A mixed bag for the Wellington Phoenix academy over the weekend.
There was late drama at Fraser Park for the men’s reserves against Waterside Karori. Daniel Makowem thought he had won the game for the Nix in the 88th minute, but Karori equalised to make it 2-2 deep into stoppage time. Luke Brooke-Smith had earlier opened the scoring.
However, the Phoenix academy sides won all three of their other games against Karori, with victories for the U18 men, U16 boys, and U15 boys.
Luqman Ibrahim, Riley Allison, Philip Azevedo, and Harrison Kowalczyk were all on the scoresheet in a 4-0 win for the U18 men.
A Finnbarr Hanrahan hattrick headlined the 8-1 triumph for the U16 boys, with Kaleb McCleod, James Law, Grayson Lunman, Dylan Tollervey, and Arlie Loughnan also netting.
But the standout result was the U15 boys, who won 16-0 in their match. There were a remarkable three hattricks, with Jack Clegg, Sam Kiore, and Cruz Pietersen all scoring three.
Shaina-nashe Marahwa and Charlie Farac also added two each, while London Ridge, Vasilios Kastrinakis, Thomas Wilkinson each got one.
In the Central League, the women’s U18s remained unbeaten, Katie Pugh sealing a 1-0 win against Miramar with her 12th goal of the season.
The women’s reserves could not match that result against the same opposition, going down 2-1 for their first defeat of the season despite Amber de Wit’s strike.
The U16 girls did defeat Miramar though, Anais Lecarpentier and Piper Rickey securing a 2-0 win.
This weekend sees the return of cup action for both reserves sides.
The men’s reserves travel to Napier City Rovers in the Delivereasy Chatham Cup, with the women also on the road against Palmerston North Marist in the Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup.
The women’s U18s host Moturoa in the Central League, with the U16 girls playing Petone, also at Fraser Park.
Finally, the U16 boys go across the Remutakas to face Greytown FC.
Cover photo credit: AW Media
