Star man Fran jets off with goalSkipper for the day calms the nerves with yet another goal
By IAN MACKAY (edited - to make Fran feel good)
VETERAN Watt Star striker Fran Donoghue climaxed a fine performance to mark his last game with the amateur club he has served so well when he headed a magnificent goal against Napier University at Riccarton Campus.
The 38-year-old lawyer is taking up a position in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean and, made skipper for the day in the Miller Cup clash with a young, fit Napier University side, Donoghue was perfectly positioned in front of the students' goal when a tempting cross came over from the right in the 56th minute.
Everyone watched in awe as the big striker buried the ball into the front of the net - to the delight of his teammates, coaches and fans on the sidelines. Donoghue gazed to the heavens in a gesture of thanks to his God (beer) and his glorious knee-slide, showing vast improvement from recent weeks was glorious as he quit the team in a blaze of glory. His 38 year old legs were gone as he was subbed with 20 minutes left to play and his team still narrowly in front at 3-2. This popular Star striker was applauded off the pitch in an emotional farewell and watched from the sidelines as his teammates went on to finish the game 4-2.
On a glorious sunny afternoon, Watt Star resplendent in their new Brasil strips looked to be fired up for the game at the start and they went in front in the eighth minute when Paul MacAnulty set up the chance for Craig Murray who feinted right, threw two defenders the wrong way and cooly found the corner of the net with a fine left footed pass into the bottom corner to open the scoring. With both teams playing slick passes on the immaculate playing surface, Star continued to have the bulk of the early play and a great effort from Garry MacDonald was deflected behind for a corner.
The Napier players were under great pressure but they settled down and built up several good attacking moves of their own, and duly shocked the home side with the equalising goal in the 19th minute. A cross was not cleared by the hesitant Watt Star defence and John O'Hara pounced to hammer the ball low shot past home goalkeeper Andrew Campbell. On the restart, Watt Star went straight back up the field and MacAnulty linked up with (Franbasten) Donoghue, kept his run going and Ravenelli played an acrobatic 1-2 with MacAnulty who finished brilliantly to make it 2-1. Adefender was substituted after being muscled out of the challenge by the top scorer and he’ll think twice next time out. That superb goal came in the 24th minute and the remainder of the first half was played at tremendous pace with great attacking moves from both sides. Indeed, Star had a good shout for a goal as the ball was clearly over the line, but referee Kirkwood could not give it as he was rooted to the centre circle. Centre circle? Centre spot actually.
The students went on to make it 2-2 with a goal in the 42nd minute, Josic Degrolard setting up a great pass for the hardworking Joe Sudron to fire home. But in time added on by the referee, Watt Star went back in front with another cracker of a goal, MacAnulty delivering a great ball from the left corner flag for Nichols to poke in at the far post and make it 3-2 for Star in the 48th minute of the first half. 3-2 at h/t with the Star boys told they could only lose it now - and they had no intention of this happening. But chasing the game was not an option and keeping the ball was now the plan.
While Star battled to add to their slender lead in the second half, Napier University upped the pace in a bid to get back on level terms again. Most of the best chances came from setpieces with a couple of half-hearted claims for penalties as players went down in the respective boxes. Craig Heriot produced a great saving tackle to deny the students and home keeper Campbell pulled off a great save from Chris Crookes. But the busier keeper of the two was Matt Bettoli in the Napier goal. He was all over the place at times in the hectic action. MacAnulty almost scored again for Star, but his shot was cleared off the line by defender Crookes with Bettoli out of his goal.
Garry MacDonald took an elbow in the eye, and had to be replaced by Ewen Brown who settled in to midfield. Shortly afterwards, Rasho came on for the struggling Hermo, going to wide left, with Craig Murray into centre mid and the wee Mackem showed good skill at speed to give the Napier boys something else to think about.
And then the Silver Fox struck when the Napier defenders all he’ll no doubt remember this day for a long time to come, as an assist and a goal went a long way to deciding this cup-tie. Stewart Graham replaced him and almost scored if only his toebash technique had been better. Star’s Nichols cramped up (again) and he had to go off after treatment, only to come straight back on again to join the fray. The team was readjusted again with Rasho going wide right, How do you tame such a maverick? Answer: beat him at poker! Donoghue will leave his amateur club with fond memories of a great game of football, climaxing in the clinching goal. Watt Star were deserved winners in the end, but they were made to work very hard indeed by a good young Napier University squad.
Watt Star: (3-5-2) Andrew Campbell, Stuart Bishop, Craig Heriot, Scott Millar, Peter Stewart, Wayne Munro, Sean Bingham, Liam Gormley, Josic Degrolard, Chris Cookes, John O'Hara, Joe Sudron, Graeme Affleck, Calum Wallace, Kirk MacMillan, Brandan Gibney, Paul Henderson. Referee: John Kirkwood.
Man of the Match: Paul MacAnulty. Craig Murray and Pistol Pete runners up.
Is it merely co-incidence that these all finished on the score-sheet?
Actually, yes.
