Taranaki floodgates open wide

ANDY JACKSON

Taranaki's Jeremy Hill gets above Mirimar's Dominic Rowe in the match at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

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There's no hiding from this one, it was a thrashing.

Whatever way you look at it, Team Taranaki's 6-1 loss to Miramar Rangers in a Central League football match at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park yesterday was embarrassing.

And what makes the loss even more galling was the fact the home side were up 1-0 at halftime, having played well.

But things unravelled alarmingly in the second half, with Energyworks Team Taranaki's defence leaking worse than a sieve.

"Capitulation, not helped by significant injuries to three players," said Taranaki coach Ian McGrath afterwards – Jared McElhannan, Greg Clark and Thomas Mosquera all left the field in the second half.

"The injuries didn't help, but the biggest problem in the second half was fuelling them with enthusiasm by gifting them the ball. You can't do that to top teams, they'll punish you."

McGrath said the loss was both frustrating and embarrassing.

"We're better than that. But you can't hide from the fact that we've had two heavy defeats [5-1 last week to Wairarapa United] and today. The guys are hurting."

Team Taranaki's first-half effort was good.

They tested the Miramar defence early with Brad Hickling denied by a good save from Phil Imray. Graham Oliver saved Taranaki at the other end midway through the half.

McElhannan saved the home side shortly after when he flicked the ball away and then it was Mosquera who opened the scoring in strange fashion.

The young striker found himself in the clear just outside the box and turned with three defenders and the keeper to beat. No-one moved and Mosquera fired the ball low and hard, with the Miramar players all pointing the finger at one another.

To the break they went with the home fans pinching themselves in the sunny conditions to make sure they weren't day dreaming.

Miramar came out firing after the break. Three shots were blocked by Oliver, before John Sutherland equalised for Miramar, with his shot hitting the post and going into the back of the net.

It rocked Taranaki and the home side sat back watching wave after wave of attack. With Miramar dictating play, it didn't take long for the second goal with David Johnston scoring.

There was a hint of offside to the third goal, by Dominic Rowe, but there was no doubt about the fourth – headed home by defender Campbell Parkin after a corner kick.

The fifth came from the penalty spot after Nathan Hill brought down Rowe, with Michael Eager stepping up and knocking the ball past Oliver.

The sixth goal came just a minute before the final whistle mercifully sounded, with Sam Jenkins heading home the ball after a well-placed cross. It was all too simple.

- © Fairfax NZ News