Causing a mix up between the FC CB and the GK to slot it into the bottom right of the net for his first goal of the season.
Not even 3 mins later Tahuna found themselves up 2-0 when some brilliant passing between Binh, Sayha and Diego saw the latter 180 spin his marker and fire a 25 yard worldie over the keeper to open his account for the season.
Tahuna continued to soak up the pressure and kept threatening on the counter attack with Sayha again linking with Diego to score his second of the season and Tahuna's 3rd with 10mins until half time.
FC Nelson threatened but the CB partnership of Kieron Crossan and Oli Creed snuffed alot of the threats out with the ref blowing for half time.
Second half stated and some switching around from Tahuna saw Ralph Augusto and Eric Louis joining the fray at the expense of Giambi and Diego.
Again FC Nelson came forward but again Tahuna looked strong across the park not giving them an inch.
A couple of offside goals from Sayha meant the score stayed very much 3-0 for the second half.
The final whistle came and Tahuna came away with a well deserved 3 points. No cards from either team such was the gentlemanly game played between the 2.
A big shout out to the backline of Tom Dunn, Kieron, Oli, Giambi, Eric and Bernie for dominating at the back and keeping the cleansheet!!! Match report by Stuart Mountain.
4th XI 6-2 Richmond Brockies
Location: Tahunaui S2
Goals: Jonny Corry x3, Luke Rowbotham x2, Kyle Borlase
Match MVP: Jonny Corry
Here we go, back at it for 2025 and only 10 of us available for the opening game 😀. Thankfully we were able to borrow a few lads from the thirds which meant we would have sub to rotate in and out as needed. The game got underway and to our surprise, Richmond took the lead in the first 5 mins with a long range shot that caught Jamie off his line.
We kept our heads up and fought back to find an equalizer and in the 30th minute we got one through a well-placed shot from Jonny to the cheers of the home supporters (all 5 of them). 10 minutes later we were awarded a penalty which Jonny calmly put into the back of the net. Minutes later we won the ball in the opposition half and a few quick passes put Jonny through on goal and secured his hattrick, only 12 minutes between first and third goals.
To top off the first half not a minute later Luke got on the scoresheet with a shot from distance after finding himself in space and with time. Showing us how it's done eh coach?
The second half was relatively uneventful with both teams having their share of possession and chances. Luke had a shot hit the crossbar and appear to cross the line as it bounced down but the linesman wasn't in the right spot to see it so the ref couldn't award the goal. Their GK admitted after the game that the ball had indeed crossed the line. With 10 minutes to go, Richmond once again spotted Jamie off his line and much the same as their first goal managed to put the ball over him and get their second of the afternoon.
Immediate retaliation resulted in Keris putting Fraser through on goal, who drew in the keeper and cut the ball back to give Kyle a tap in and restoring our 3-goal buffer.
We scored again in the dying minutes of the game with what should have been a hattrick for Luke, but I guess he will just have to settle for a brace this time 😀.
A great start to the season highlighted by a first half hattrick from Jonny C and a successful defense of the 4Th div Challenge Cup. Big thanks to Matt & Fraser from the 3rds for helping us out and a well-deserved MOTM for Jonny for his 12-minute hattrick.
Match report by Zach.
TFC Breakers 9-0 Wakefield Ladies
Location: Tahunanui S2
Goals: Emily x2, Sophie x2, Ruby x2, Liv x2, Janelle
Match MVP: Janelle
Tāhuna Beakers put on a dominant display at home, with a 9–0 win over Wakefield Women’s in what was Wakefield’s very first match in the women’s competition.
Despite the historic occasion for the visitors, Tāhuna showed true form on the pitch, controlling the game from start to finish. The goals came in waves, with Ruby, Sophie, Liv, and birthday girl EJ each bagging 2 goals each. Janelle added a well-earned goal of her own to round off a complete team performance, earning her the MVP for the match.
EJ’s birthday became one to remember as she celebrated in style with two clinical finishes, while Ruby, Liv, and Sophie all proved too much for the Wakefield defence to handle. Janelle’s contribution capped off a near-flawless attacking effort from Tāhuna.
The score line did not represent the completeness of the newly formed Wakefield Women’s side, they showed resilience and spirit throughout and showed connection and confidence in the second half to test Tāhuna. The experience will no doubt serve as a foundation for Wakefield to build on in the matches to come.
Tāhuna, meanwhile, made a strong statement, combining sharp attacking play with solid defence to keep a clean sheet and start the campaign in emphatic fashion.
Match report by Cris Phelan.
TFC Masters 2-4 Wakefield Masters
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals: Kevin Cooper, Garry Clarke
Match MVP: Garry Clarke
The masters took to the field with optimism and confidence for a good result.
The first half saw Tahuna dominate possession and create numerous great chances but the opener wouldn't come. Wakefield were dangerous on the break and the opener came from one such break.
There was a bit of controversy over the non-award of a foul on the keeper in the build up but there was no questioning the foul in the box that was given for a penalty to Wakefield. Ollie kept the penalty out but unfortunately the ball landed straight back to the Wakefield striker who put it away to make it 1-0 Wakefield.
Tahuna were also awarded a penalty but the finishing jinx continued as the keeper got a hand to the penalty and touched it onto the bar and out.
Tahuna kept the pressure on and squandered numerous more chances before being awarded yet another penalty on the stroke of half time. This time the ball nestled in the net with the last kick of the half and Tahuna headed off to regroup relieved to be back on level terms.
The second half continued as the first ended with relentless pressure on the Wakefield defence. Numerous crosses were fired in but no takers until Garry Clarke leapt salmon like to thunder a header home from a corner. 2-1 Tahuna and looking like the flood gates might open. Wakefield weren't interested in playing to the script however and took advantage of an errant clearance that landed on their strikers foot with a clear route to goal and he made no mistake putting it away to level the game. Tahuna were rattled and minutes later a Wakefield corner saw some wrestling on the 6 yard box resulting in the 4th penalty of the day. Again Wakefield were clinical dispatching the penalty to go 3-2 up.
Tahuna huffed and puffed and created a few more chances but still couldn't find the ruthless finish to get back in the game. Another Wakefield corner resulted in the ball in the back of the Tahuna net to effectively finish the game. Still more chances were created for Tahuna but the story didn't change as many shots went into orbit or nestled nicely in midriff of the Wakefield keeper and so it ended with a defeat in the first game of the season for the masters.
Plenty of positives to take from the game with some great wing play and deliveries into the box but also plenty to work on finishing chances and keeping it out at the other end. One game won't define our season, we're still optimistic.
Match Report by Kevin Cooper.
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