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Tensions ran high for an end-of-season football game between the Hibiscus Coast and West Auckland top men’s teams at Stanmore Bay on September 3 – Coast needed to draw or win to get promoted to Northern Region Football’s Division One (one below Premier).
Coast has played in that division before, but was relegated in 2019, so hopes were high of a comeback.
“It’s a huge day for the club,” president Scott Beard said, as the game began.
Clubhouse and sidelines were packed with raucous supporters, MP Mark Mitchell was standing by with the trophy to present if Coast was successful, and both teams were fired up.
As emotions ran high, on-field and off, yellow cards were handed out – including to the coach of the opposing side.
Coast was 3-0 down after the first half but came back strongly in the second. They equalised with an exciting third goal in the dying stages of the game.
Beard says it showed the team has the determination and grit they will need next year.
“A lot of club people, including the players, have put in so much time, effort and energy to achieve this goal,” Beard says. “The atmosphere after the final whistle was something I have never seen before. With the ground packed with spectators, including lots of junior players, it was such a buzz. This achievement will give the younger players coming through an incentive to get onto the pathway that can lead to first team football.”
Beard says it’s been an amazing season – as well as this latest win, the club’s top women’s team went through the season unbeaten and won their league. Next season they will compete in the Premiers.
The men were presented with the trophy after the September 3 game, and the women received theirs after their final game of the season, on September 18.
