Having led the competition the entire season, Momona required a shootout win at least from its final round-robin game to confirm its points trophy success.
However, it was not to be. A fired-up University A Huskies side spoiled the party, winning 2-0.
The students have not dropped any points to teams below them on the table, but they had not taken any off the top two either until Saturday.
The University side has been playing a great team game this season, and its patience and quality passing while in possessioncame to the fore again.
The pressure eventually told on Momona; despite its usually stoic defence, the students were able to break through and open the scoring. For much of the match Momona appeared to be pinned at its own end, meaning that despite the strength of its forward line, a lot of its own forays on attack were being done in one- or two-player bursts, rather than the more structured built-up method University was able to employ.
This led to a second goal for the students.
As time ticked down, Momona continued to push hard to get back in the match, but it was not to be. It was a real confidence boost for the Huskies side and an opportunity lost for Momona.
In a twist of fate, the two sides will now have to play each other again next week in the second vs third semifinal.
In the other matches, City leapfrogged Momona to steal the top spot with a dominant 7-1 win over Kings United, while it opponent next week, fourth-placed Taieri, also went into the semifinals with a win - 2-0 over a fighting Uni B side.
- Matthew West
