Round 2 Tairawhiti Division 2 Competition

On the 12th of April 2025 QRS Wairoa Athletic Football Team hosted Ngatapa Silkies in their first home game of the year at Bayleys Athletic Park.
Athletic having come off a narrow defeat in round 1 facing  a confident Ngatapa Silkies team coming off a narrow win, Athletic wanting to turn things around were put under pressure early as the Silkes started off strong creating chances early on but Athletics Backline held strong and absorbed the pressure. Ngatapa were relentless with there high press defence forcing Athletic to often clear the ball out of danger. Athletic managed to gain the upper hand by  turning defence into attack by working together and caught Ngatapa off guard by Josh Cowan putting a brilliant through ball to Midfeild partner Tom Rowley-Westwood who had all the time in the world to slott it past the keeper Athletic 1 - 0 the half closed out with a further arm wrestle battle. Athletic holding on to their 1 - 0 Lead.
The second half began with Ngatapa having more hunger and more intensity to get themselves back into the game but returning centrebacks pairing of club legends Mike Hardie and Jason Smith reuniting in the backline for the first time in 3 years kept Athletic in the lead and Ngatapa asking questions of themselves of how to get past them. Athletic kept building strong play with their youth players having outstanding performances from K.C Morrell, Raihania Edwards-Hammond and making his Debut for the Athletic Football team Pablo Molina keeping Ngatapa on the back foot, which opened up chances for Josh Cowan to take his shot beautifully past the keeper Athletic 2-0 the battle continued but Athletic kept momentum by Raihania making a strong effort at a cross which made it hard for Ngatapas keeper slipping up and dropping into his own net Athletic 3-0, Ngatapa held strong and continued to throw everything they had but to no prevail, Athletic holding on to a strong first home game Victory 3-0 over Ngatapa Silkies.

Athletic have lots of positives going forward with standout performances from Mike Hardie, Jason Smith, Raymond Hawley, KC Morrell, Pablo Molina and Raihania Edwards-Hammond. Next weekend 19th of April Athletic travel up to Wainui to take on Neighborhood Pizzeria Wainui Salty Dogs and hope to continue with a strong performance on the road. 

This weekends Player of the Day goes to Raihania Edwards-Hammond another standout performance from the young lad.

Goals:
Tom Rowley-Westwood
Josh Cowan
OG Ngatapa Keeper

Big Thanks to all our Club Sponsors we appreciate them for all the help.