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2006 Nomads Men's Premier Team

Nomads United 1 Christchurch Technical 0    9/09/06 at English Park

 Now don't get me Wrong, this was a sweet victory for Nomads,but I also felt that this game was a triumph for Mainland Soccer too. They organized an event that was truly memorable for all those who attended regardless of who you supported.A programme and Raffle, TV coverage and excellent trophy presentation lifted this game to the Grand Final prestige that it deserved, after years of virtual neglect.

How extraordinary also that a Club of our Stature and History had not won this trophy for 43 long years! (Boy did we Party hard!) The road to the Final meant defeating CBHS (7-0) Rangers( 4-1)and Ch-Ch United (4-0).Cold grey skies did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the around 500 crowd on Final day. This game was well publicized in the media and if it been sunny, I think the crowd would even have been bigger.

 Nomads began the game in determined mood, with Jean Claude missing an open goal opportunity,seeing his shot hit the side netting. Two minutes later JC had a shot well saved. A mid field battle ensued after this with both teams testing each other.Jordan Buchanan pulled off the first of a string of great saves keeping Tom Cairns from scoring at point blank range. Blair Duncan saw his shot blocked on the line by a Tech defender.It was real end to end play.The Blues applied more pressure, but the Tech defense held firm.Joe Murray started on a good run,but had his 10 yard shot well saved.Tech won a debatable free kick just outside our area. But fortunately the ball went over our 'wall' and over the crossbar.

Joe Murray had Blues Supporters celebrating in the second half, but his goal was ruled out apparently for shirt pulling. JC was pulled down in the area by Tech Goalkeeper Jordan Ashton. Greg Feutz made no mistake with his penalty to make it (1-0). Blair Duncan's curling shot was saved, a couple of minutes later.A foul on a Tech player saw the referee point to the spot, and experienced Striker Stuart Kelly stepped up to take the penalty. Jordan makes the save of the season to keep the ball out.Dave Tregenza, Glen Squire, and Joe Murray all go close in the final stages as Nomads hold out for a memorable win.

Even Tech Fans muttered that we deserved the win.(Which is saying something!)

 All this meant that the Awards Ceremony that evening 'roared' long into the night.

 See you on the side line(next season) Ron Griffiths

Nomads United 10 Christchurch United 0 26/08/06 (Played at Nunweek Park )

 If we attended Ch-Ch United’s ‘funeral’, when Nomads relegated them earlier in the season with a 2-1win, then this was 10 nails in their ‘coffin’. And in attending Football matches over 27 years, this is the biggest score line I have ever witnessed! A few weeks ago the Ch-Ch United Chairman in the Press said that he was confident that United would bounce back. Well here is some news for him, if they play like this next season, they have not got a snowballs chance in Hell of achieving this. I watched a Papanui/Redwood game a few weeks ago and they would have played United off the park today, and that is saying something!

It was one way traffic for almost the entire 90 minutes. Joe Murray crossed to Greg Feutze for a simple tap in to open the scoring (1-0).A good cross from Blair Duncan to Jean Claude who thumped the ball home to make it (2-0). Feutzy scored but it was disallowed .J C tapped home another goal from a Feutzy cross to make it (3-0). Andy Pitman crashed a shot against the underside of the cross bar, which bounced on the goal line and was cleared. ( England won the World Cup in 66 with such an effort and it was given!) Blair Duncan passed a great 20 yard ball to Feutzy who buried it to make it (4-0) J C’s goal effort was ruled offside as Nomads dominated possession . A cracking Feutzy volley gave the keeper no chance to made it (5-0) A long range JC shot flew in from the underside of the crossbar to make it (6-0) at half time!

In the 2^nd Half Feutzy had a goal disallowed. Dave Tragenza scored with a header (for him a collectors item!) to make it (7-0). Ch-Ch United saw one of their players headers go wide, and a free kick from out side the box go high and wide. This amounted to their only threats of the game. Feutzy scored a lovely goal 30 yards into the top left hand side of the net (8-0). Joe Murray scored from close range to make it (9-0). And Feutzy did the same again to make it (10-0). (Who wins the ‘Golden Boot’ Award today)

 This season will be remembered for what might have been. Too many games where drawn this season and we lost ground to Bays at crucial times, which cost us dear. However, we have won the Macfarlane Cup for going further in the Chatham Cup than any other Club. And Andy Pitman and Joe Murray have been selected for Canterbury United. (Greg Feutze can count him self unlucky).

If we can keep this team together for next season hopefully we can go one further and win the league. If we win the English Cup this year we may just get ‘the last laugh’ on Bays. (Heres’hopeing)

 See you on the Side Line  Ron Griffiths

Rangers 1 Nomads United 1  for the 12/08/06

Rangers are a team that an in form club always feel that they should beat comfortably, given Rangers lowly position in the league. But Rangers are also a team who can occasionally pull off a shock result, as Bays found out a couple of weeks ago when Rangers beat them 2-1. Such was the case with Today’s game.

What also strikes a visitor to Eric Adam Park these days, is how far Rangers have declined as a Club. Nobody welcomes you at the gate any more. And the once vibrant club rooms stand empty and locked. I foresee bulldozers and new houses moving in within a few years. There were far more away supporters than home ones today as some Bays fans also joined our ranks. They cheered our draw like a Bays win at the end of the game!

The Blues really threw the points away today as it was all one way traffic for the first 30 minutes. Greg Fuetz crossed to Glen Squire who should have scored from close range but scuffed his shot. A 30 yard Glen Squire shot went just over the bar. Craig’s second attempt hit the post and flew into the Rangers keeper’s arms! Jean Claude got clean through but was bundled off the ball at the last moment by the keeper. Then DISASTER.A mix up between Jordan Buchannon and a Nomads defender let the ball trickle off Paul Frame and Rangers went ahead (1-0)

In the Second Half, Jean Claude’s long range effort went just wide. The game became a real midfield battle as Rangers played themselves into the contest. Dave Tregenza put in a hard but not ‘dirty’ tackle on a Rangers player and was sent off.DT always plays pretty fairly, he must have been as shocked as we were incensed with the desition.Luke Petrie hit a great shot against the side netting. Frustration was beginning to creep in to the game at this point. Jean Claude missed again from point blank range. Then Feutzy crashed in a header to make it (1-1) Jordan made a great save from a Hugh Frame shot late on. Despite “huff and Puff” the game remained dead locked until the final whistle.

See you on the side line.

Ron Griffiths

Nomads United 3 Western 2       12/08/06

 After two forgettable drawn games between Tech 1-1 and Avon 0-0 respectively, two memorable games were played and witnessed. At QE2 stadium the Blues ran out 2-1 winners, condemning Ch-ch United to the MPL qualifying league. How the once mighty have fallen! Bully was congratulated on leading his side to a title win, and Bays lost to Rangers so Nomads close the gap at the top of the table. Quite an afternoon!

Nunweek Park was the venue for the Western game. With Papanui/Redwood and Burnside playing in the league below us, Western become our most local rival. They must be really sick of us this year, we beat them 2-1 at their place earlier this season, then we knocked them out of the Chatham Cup, and we did the business again today.

A biting cold wind defined this game, and Western played with the wind in the first half. Western’s constant pressure paid off and Matt Boyd opened the scoring for them (0-1) Blair Duncan had a good chance to equalise but blasted his 10 yard effort wide. The game became bad tempered at this point as players scrapped and swore at each other. Gareth Turnbull got clear of the Nomads defence and scored (0-2) Greg Feutz headed a good opportunity just wide.

In the second Half Feutzy struck a good penalty to make it (1-2) Nomads then went on to control the game. Joe Murray hit a long range effort just wide. Craig Squire ‘Skyed’ a shot when clean through. Jean Claude brought a full length save from the Western Keeper. Then came the ‘Joe Murray Show’. His ‘tap in’ made it (2-2) followed by a great long range shot which crept in off the Post. Joe was sent off towards a frantic end to the game, but the damage was done and the Blues won a well earned 3 points.

The wind got a bit colder however when we learned that Bays had won there game however.

Well done to all the supporters who made the effort to cheer on the Blues today considering the Weather. (My wife thinks I’m mad!)

See you on the Side line. Ron Griffiths

New Brighton 0 Nomads 2     22/07/06  

The game had been switched to South Brighton Domain, at the last minute? I still went to Bexley as nothing was written on Mainlands website! Any way, at this stage of the season we have already( I feel) passed the’ high tide mark’ as the team have lost ground to leaders Bays and we are out of the Chatham Cup. It has however been an exciting season. We lost our first two games to Halswell and Bays respectively. Then Andy Pitman was released from Canty Utd and Greg Feutz started scoring regularly and the season came to life. Memorable wins against Halswell (away) and Bays lifted the team to second in the league; two recent draws have made the Champagne go a little flat however.

Brighton has been a ‘Bogey’ side to us recently. A ,stalemate 0 -0 draw at Bexley last season ended our title hopes then, and a surprise 1-1 draw this season was hard as Brighton scored with virtually their only goal attempt! The ground today was almost entirely circled by trees making it warm in the sun and freezing in shadow.

The first half was one way traffic for the Blues. Greg Feutz brought a full length save from the Brighton Keeper who for me was Brighton ’s man of the match. While Luke Petrie hit a curling shot around the Post.

Some girls at half time were interested in Jordan ’s new hair cut! His head must be cold!

In the second half Luke Petrie scored from close range following a corner, after sustained Nomads pressure. Gavin Jeffs and Willie Dennit defended well for Brighton . Andrew Hart kicked air with his shot on goal! Joe Murrey our debut player from Scotland played well. He unluckily ‘skyed’ a ball from two yards out when it bounced on a bumpy pitch, much groaning could be heard from Nomads Fans.

Craig Squire swung a corner in and ‘Mr reliable’ Greg Feutz tucked away our second goal, and Andy Pitman hit the post with five minutes remaining.

So a satisfying win against our bogey team, which surely relegates Brighton now. But as a Brighton life member told me during the game they cannot rest on past glories but must look to the future. Oh well that’s Football!

 See you on the side line Ron Griffiths

Nomads United vs Ferrymead Bays played Saturday24th June.

Due to the snow and rain over the last couple of weeks this home game was transferred to Nunweek Park.

What ever the form guides or tipsters may have had for this top of the table game it was shot to bits after only a few minutes.Nomads 3-0 up after 9 minutes thanks to a Greg Feutz hat trick.

Bays hit back with a dubious penalty for their first goal before getting a second just before half time from another poorly defended corner. So 3-2 at the break and it seemed to be game on. Defence must have been Keith’s instructions at the break as the work rate went up a notch and the guys threw bodies at any Bays player that got the ball in the Nomads half. The second half showed the strength of the Nomads overall team effort as they carved out scoring opportunities. A real beauty was the 4^th Nomads goal as Andy [dance with any one] Pitman powered in a header from a corner. Greg sealed the points with his 4^th and the teams 5^th goal. Well done lads, I don’t think we’ll hear Keith moaning about playing on a postage stamp size pitch like we did before Saturday. How are the EARS Kate, ha ha ha.

I’m sure Keith, Kevin and Jeff will have the team working harder than ever in the next couple of weeks. While it was a great win, the focus has to be maintained for the full 90 minutes of every game week on week.

Know what you want, Go and get it.  

Alan Batty 25-6-06

What great news for the Nomads Premier Men's Team we are the 2003 Winners of the Mainland League. Well Done

For further information please send an email to info@nomadsafc.org.nz