Chatham Cup preliminary round win for West Hamilton United

West Hamilton United are through to the first round of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup after a 5-2 win over Sunday league team HNK Auckland on Anzac Day in a preliminary round match.

HNK Auckland opened the scoring with an early penalty before Reuben Henderson put away two penalties of his own for the home side. Harry Christensen-Rose, Nikali Finlay and Madison Niwa also scored a goal each.

The game was a physical one with a number of free kicks being called, a couple of yellow cards and both teams going down to 10 men after a straight red each.

West Hamilton coach Glenn Brown said the passion his team showed made it a “cracker game” of football. It’s something he wants to see every game.

“I was happy with the way we pushed forward especially on the break,” Brown said. “Absorbing pressure and breaking quickly [was] standard requirement in today’s game and we did that well.”

Team captain Josh Eichmann said the team put in 100 percent. 

“When we play like that and fight for each other it makes us a very hard unit to break down and beat,” Eichmann said.

With the game being on a public holiday, more supporters were able to head to West Hamilton’s home ground, Weka Street.  

“The support as usual was incredible,” Brown said. “People building grandstands out of trailers, making signs and committee members sorting all the food for our guests. Just amazing support.”

Eichmann said during a tough game “that extra support can pull you through”.

“We had that today and it made a massive difference,” he said.

The visiting team had also brought down a posse of supporters, rivalling the number of home supporters, with air horns and plenty of enthusiasm.

West Hamilton United round 2 here we come! Chatham Cup #flyingpig pic.twitter.com/cmcmJB5fbc

— West Hamilton United (@westhamiltonutd) April 25, 2017

Going into the next round Brown wants the team to work on the “simple things” but one thing he and Eichmann agree West Hamilton need to improve on is discipline after Alex Whitehead received a red card, ruling him out of the next Cup round.

“We need all our players available to go as far as we can in this competition,” Eichmann said. “Having lost another player to suspension today is disappointing.”

Brown said at this stage he is happy to be advancing to the next round but it’s important not to think too far ahead.

“Every win means a lot but it is just another win,” Brown said. “Stay grounded and focus on results one week at a time.”

Eichmann said the team have to “take each game as is comes, take our chances and enjoy ourselves. Do that and anything is possible.”

This weekend the West Hamilton team have a break before travelling to Tauranga on May 6 to play Tauranga Old Blues inthe WaiBOP Loaded Premiership.

• Disclaimer: Harry Christensen-Rose is the writer’s brother