Last Monday saw the Mount Aspiring College First XI boys football team take on their counterparts from Otago Boys High School at the Wanaka Recreation Centre in their third national qualification game. The visiting team needing a win to gain access to a wildcard entry into the NZ secondary school top tournament after already dropping a game in the Otago five-team competition to unbeaten, and already qualified, Kings High School.

OBHS had the first half pretty much to themselves putting MAC under pressure a lot and stretching their defence especially down the flanks. MAC held on with some good work by keeper Lukas Schafer until around the 20-minute mark when OBHS finally found an opening to put them up 1-0. 

Max had a couple of chances but OBHS were very good at putting the MAC ball carrier under pressure every time MAC got the ball to shut down many of their attacks. The start of the second half saw MAC play much better and make more of their opportunities with the ball to press some good attacks. One such opportunity saw left attacking wing, Toa Roode, make a strong run down his side of the pitch by beating his marker with the ball and making a driving run into the box, only to be brought down by an Otago defender who was rewarded by a penalty kick. 

Center midfielder Weston Bell wasted no time by sending the ball into the back of the goal to tie up the game 1-1. Ten minutes later OBHS got the ball down in front of the MAC goal and with the MAC defence scrambling they managed to find a way through with a nice ball to make it 2-1. Another fine play by Otago down the right wing saw their left mid drive the ball to just outside the box where he had the opportunity and time to take a shot which rocketed pass the keeper to put Otago up 3-1. 

With MAC looking defeat in the eye, they never gave up and their persistence paid off when they forced a corner. That young man —  again — center-mid, Weston Bell, sent a brilliant ball in from the corner post which was pin-perfect and curled right into the top-left post and in to pin one back for the MAC Boys. 

With the clock almost up MAC forced their way back to the Otago goal again and were rewarded with a free kick just outside the box which gave them a chance to tie up the game and cause a tense moment for their supporters. But unfortunately they tried to be a bit fancy with the kick and the moment was lost and the game ended 3-2 to Otago who have played all their games in the Otago/Southland Regional qualifying zone and finished second behind Kings High School with one loss and three wins and will now apply for that wildcard entry. 

MAC will take on their local rival Wakatipu College next Monday at the Wanaka Recreation Centre at 2pm with both teams sitting on two losses and one win in the competition this last game is all about bragging rights and placing third. Should be a great game.