Ngaruawahia United AFC - Official

15/09/2026

13/09/2026

u23 vs Matamata match report

Yesterday was our final game, diverted from earlier in the season so we could watch the All Whites take on Belgium at the Football World Cup. In the previous outings we’ve slightly had the edge over the ‘Swifts’ beating them on both occasions.

Upon arrival I noticed that the pitched was narrow and Matamata kept the grass long to slow the ball speed.

Jonty Fletcher stepped in as goalkeeper for his third start of the season as incumbent Ryan Cole was starting for the Prems. Sam Sexton was also included in the Prems squad providing an opportunity for Alec Fenwick to start at right back. Avi Kumar sustained a hamstring injury last weekend and was unavailable and so too was Ben Sole who rolled his ankle filling in on a futsal game. Selecting a squad was easy as it was everyone else in the greater squad who was available. The only issue I had was there was not enough defenders. Players having to play out of position for the benefit of the team.

Veteran Harrison Hodges after a 2 month absence was back in and so too was elusive winger Isaac Tshikula but we know him better as ‘Shaanaaa’. Browny was to literally lead the boys from the front, being the captain for this match, I knew the team was in good hands.

We had a laboured warm up but we started so well. We pushed forward down the right then Sam McFarlane found an open Azael Withers about 30-35 yards out. Azael looked up, saw the keeper off his line and chipped him. 1 nil Ngāruawāhia and with that goal Azael was level with Tyler Yu as ‘Top Goal Scorers’ for the u23s. Moments later we played some beautiful football carving the Matamata back line up to play Sam McFarlane in behind their backline, who whipped in a pin point cross for another chance but was defended with desperation. Matamata pounced to the numerous opportunities gifted to them and levelled the score.

I’ll be honest for the next 65 minutes we were awful. That’s putting it politely. We struggled to complete 3 passes. Our touches were poor, our accuracy of passing was off, players became individuals and the communication was non-descriptive and more like a token gesture. A ‘serve’ was given to the team at halftime reminding them of having some pride when they wear the green & white Ngāruawāhia shirt and that all they need to do is the basics - control the ball, pass the ball to a team mate then move to be an option.

The second half was a little better but not by much. Lockee Christian was brought on at half time for Sam McFarlane. Lockee provided a spark but he too struggled and was absorbed into our below par performance.

Matamata’s substitute who swapped for their striker provided some impact. We seemed to be getting caught out at the back from his uncannyness. He managed to get goal side & out jostle our defence and scored. 2-1 Matamata.

I went to the bench and brought on Mac Kimber, Asten Tester and Isaac Tshikula. Straight away all three of these boys had an effect. Mac solidified himself in the centre of the park providing the assurance we were lacking. Almost immediately upon being substituted on, Mac played a ball to the strikers feet, continued his driving run, got the ball back then was fouled in the box, penalty. Azael stepped up confidently and slotted it bottom right, squaring the ledger and becoming the Top Goal Scorer.

Both Asten & Isaac provided the workrate needed and Isaac was rewarded after Lockee got onto a through ball on the left flank, best his man on the byline then squared it beautifully to the ever present Shaanaaa who tapped it in. 3-2 Ngara.

With just under 10 minutes remaining a overhit pass turned into a great ball when Isaac put on the afterburners, managed to get to the ball before the Matamata left back where his touch put him into the 18 yard box where the defender mistimed his challenge, fell awkwardly then put his hand on the ball. Penalty. This time Asten Tester stepped up and in a rush of blood blasted it pretty much down the middle. The Matamata keeper anticipated to go to his left stuck a hand out, got a touch to it but the power on the shot was too great and the ball ended up in the back of the net. 4-2, a sigh of relief and that’s what it finished up.

With Northern dropping points drawing to Ngonotaha, it enabled us to jump ahead of them on the table to finish a respectable 3rd. Not bad for a team where only 6 fronted for preseason back in January.

I’d like to thank the following people for all their help and support this season; Andrew Withers (Ru 2) - best manager in town, Kelly-Anne for washing & sorting the strip each week, Helen, Liz & Tracy for doing the Thursday night & aftermatch meals plus serving behind the bar, Andrew Bell (Roo) for his work line marking, mowing and preparing the pitches each week, to our supporters cheering us on each week and to Kerron Sexton (Complete Conveyancing) sponsoring the off-field apparel helping make the Prems and u23s look sharp.

Hayden Miller

12/09/2026

Match Report:
12 September 2026 : Matamata 2 Ngaruawahia 6

In the quaint Middle Earth village of Mordormordor today arrived a rapscallion mob of orcs, dwarves and elves resplendent in green uniforms. The leader, Sullyman, great wizard although occasionally known to fall from grace, muttering to himself “They shall not pass they shall not pass”.

Then the game kicked off and his incantations immediately came to nowt. In the first minute the Matamata lads attacked strongly and passed the ball out to their man on their left, Blake Bibby (Ram a Jam) who belted the ball with gusto past Ryan Cole, the young Ngaruawahia keeper who was getting a run, a just reward for being our backup for most of the season. I think Ryan was planning to keep a clean sheet for more than the first minute.

The Matamata faithful roared their approval. Indeed the black and white barcoded team seemed much more fired up. In the bright sunshine of the Matamata Domain a keen contest beckoned.

Ngaruawahia have been a goal down previously this season to Matamata, and it was to the same protagonist, Bibby who had scored that time too, in the seventh minute.

In that particular game we had come back to win 4-1 so we were not unduly worried, but it did take awhile for the Green Machine to fire, with a few positional changes forced on the team today.

Indeed it took half an hour before we equalised. A goal was scored in the 20th minute by Wil Best but he was hauled back for offside

We had been knocking corners and free kicks rather aimlessly, loopy and without success. Then Dom Edwards lined another free kick after Jarrod Briggs had been fouled. I harangued him from the sideline. “Whip it Dom low and hard!” He may, or may not have heard me, but that’s exactly what he did. Briggs timed his run with Swiss precision and connected with a bullet header that gave the keeper no chance. A perfect goal 1-1.

A few minutes later the twinkle toes of Travis Dally-Braun elluded the keeper who hacked him down ruthlessly. The referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot where Peter Birch did a Peter Birch thing and scored to keep his 100% penalty record intact for the season. 2-1.

Near halftime there was a lengthy break. Briggs had tipped the ball past the keeper who, in a mad kamikaze act, collided with our number 12 sending him flying. The keeper came out worse for wear (because Briggs is made of a mix of mild titanium and kryptonite) and was destined not to make an appearance in the second half.

The barcode strip also vanished at halftime with Matamata electing to come out in the second half in red shirts, mainly to boast they have a bigger laundry budget than we do.

At halftime Ricky Broderson brought on the two Ball Brothers and Tawhiri immediately made him look like a genius coach, by scoring in the first minute of the half. I was walking off to get some flu medication and looking around and just saw the ball tucked into the net so I don’t have too many details but apparently Riley Sexton provided the pass.

This made our team (and league) Golden Boot competition look rather interesting. Waikato had scored 17 before today and Tawhiri, 15. So now the ledger showed 17-16.

After a period of relative inactivity the game got interesting again when Matamata scored their second goal, another scorcher that gave Cole no chance. The locals went crazy. Could there be an upset in the offering? 3-2.

Well no. Tawhiri was on the verge of scoring when his shot was blocked and bobbled out to his brother Waikato who gratefully knocked it home to restore his two goal lead in the Golden Boot. 4-2.

In the last 10 minutes the Green Machine scored two more. The first was a fine long-range daisy-cutter from Dally-Braun which sped past the defence and keeper. And the last goal was the mercurial Tawhiri again, a nice shot from the left, which put him on 17 goals - just one behind Waikato. 6-2.

Right near the end substitute Sam Sexton laid a pass into Tawhiri. The head waiter at the London Ritz couldn’t have served it more perfectly. The normally composed Tawhiri miscued slightly and the chance was gone. And that brought to the end both our match and season.

With the last match of the season, against Northern, not being played, the curtain comes down on a very successful season. Coaches and players deserving all the plaudits and an endless hot summer beckons.

Until pre-season training, that is.

Ngaruawahia squad:
Ryan Cole, Peter Birch, Riley Sexton, Wil Best, Waikato Ball, Hamish Fear, Travis Dally-Braun, Dom Edwards, Tawhiri Ball, Campbell Halley, Sam McFarlane, Sean Sullivan, Jarrod Briggs, James Wales, Harry Porritt, Sam Sexton.

11/09/2026

Last game of the calendar year vs Matamata
Let’s finish on a high note 💚 Up The Green Machine

07/09/2026

🐲 REMINDER: Junior Prizegiving this Saturday 12th September!

10-11am: First Kicks & 8th Grade
11:30-12:30pm: 9th & 10th Grades
1-2pm: 11th-13th Grades

See you there! 💚

07/09/2026

REMAINING GAMES FOR 2026
Presidents O-35s
12th Sept: away KO plate semi-final, Melville Dreadnoughts
19th Sept: away Northern United Gaffers.


Under 23s:
12th Sept: away to Matamata Swifts

Seniors
12th Sept: away to Matamata swifts

06/09/2026

TABLES . . . . .
Southern Conference Seniors
52 Ngaruawahia (19 games)
37 Papamoa (20 games)
36 Otumoetai (21 games)
34 Claudelands (20 games)
26 West Hamilton (21 games)
23 Matamata (20 games)
17 Northern United (19 games)
01 Ngongotaha (20 games)
Southern Conference U-23s
56 Otumoetai (21 games)
40 Claudelands (20 games)
34 Northern United (20 games)
34 Ngaruawahia (20 games)
30 Papamoa (20 games)
13 Ngongotaha (20 games)
12 West Hamilton (21 games)
10 Matamata (20 games)
Waikato Senior Men O-35s (6 games)
18 Melville Fiji Masters
15 Ngaruawahia
08 Northern Gaffers
07 Northern Old Boys
07 Claudelands O-35s
06 Cambridge Statesmen
00 Cambridge D1

06/09/2026

u23 vs Papamoa match report

With sickness and player unavailability we travelled over the Kaimai’s one last time with 13 players to play Papamoa. Initially the game was scheduled to be played at Links Ave, but during our journey that was changed to Ocean Downs Reserve.

It wasn’t the best of warm ups and the lads seemed flat. After the moments silence for Brownys father passing during the week we kicked off playing the ball back to centre back Avi Kumar who put his left foot through it. The wind was a little tricky blowing across the pitch. The ball held up over the two sluggish centre backs and whippet Lockee Christian pounced on the ball to put himself 1 on 1 with the goalie and slotted it nicely. 1 nil to us in 16 seconds.

Straight after the restart we conceded, fouling the Papamoa attacking midfielder, which gave them a free kick outside the right hand side of the 18 yard box where they chipped it in to their free man at the far post who was unmarked and he headed it in. 1 all. 2 minutes played.

Our starting line up had 3 players having to play out of their usual positions but it seemed to work; Ben Sole at centre back, Camden Marsh as an attacking midfielder in the 8 role, and Luke Scoble wide right.

Camden showed how difficult he can be to mark, being elusive in the midfield and scoring two left footed goals.

Azael Withers finally scored one getting in front of his man, from a perfectly whipped in cross for Sam Sexton getting forward and doing a couple of 1-2s down the right hand flank to free himself up for the cross.

Alec Fenwick came on after 30 minutes as Avi pulled his hamstring from a desperate last minute tackle. Alec had been away at one of the secondary school tournaments during the week and played in 7 games. He would say it but his legs were heavy.

4-1 and we were cruising. Then for a 5 minute period we conceded 2 soft goals to let Papamoa back in the game just before half time. 4-3.

Papamoa equalised straight after half time when the Papamoa left winger got on the ball in space after we failed to pick up players and defend with purpose.

With about 10 minutes remaining Alec toe poked one through the keepers legs after continuing his run into the box receiving a back heal from Asten Tester, putting us in the lead. 5-4.

With only a couple of minutes remaining Alec once again received the ball in the box after a flick on from the throw and skipped past two defenders when one decided to leave his foot in and brought Alec down. Penalty. Camden stepped up and calmly placed his spot kick, wrong footing the goalie for his first hat trick in men’s football.

A great result. A 10 goal thriller. An ideal game for the spectators but as a coach difficult to witness and be involved in. A lot of positives from the game and for the best part, we played some really good football.

It was pleasing that a couple of u23 players were rewarded and got to sit on the 1st Team bench. Congratulations Sam Sexton & Luke Scoble.

05/09/2026

MATCH REPORT
5 September: Papamoa 3 Ngaruawahia 6.

Anyone rocking up to the Ocean Downs Reserve ground today certainly got good value for money: 19 goals in two games. A goalkeeper coach’s nightmare but a visual feast for the spectators.
Firstly the reserve match served up a 6-4 result. A victory to the Ngāruawāhia under 23 side: nice going Hayden and the young lads!

Then the first team kitted up. The league had been put away but there was a little question of trying to regain the Waikato Shield that had been lost to Claudelands a few weeks previously.

After a game of musical football pitch’s, Gordon Spratt Reserve, then Links Avenue were both ruled out and we were finally relegated (?) to the Oceans Downs Reserve at a midpoint between the two aforementioned. A little more hokey but no matter, we play any time, anywhere, baby!

Ngāruawāhia had a few players out today to injury and suspension and this gave Ricky the chance to put some of the younger lads on the bench. There was a very nice, classy touch when the Papamoa team gave the league champions a guard of honour as they walked onto the pitch. This was followed by a minute silence for Browny Brown’s dad who has sadly passed away this week.

With a strong wind at our backs The Green Machine attacked from the off and Dom Edwards tested out the home keeper. Then in the 19th minute, after deft footwork, Waikato Ball was pushed in the back in the box and the ref had no hesitation in pointing to the naughty spot.

Peter Birch had scored the first goal in each of our last two games and strode up to strike the penalty to make it three in a row. I’m not sure if anyone’s told Peter he’s supposed to be a defender, not a Duncan Ferguson impersonator.

5 minutes later, a well taken corner saw Edwards rise to head of the ball ….against a defender, Harry Clarke’s head and into the goal. Sadly (especially for Clarke) it went down as an own goal, but nice assist, Dom.

Papamoa got one back shortly after when a cross from the right got through to the back stick and Patric Murphy prodded home. 2-1.

That was the halftime score. Magic Harry Potter had pulled off two great saves to keep us in the game. The Green Machine could’ve easily had another penalty when Travis Daly-Braun was upended in a similar way to Waikato but on this occasion it elicited no penalty from the ref despite our helpful shouts from the sideline.

Shortly after the second half commenced Waikato Ball scored one of the most unusual goals he (and most probably anyone) else would ever have scored. The video shows Dom Edwards surging up the left and passing to Waikato before being fouled. As Dom (and the bench) wailed for a free kick, Waikato took the ball goalward where he was accosted by three defenders. He was pushed and shoved, fell like a drunken uncle at a family barbecue, then crawling on all fours before somehow emerging from this ruck with the ball at his feet and smashing it past the keeper.

None of us could quite believe what we had seen. But Waikato is as tenacious as a coked-up seagull loose in a fish and chip shop and it is no accident that he is the top scorer in the league.

Papamoa, to their credit, are also very tenacious and three minutes later Murphy scored another to make it 3-2. But the away team kept questioning. Edwards and Riley Sexton were wreaking havoc on the left-hand side and Dally-Braun was zipping up the right. Surely there were more goals to come? In the 65th minute Edwards engineered another attack when he swung the ball out to Will Best on the right who crossed beautifully for Jarrod Briggs, who had timed his run to perfection, to head JUST over the bar. Now that would’ve been a great goal.

Then controversy erupted, when Papamoa’s Penman was given a 10 minute sin-bin yellow card. I’m not sure what for but probably giving a bit of lip to the referee after a penalty had been awarded to Ngāruawāhia. Birch converted the penalty, a virtual carbon copy of his first, giving a 4-2 lead.

However the yellow and blue-clad home side were not done for and were awarded a penalty of their own only a minute later. Clarke scored to make amends for his own goal earlier on. 4-3. Game still on.

Briggs made at 5-3 when he hit a nice right-footed shot from the right hand side of the penalty box via a defender through the keepers legs. Briggs wheeling away to celebrate with a trademark backflip (“hours of practice jumping onto a mattress” he told me later on).

Dally-Braun scored from a similar position with a well taken snap-shot which didn’t give the defence or keeper a time to adjust to. A nice goal to make it 6-3.

That was the final score, the 19th goal in the two matches this afternoon and the lads couldn’t wait to get down to the local pub to tell Kane Williamson all about it as he signed our shield.

Next up. Matamata away to round up our season.

Ngaruawahia squad:
Harry Porritt, Peter Birch, Sam Sexton, Luke Scoble , Dusty Olausen, Riley Sexton, Wil Best, Waikato Ball, Hamish Fear, Travis Dally-Braun, Dom Edwards, Sam McFarlane, Jarrod Briggs, James Wales, Ryan Kerr-Bell, Ryan Cole.