Athletic celebrate with 7-1 victory

Published date10 August 2022
Earlier in the season, Athletic held on to a nil-nil draw over at the University, one of only two games this season where they have dropped points

The other was away to North End. In both games, Athletic were reduced to 10 players and had to hold on late for a point.

With the only two games where Athletic dropped points being at opponents’ grounds, Athletic looked to maintain their home win streak, along with a home unbeaten streak which dates back to May 1, 2021 in a 1-0 loss to North End.

This incredible record heavily correlated to the Athletic faithful who fill up the stands week after week and entice quality football out of the reds through vocal chants.

Although switching off was what the University side would have hoped for, Athletic did anything but. And with a near full-strength squad for the first time in months, Athletic went on the front foot early through a sumptuous finish from Stewart who left the keeper no chance after getting on the end of a curling Joblin-Hall cross.

This was the beginning of the end for Massey as the reds poured on the pressure and opened them up again in the 28th minute when Josh Smith found half a yard in the penalty area before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.

Smith doubled his tally for the day only five minutes later after a goal-mouth scrabble and a flurry of missed chances for Athletic.

Smith, second on the golden boot ladder, was hungry for more as he made a last-ditch attempt at Palmerston North Marist front-runner Melvin Rumere.

Cruising into the 40th minute 3-0 ahead, the foot was not taken off the throat as Jonas (returning from COVID-19) made a trademark shimmy past the Massey fullback and ruthlessly blasted the ball into the top right-hand corner for what will be a contender for goal of the season.

Zac Farmer decided four was not quite enough and took a fantastic touch around the goalkeeper before playing the ball into the net to score against his former team and make it 5-0 on the brink of halftime.

Only four minutes into the second half and Stewart followed Smith’s teams and grabbed a brace of his own, Athletic proving dangerous and hungrier as they made the most of another messy situation, this time off a mis-hit shot where Stewart could take it...

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