Waitakere United surged to the top of O-League Group A after a 6-1 demolition of AS Mont Dore at Fred Taylor Park, Waitakere this evening. Waitakere took an early lead when Commins Menapi found himself in space and drilled home an unstoppable shot past Christopher Tavergeux after just five minutes. Three minutes later Jeff Campbell delivered an inch perfect corner that was flicked on by Menapi allowing Hoani Edwards to volley the ball beyond an exposed Tavergeaux.

AS Mont Dore experienced their best spell shortly afterwards as Waitakere United sat back on their lead. George Suri threw AS Mont Dore a fine chance to get back into the game when he allowed a Hone Fowler pass to go under his foot setting free Ramon Djamali. Djamali’s shot was on target but failed to trouble Michael Utting.

AS Mont Dore were then reduced to ten men after 34 minutes when Gildas Vakoume lashed out at Hoani Edwards after the pair met in a crunching tackle near halfway. AS Mont Dore struggled to cope with the numerical disadvantage with skipper Marius Mapou turning in an impressive performance from an overun midfield.

Mapou’s heroics were not enough to stop the hosts and matters got worse for the vistors when energetic midfielder Jeff Campbell picked up a pass from the marauding Daniel Koprivcic and unleashed a powerful measured right foot shot into the top left corner of the net after 57 minutes from 30 metres out. Allan Pearce added a fourth for Waitakere United moments later when he swept a cross of Santos home from close range.

AS Mont Dore grabbed themselves a consolation goal when the impressive Marius Mapou won a loose ball in midfield and slipped a defence splitting pass past a backpedalling Waitakere United defence for Patrick Diaike who fired a low left foot shot past Michael Utting. The joy was short-lived when Koprivcic caught defender Kouriane Jacques Caba in possession after 64 minutes and raced through on goal unchallenged before stroking home a right foot shot past the marooned Tavergeaux.

Commins Menapi scored Waitakere United’s sixth goal after chasing down a Jeff Campbell through-ball on 87 minutes and blasting a shot at Tavergeaux who parried the ball but could only watch helplessly as it looped into the empty net beyond him.

The young Tavergeaux turned in a raw but heroic performance making a string of impressive saves against an unrelenting Waitakere United attack. For Waitakere United Jeff Campbell was the outstanding figure with some precision passing and an outstanding goal.

After two games Waitakere United have 4 points having scored 8 goals and conceding 3. Auckland City are second with four points and have scored 4 and conceded 2. AS Mont Dore are all but eliminated after two defeats from two matches, scoring 1 goal and conceding 8.

The enxt fixture in O-League Group A will see Auckland City host AS Mont Dore at Kiwitea Street on Friday 23rd February, kickoff at 6.00pm.

WAITAKERE UNITED…….6

AS MONT DORE………..1

WAITAKERE UNITED: Michael UTTING; George SURI, Hone FOWLER (Craig WYLIE 70), Sam JASPER, Commins MENAPI, Allan PEARCE (Stuart HOGG 83), Jakub SINKORA, Daniel KOPRIVCIC, Hoani EDWARDS (Pedro SANTOS 46), Rupesh PUNA, Jeff CAMPBELL.

SUBS NOT USED: Prince QUANSAH, Michael GWYTHER, Graham PEARCE, Simon EADDY.

Yellow cards: none.

Red cards: none.

Goals: Commins MENAPI 5th min, 87th min, Hoani EDWARDS 8th min, Daniel KOPRIVCIC 57th min, 64th min, Allan PEARCE 55th min.

AS MONT DORE: Christopher TAVERGEUX, Marius MAPOU, Patrick DIAIKE, Ramon DJAMALI (Stanley KABEU 68), Kouriane Jacque CABA, Georges WADRENGES, Fabrice WEDE, Yves Noel FAYE (Jose EURIBOA 60), Martial Jean Phillipe NEMOADJOU, Charles WAMO, Gildas VAKOUME.

SUBS NOT USED: Daniel HARPER.

Yellow cards: Yves Noel FAYE 28.

Red cards: Gildas VAKOUME 35.

Goals: Patrick DIAIKE 57th min.

Referee -Rakesh Chand VARMAN (Fiji)

Assistant Referee – Andrew Anand ACHARI (Fiji)

Assistant Referee – Rohitesh DAYAL (Fiji)

Fourth Official – Leone RAKOROI (Fiji)

GOALSCORERS:

3 – Paul URLOVIC (Auckland City), Commins MENAPI (Waitakere United)

2 – Daniel KOPRIVCIC (Waitakere United)

1 – Osea VAKATALESAU (Ba FC), Laisenia TUBA (Ba FC), Grant YOUNG (Auckland City),

Danny HAY (Waitakere United), Allan PEARCE (Waitakere United), Hoani EDWARDS

(Waitakere United), Patrick DIAIKE (AS Mont Dore).