Despite the advantage of an extra player for much of the match the Wanaka premier football team lost to Green Island 5-3 on Saturday at the Wanaka Recreation Centre.

Playing in very wet conditions, Wanaka made a lethargic start to the match and found themselves down 2-0 after just 10 minutes.

A phenomenal strike by Wanaka’s Ethan Arratia gave Wanaka their first goal and provided a glimmer of hope for the home side midway through the half.

As conditions worsened the physicality increased with big tackles from both sides. A late collision on Wanaka’s Thomas Tinka resulted in a red card to Green Island reducing them to 10 men late in the first half.

Any thoughts Wanaka had of capitalising on their one man advantage were quickly dashed when Green Island added a third goal after their forwards broke from halfway. Green Island led 3-1 at the half time break.

The second half began evenly as the rain continued to pour down and despite being a man down Green Island continued to push forward. Playing high was the cause for Green Island’s fourth goal when a shot from 10 yards in the Wanaka half flew over the Wanaka keeper.

Wanaka continued to press, when a cut back ball found Brandon Dickson to tap home, 4-2.

Pushing for goals and trying to get a result led to Wanaka being caught on the break, and Paul Hodgson was penalised for bringing down a Green Island player in the box. The penalty was converted for Green Island to lead 5-2.

Wanaka showed great fight and never gave up. Some superb one touch football through the middle gave Tinka room to smash home to make it 5-3. Wanaka had some late chances but the Green Island goalkeeper was up to the task, preventing a fairy tale comeback for the home side. 

The loss means Wanaka slips back to 7th position in the eight team Southern Premiership competition. Wanaka will have to win their last three matches of the competition and hope that other results do their way if they are to have any chance of making the top three and gaining promotion to the South Island League (the top three sides from the Southern Premier League will play in the South Island League). The remaining five teams from the Southern Premier League will play each other once in the Southern Championship.

This Saturday (June 12) Wanaka will travel to Queenstown to play Queenstown AFC with both sides desperate for victory.

Round scores:

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