Underground 4 : Oracular Orcas 2

Andy Speir was instrumental for Underground FC in their 4-2 win over the Oracular Orcas. CREDIT/Tim de Beer

SHAKY UNDERGROUND START WITH A WIN

Underground FC have kicked off their 2012 season with a 4-2 win over a gallant Oracular Orcas outfit in a physical encounter at Riversdale Reserve in Avondale.

A brace to Sam Foster and goals to Andrew Hewat and Liam Badger ensured the Ryan Hodgson-captained side picked up a much-needed bonus point in their opening match of the campaign.

The two-goal win didn't reflect the Orcas' fighting spirit in any sense. Their aggressive approach paid dividends around the middle of the park but an inability to deal with some of the decisions made by the umpire - including two yellow cards - saw them come unstuck.

They were never out of the match, however, and the team - promoted from the Power League - could very well make waves throughout the season.

For Underground FC, an improved second half - orchastrated in defence by goalkeeper Andy Speir - was the key to their victory as the rust was stripped off in style.

Tim de Beer, Nathan Dawson and Joseph Cottle also had good first-up matches for the soon-to-be orange-and-blacks, with the latter almost scoring twice.

Some beautiful patches of sun allowed for some fair open play at Riversdale Reserve as both sides - playing their first match head-to-head - sought to gain the initiative.

It was the red-shirted and red-haired Hewat who got Underground off to the start they wanted with a beautiful curled effort to beat the opposing keeper and give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

But any ideas of a walkover were erased when Orcas stunned the UFC defence to pick up their first goal in the third tier of the New Zealand Christian Football Association competition.

Foster picked up his first before the visitors again equalised to put Hodgson's side on notice.

The Orcas meant business.

Badger was presented with a penalty, which he converted in the bottom left-hand corner to restore Underground's one-goal advantage which they took into the second half.

The second half was a tighter affair from both sides as the visitors looked for the crucial equaliser while their opponents searched for their bonus-point goal.

It was the vision of Hewat that saw fellow Hamiltonian Foster played in to the edge of the box. He made no mistake with a clinical half volley that rocketed past the keeper for a 4-2 scoreline and a bonus point goal.

It allowed Hodgson's men to focus on defending throughout the remainder of the second half as the Orcas continued to protest to the ignorance of the referee.

In the end the two-goal margin was enough for Underground to take seven competition points and set the pace for what should be an interesting season.

Goalkeeper Speir was awarded the referee's man of the match before being awarded the opposition's standout player. It was a sign of his influence on a team who looked defensively solid when under his guise.

SCORE:


Underground FC: 4
Scorers: Sam Foster 2, Andrew Hewat, Liam Badger.


Oracular Orcas: 2


HT: 3-2.