It couldn’t have begun any better for Nelson Suburbs in its Southern League football match at Saxton Field today.
Strikes from American Johnny Reynolds and captain Lennon Whewell, his sixth of the season, fired the hosts to a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes against second-placed Ferrymead Bays.
“We started so well. There was only to be one result,” insisted Suburbs coach Skippy Stewart.
But the alarm bells were ringing just minutes later when key defender Cory Vickers was sent off just for what the referee ruled a dangerous tackle.
Skippy was dumbfounded by the decision.
“It was studs up but Cory didn’t touch the other player. So I don’t see how it was a straight red card.”
Despite being reduced to 10 men, the home side hung tough defensively until a horror four-minute spell late in the first half.
Omar Cameron grabbed a double, split by Noa Prestel and suddenly Ferrymead was in front and in charge 3-2.
“We fell asleep and didn’t really defend well enough,” concedes Skippy.
Suburbs, which also lost its previous home match as the defence was shredded by Nomads, looked the better side in the scoreless second half.
Substitutes Jay Anderson and Tino Mupemhena brought real energy up front and goalkeeper Corey Wilson pressed forward as well and they almost snatched an equaliser in the final minute of the match.
The 3-2 loss left Suburbs in sixth place but with just three wins, well off the pace after nine rounds.
“We are inconsistent. Up and down at the moment and we just can’t put a run of results together.”
Meanwhile Nelson Suburbs Women scored its first win of the season in emphatic fashion, beating bottom-placed NW United 4-0 in their round four game in Christchurch this afternoon.
The two Suburbs sides will appear in a double-header at Saxton Field next Saturday.
The men will face FC Nelson in the Chatham Cup while the women will host winless Dunedin side Affinity Roslyn Wakari AFC.
