After a season of great success and great progress, it was a shame that
it ended with defeat for the Dynamites, as the Whakatane outfit edged a
close encounter.

The ever-dependable Broc Hands scored both goals -- the opener with
virtually his first kick after going on as sub.

In the end, it was not quite enough -- but, never mind, there was a dip
in the Awakeri hot pools, a sausage sizzle and a lolly scramble to
console the gallant losers.

Nathan Gebert picked up the last player of the day and everyone enjoyed
the finale to an exciting season.

Well done to Broc, Connor, Elliot, Joshua, Matt, Nathan, Owen, and Wayne
-- crowd-pleasers every one. They have come on leaps and bounds over the
past few months under the guidance of coach Paul.

Here's to next year!

IF the first half owed something to Ben Ten and the Alien Force, then
the Dynamites became Transformers in the second half, turning an
uncertain 1-1 scoreline into a convincing 3-1 victory.

The match began in slightly comical fashion - Matt Wylie was tripped up
by the referee and Wayne Joseph executed a defensive header that he knew
little about and which seemed to leave him in a daze for a few minutes.

In a stuttering opening, Dynamites first chance came when they were
called on to defend a Tuatara free-kick. A ricochet fell to Owen
Hollowood who jinked his way the length of the field but, as has often
been the case for the talented youngster this season, he couldn't find
the finishing touch to all his good work and the ball bobbled wide.

An inspired substitution after five minutes almost reaped immediate
dividends. Elliot Brown replaced Connor Stables and his first touch had
the Te Teko keeper making a fine save.

The Ohope outfit got the breakthrough when Wayne's long throw deceived
the entire Tuatara defensive cordon and put Elliot in the clear. With
the confidence of someone who is improving with every outing, Elliot ran
on and slotted the ball home with aplomb.

Showing neat skills, Elliot and Owen linked up several times in the
Dynamites offense and created a threat every time they knitted a couple
of passes together. Owen, in a roving role upfront, went close a number
of times but couldn't find the necessary finish.

On the stroke of halftime, the Dynamites went to sleep - not the first
time they have lost concentration while in the ascendant - and the
delighted Te Teko forwards found themselves with a clear path to goal
and easily leveled the score.

That equalizer seemed to provide better motivation for the home side
than for the visitors and the Dynamites took an iron grip on proceedings
with Matt, now in goal, reduced to spectator status.

Josh Law, happy to have shrugged off his ankle injury from the previous
week, was a thorn in the Tuatara side and his wonderful left-foot drive
put the Dynamites back in charge.

Several times he nearly added to that goal, while Elliot, in the thick
of everything, was a danger every time he had the ball.

It was Elliot who completed the scoring as Ohope sauntered across the
finish line with Te Teko well beaten.

It was the perfect way to send coach Paul off on his holiday to
Rarotonga and his final task was the tricky one of picking a man of the
match. There were plenty of candidates but defensive linchpin Wayne got
the nod.

The one practice session since the two-week holiday break had failed to
dust the cobwebs from the Dynamites and they looked rusty early on
against a useful Whakatane side who had one very capable performer who
rattled in all their three goals.

With the normal cohesion missing, it took until the second half for the
'Mites to get their game into gear. But when they did, they looked the
better team and, dominating the second spell, they will feel very
disappointed at a second successive defeat.

The home side - relying on one individual rather than teamwork - had the
better of the early exchanges, although Owen Hollowood had a clear run
on goal only to be denied by the keeper and Elliot Brown and Joshua Law
combined to create a half-chance which Elliot put wide.

That was young Josh's finest moment as a sprained ankle soon had him
hobbling from the pitch. Minutes later, Whakatane's ace shook himself
free of a midfield bottleneck and drilled home the opening goal.

With things not quite gelling for the Ohope boys, they had to be
grateful for Nathan Gebert making a great double save. However, the
keeper didn't have a prayer when the Happy Feet striker rounded off a
great solo run that took him past three defenders and buried the second
goal.

The half ended with Broc Hands hitting the side netting from somewhere
north of the corner flag - a moment of instinct and inspiration that
suggested what was to come.

Three chances fell to the persistent Broc just after the re-start - one
he drove just wide; the second forced the Whakatane keeper to earn his
corn; the third hit the back of the net. It was 2-1 and game on.

While Nathan - doing the hard yards on double goalkeeping duties - was
kept busy, the focus of the action was starting to switch to the home
side's goal.

Matt Wylie's outrageous left-foot lob was just wide and he went close
again moments later. With a strengthening wind behind them, the
Dynamites were taking control and an equaliser seemed on the cards.

Matt and Broc's efforts conspired to present Owen with a golden
opportunity in front of goal but the youngster seemed so surprised to
find the ball suddenly at his feet a metre out that he mis-kicked it.

A long pass by Wayne Joseph put Broc in the clear but, again, the shot
went wide. Then Elliot and Matt almost fashioned an equaliser but dogged
Whakatane defence continued to resist the growing pressure.

The lights went out for the Dynamites when a mistake from a goal kick
presented the Happy Feet's top man with a simple chance - which he duly
took to make the final score 3-1.

On another day, Ohope would have won this game but - despite another
great effort - things just didn't click for them.

A couple of things to work on: Making sure shots are on target; and
taking goal kicks - an area which always looked likely to spell trouble
for the team.

Elliot's tireless industry in the midfield war zone and his passing
skills which help knit the team together made him a prime candidate for
player of the day. His teamwork set a good example for the others.

In one of the best games of the season, Dynamites super six battled all the way against the powerful visitors and could hold their heads high despite the result.
The scoreline rather flattered Kawerau, and 5-3 or 5-4 might have been a fairer reflection of a match in which the Ohope youngsters gave 110 per cent.
The Dynamites faithful fans knew it was all on from the first minute, as the bigger Kawerau team surged forward and their first shot hit the upright.
Minutes later, hesitation at the back cost Dynamites dearly as the visitors’ striker seized his chance to open the scoring.
With star striker Matt Wylie absent and their other frontman Broc Hands rostered in goal, Dynamites lack attacking options and struggled to get out of their own half for a long time.
It was left to nippy right-wing Owen Hollowood to turn the tide, skipping along the touchline but lacking support when the defenders closed in.
Kawerau always looked capable of adding to their one goal but the Dynamites, with Wayne Joseph prominent, were contesting every ball as they battled to keep the visitors at bay.
Gradually they established a foothold and Elliot Brown and Owen combined to set up a sustained attack on the Kawerau goal but they couldn’t finish off their good work.
With all effort going into the attack, Dynamites left a big hole in defence and Kawerau’s formidable striker broke away from his own goal area and went the length of the pitch before coolly sliding the ball past Broc.
The half ended with another mazy dribble down the right from Owen but again he was eventually crowded out.
The second half started with fireworks. Broc – having been replaced by Owen in goal – hammered the ball home from a sharp angle after Elliot and Wayne had done the spadework.
Straight from kickoff Broc charged down the right flank, bounced back after a strong challenge and netted to make it 2-2.
Could Dynamites complete the comeback and win the game? Sadly not, as a defensive miss-kick allowed Kawerau the chance to regain the lead. And the visitors gave themselves a buffer when Owen could only parry a shot and their striker made the most of his good fortune to bury the rebound.
Undaunted, the Dynamites threw everything at the Kawerau rearguard. With prompting by Connor Stables, Nathan Gebert, Elliot and Broc all went close, while the keeper had to be on his toes to save a long-range effort from Wayne.
It was all Ohope but, as is often the case, all-out attack can leave you exposed and the defence was wide open as Kawerau romped away to score their fifth goal.
The match ended with more furious offence from Dynamites, and Broc and Nathan both had chances but their final shots lacked power.
A tough result to swallow and their first defeat since the opening day of the season, but Dynamites had played their part in a game that didn’t lack for thrills, spills or skills.
A difficult poser for player of the day for coach Paul but Nathan was a worthy choice.

If Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo is worth 93 million euro, what price
Dynamites goal machine Matt Wylie?
Well, Spanish giants Real Madrid haven't come knocking just yet, but who
knows ...
Matt added four more goals to the brace he collected last week as the
Dynamites put a gallant United team to the sword and extended their
unbeaten run to five matches.
You could sense it was going to be a long day at the office for United
in the opening minutes when Nathan Gebert twice came close to scoring. United had a brief flurry on attack but they were soon back-pedalling to
defend their goal and 10 pairs of legs thrashed around in a goalmouth
melee that looked more like one of rugby's rolling mauls. Finally Matt used his strength to break through and open his account. He was back for more minutes later and when Francesca Kay in the United goal was temporarily distracted, Matt was on hand to walk the ball in. Number three looked likely when Owen Hollowood broke clear from his own half but he just lost out in the chase for the ball.
Francesca redeemed herself, saving bravely at the feet of the Dynamites
forwards, and a rare United attack saw a shot fly just wide. Elliot Brown made a good break and the ball fell for Matt to wrap up his hat-trick and he added number four just before halftime. Bursting through from the halfway line, he showed his growing confidence and ability, measuring his shot and firing the ball into the back of the net.
The second stanza began with Broc Hands hitting the post as the Dynamites powered forward.The fifth goal followed a corner by Matt when the United keeper's
attempted clearance only hit an unsuspecting Owen and rebounded in -
much to the surprise of the scorer.A throw-in from Wayne Joseph put Broc away to calmly slot in number six and a throw by Nathan saw him repeat the feat to close the scoring. Both Matt and Owen went close to adding to the tally before the referee called a halt.
Player of the day was a no-brainer - man of the moment Matt.

There were signs that the Dynamites are starting to gel as a team as
they overcame a spirited Awakeri challenge to run out worthy winners at
Bluett Park on Saturday.
The combination of Broc Hands and Matt Wylie up front - Broc's skills
and Matt's power - created enough chances for Ohope to have won the game
handsomely but the visitors were always a threat and for much of the
time it was a game that could have gone either way.
A frenetic start saw the Dynamites on all-out attack but failing to find
a way through, or round, a packed Awakeri defence.
However, a breakaway by the Invincibles showed they were a threat and
keeper Nathan Gebert was forced to saw unconventionally with his foot. The first goal came around the 10-minute mark A strong tackle by Matt
dispossessed an Awakeri player on halfway and the Ohope striker surged
forward lined up his shot ... and whack. It had goal written all over it
from the moment it left his sturdy right boot.
The visitors bounced back and a goalmouth scramble saw the Ohope defence
at sixes and sevens. An equaliser looked on the cards till Nathan took
charge, pouncing on the ball.
However, amid the confusion, the referee had spotted a hand ball and
Awakeri were awarded a penalty. Keeper Nathan was coiled like a tiger,
ready to spring either way ... but, in fact, he just had to stand still
as the shot was hit straight at him, much to the relief of the Dynamites
supporters on the touchline.
The Dynamites redoubled their efforts, with the tactically-astute Owen
Hollowood always prominent on the flanks and Elliot Brown in impressive
form in the midfield.
Matt's energetic efforts created another chance, but he was unable to
finish it off and Ohope went in for the oranges still just a slender 1-0
ahead.
The second half was much as before - Ohope dominating most of the play
but not putting their chances away and Awakeri always a danger, though
they struggled to make headway against the defensive resolve of Connor
Stables and Wayne Joseph.
Another Matt power play was denied by the keeper and Broc and Elliot
also went close. At the other end, another breakaway by the visitors saw
Owen, now in goal, save brilliantly in a one-on-one.
A goal was likely at one end or the other and, crucially, it came the
Dynamites way.
Again, Matt took possession around halfway and burst through the Awakeri
defence, brushing opponents aside before firing home.
The Invincibles refused to fold, however, and began to apply pressure to
the home goal. Owen did well to get to a stinging drive and appeared to
have made the save ... only for the ball to trickle over the line. At 2-1, the game was up for grabs ... and the young man to grab it with
both Hands was Broc. He started to run the show and, with great support
from Elliot, created three quick chances to extend the lead.
He had to get a goal, surely? And it duly arrived in the dying minutes -
a right foot drive from a difficult angle to put the result beyond doubt. You could have thrown a blanket over the lads for player of the day, but
Connor's passing and positional play made him a worthy recipient. The Dynamites have gone four games unbeaten and look like a team packed
with potential. Now they have to step up for the derby clash with Ohope
United on Saturday.