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IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO: Melville waltzed past Mt Albert Ponsonby 5-1, thanks to a very good first half performance from many players, including Ryan Harden, right, who needed fast footwork here in challenging Mt Albert Ponsonby's Jason Cooper. See story below. Picture: Grant Stantiall. More Photos HERE
Call for 6-a-side entries
Melville United's Twilight 6-a-side football starts again on Wednesday evenings at Gower Park, from October 1, 2008.
An entry form can be downloaded HERE, which must be returned along with the entry fee of $250 (including GST) to 11 Thames St, by September 18. All cheques are to be crossed and made payable to Melville AFC. Receipts or invoices will be issued on request. Also attached HERE are the competition rules.
The competition will run every Wednesday until December 17, then again from January 21st, 2008, until February 25. There will be two rounds of friendlies before we start league competition.
We envisage three businesshouse divisions. (The first division will be allowed a maximum of two registered players on the field at any one time. The second division will be allowed one registered player on the field at any one time. In division three, there are to be no registered players.) Remember that a least one female must be on the field at any given time during the game.
Only sandshoes or turf shoes will be acceptable footwear. This is for everyone's safety. Football boots are no acceptable because of the risk to businesshouse players who do not have sandshoes. Please make your players aware of this.
We hope to see you all back at Melville again this year, for what we hope will be an excellent 6 a side competition. Any thoughts on our format or any further comments or suggestions are always appreciated and most welcome.
Inquiries to info@melvilleunited.co.nz
A game of one half
 30.8.2008: Aaron Scott potted two goals on his return to Melville United duty after captaining the New Zealand Olympic team in China.
Melville beat Mt Albert Ponsonby 5-1 at Gower Park with striker Steven Holloway also scoring two.
Both players were subbed midway through the second spell, denying them the chance of chasing Melville’s first hat trick of the season, though as it happened, Melville followed their usual practice of going completely off the boil in the second spell, which they effectively lost 0-1 after leading 5-0 at half time.
Paul Stewart was the other goalscorer for Melville.
The win moved Melville into fifth place, and gave them a good shot at moving into fourth place next week, when they again meet Mt Albert Ponsonby in Auckland.
Even with Che Bunce out with a hamstring injury, and Matt Friel remaining on the bench, Melville were simply too good for Mt Albert Ponsonby in all departments in the first half, and completely bossed the match.
Holloway put Melville ahead in the eighth minute, heading home at the far post after Wayne Bates had flicked on a David Samson ball into the area.
Two minutes later Stewart burst into the box and slid home a low shot for his second goal of the season.
Scott made it 3-0 from a Holloway cross in the 22nd minute, and seven minutes later applied the best finish of the day. Holloway charged down a Mt Albert clearance and the ball fell to Scott, who chipped the keeper with a curling shot from outside the area.
Scott might have returned from marking the likes of Ronaldhino in China, but it was another Under 23, the pacy and athletic Samson, who was preferred at right back. Scott was shunted to the less familiar territory of left back, where he was slightly hindered after suffering in an ugly tackle from Lyle Eason early on. Samson also had a typically strong game, dominating his flank and supplying a barrage of crosses.
Holloway made it 5-0, after a brilliant right wing run and cross from Matt Williams. His ball was perfect for Holloway to meet inside the 6 yard box, though keeper Zane Green made a fine point blank save, and Holloway had to settle for tapping home the rebound.
The game was effectively over at half time, which is lucky, because Melville again played a load of rubbish in the second half.
Watching former All White Paul Nixon, who has become the unofficial barometer of these things, said it the deterioration was acceptable in this instance, seeing as Melville had already well and truly won the game.
Leo Shin scored a consolation goal from close range for the Alberts, 10 minutes from time. It was a low key affair. Referee Glen House didn’t even appear to blow his whistle for it, and Melville were more interested in an injury to a prostrate Wayne Bates, but a goal it was.
For all Melville’s early creative dominance, coach Steve Williams put a higher premium on defensive play, and named centre back Jonathan Stables as his player of the day. Stables was consistent and reliable in all he did, though actually didn’t have a lot to do compared with other weeks.
Mt Albert Ponsonby coach John "Lippy" Lipscombe said he had no complaints about the result, and thanked the officials, who had done very well compared to his team’s experiences of previous weeks.
He said he had warned his team they would get completely mugged if they came to Gower Park with the wrong attitude. "Coming here is not the same as playing another Auckland club," he said, before vowing his team would give melville "an Auckland welcome" of similar magnitude next week.
Melville coach Steve Williams said he was very pleased with the first half performance, and the failings I the second half gave him plenty of ammo to prepare the team for next week’s challenge.
"We seem to be a first half team."
During the aftermatch ceremony Aaron Scott, 22, was presented with a Melville medallion recording his 100th appearance (league and cup) for Melville United, achieved earlier this season.
"He is a real gem of a player, with old fashioned values" Williams said. This was perhaps typified when, while team mates were heading for a beer, Scott helped take the nets down after the game.
"He has been our best young player since – Cole Tinkler," Williams added, in acknowledging the presence of Olympic team mate Tinkler, who played for Melville as a 16-year-old in 2003, in the clubrooms.
Scott thanked the club members who had contributed towards his costs in preparing for the Olympics.
"Wherever I might end up with my football, Melville will always be home," he said. "The people are fantastic and this will always be my club. I would never think of not returning. It is a great club, and coming back here helps me keep my feet on the ground."
Meanwhile the understaffed Melville reserves lost 3-2 away to Otorohanga, after trailing 3-0. Melville life member Stu Timings was among those to step into the fray to cover player shortages, and he popped up with one of the goals.
The Old Boys won 6-0 versus Unicol with Gary Kingi scoring four, and club stalwart Phil Wheatley getting one of the others. Results HERE. Table HERE. More photos HERE.
Game of two halves
23.8.2008: Melville United extended their premier league unbeaten run to six matches with a Jekyll-and-Hyde 3-2 away win over Tauranga City United.
Melville controlled the first half and were arguably worth way more than their three-goal lead, but were absolutely appalling in the second half, as Tauranga stormed back to almost snatch a share of the points.
Coach Steve Williams, fresh of a Los Angeles flight at 7am, quickly lost his voice in despairing at Melville’s second half ineptitude.
Melville can be thankful that striker Matt Williams was in fine form, because almost all his team mates lacked consistency or reliability in a contest where the game should have been in the bag after the first 20 minutes.
Matt Williams gave Melville the lead in the eighth minute, bundling home a Phil Stables cross from close range after a spirited start.
In the 26th minute Williams scored his second, easily going around the keeper after being put through by a deft flick-on from strike partner Steven Holloway.
In the 34th minute Holloway made the game safe when Williams repaid the favour. He played him through with a delightful ball for a goal so easy, Holloway had time to light a cigar before tapping the ball into the net.
But in the second half Melville switched off almost completely. The passing once again went out the window as Melville opted to instead just boot in the general direction, with some aimless long-ball rubbish, and lethargic movement, at best.
This was accompanied by some schoolboy defending, which allowed Hindrich Hahn to pull back two quick goals.
Melville responded by pulling Williams back into midfield and playing just one up front.
Though Melville continued to gift Tauranga further opportunites, the home team – seemingly headed for relegation playoffs - was not quite good enough to finish them.
Che Bunce played at right back, with Jonathan Stables and Wayne Bates the preferred centreback combination.
For Tauranga, Ian Stringfellow gave a good account of himself in midfield, while Hahn was always dangerous.
Melville’s walking wounded of Josh Billman, Charlie Hoyle, David Samson and Nathan Holten watched from the stands.
Melville are at home to Mt Albert Ponsonby on Saturday. Results HERE. Latest table HERE.
Also: Advance warning: Melville's annual prizegiving is set for September 27, with a venue still to be finalised.
Melville women are champions
[ click headline for full story]
At least it was a win
16.8.2008: Melville United extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 1-0 home win against Three Kings United in the northern premier league, thanks to a shaky penalty. But it was an inept performance. The goal came from a shaky second half penalty. otherwise theless said about this match, the better.
Meanwhile the Melville Old Boys beat Wanderers 7-1 in their Divison C match with Stu Timings scoring a hat trick. Melville A lost 1-6 to Cambridge, with sole highlight being a goal to Rory Noorland.
Sixth draw for Melville
9.8.2008: Melville United became the first club in six weeks to take points off Northern Premier League leaders Eastern Suburbs after battling to a 1-1 draw at Gower Park.
While some Melville players left the field feeling like it was two points dropped after they had earned a 62nd minute lead, in retrospect it was a fair result.
It was the same result as the first time the clubs met, in Auckland, and since then the experienced Suburbs team have not been beaten -- though will feel the dropped points here every bit as keenly as Melville, given the fact it leaves second placed Central, now just two points behind and with three games in hand, a royal chance of defending their title.
Melville started brilliantly, and controlled the first 20 minutes with crisp posession football. Best chance came after a clever move between strikers Steven Holloway and Matt Williams, but Williams nudged the ball just wide in bursting through.
But as is their habit, Melville then went off the boil for long periods, as they ineffectively resorted to bombing long balls forward and playing a hunt and grunt style. To a certain extent this reflects the diverse compostion of the Melville squad: half are very good at the possession game, and half are more at home with kick-and-chase pressure football.
Phil Stables played substitute Nathan Holten into space in the 60th minute, but Suburbs keeper Mike Smith saved brilliantly with his feet.
But reward came soon after, and was stunning in its simplicty. Holloway beat defender Ben Hall on the goal line, to the left of goal. He then jinked back infield past Suburbs player-coach Sean Douglas, and rolled a perfect ball square for the advancing Charlie Hoyle to tap into an empty net from 1m. It was Hoyle’s second goal in two weeks, after having never previously scored for Melville.
Melville gained a further advantage when Suburbs had Rob Spence sent off for a second bookable offence (diving in the penality area) in the 71st minute.
But that prompted a fierce Suburbs onslaught, in which all their experience came to the fore. The Melville back four and midfield were over-run, and the visitors went close on numerous occasions. Finally, in the 80th minute substitute Lucas Findon smashed home a brilliant volley from outside the area for an equaliser that had been a long time coming.
Both teams named their keepers as player of the day. Eddie Trubshoe made a couple of breath-taking saves late in the day.
For Melville, David Samson also had a strong game at right back, and was the pick of the back four. He also won (and duly drank) the aftermatch raffle, a bottle of Sex On The Beach. While not what he normally drinks, Samson said it was a concept he was familiar with.
Ryan Harden made a few great jinking runs, and Hoyle was well worth his place. But sideline opinion was divided on whether Melville gets better value out of Che Bunce in midfield or at centre back.
The point earned was a relief for acting Melville coaches Jeremy Ollington and Kit Fagan, in the absence of Steve Williams, who had family business to attend to in the USA.
Fagan praised Suburbs for their fantastic season, but regretted Melville had not been able to become just the second team to beat them this winter.
Meanwhile the Melville Reserves lost 3-4 at home to Te Awamutu, despite two goals from Malcolm Amarasekera and a great header from Tewi Te Pou.
The Old Boys staged a thrilling fightback to beat Hamilton North 5-4, with goals from Gary Kingi and Stu Timings.
Northern League table HERE. Rsults HERE.
Azza does his bit
8.8.2008: Melville United's Aaron Scott was in the starting line-up as the New Zealand Olywhites recorded an inspirational 1-1 draw with hosts China at the Beijing Olympics overnight. New Zealand shocked China with a 563rd minute goal to Jeremy Brockie, but -- reduced to 10 men after Steven Old was sent off in the 38th minute -- just failed to hold on for the win, with the home team equalising in the 87th minute. Scott was substituted for another former Melville man, Cole Tinkler, in the 81st minute.
The result keeps New Zealand within two points of Group C leaders Brazil, who needed a 79th minute Hernanes strike to overcome nine-man Belgium in an earlier kick-off.
Eight goal draw
2.8.2008: Melville United three times came from behind to draw 4-4 away to Metro, in a bizarre northern premier league game which featured eight second half goals.
Charlie Hoyle and substitute Michael Kim scored their first northern league goals for Melville, but the game will be remembered more as the third occasion this season Melville’s defence has coughed up four goals or more.
"It was a great game to watch if you were just a spectator," said Melville coach Steve Williams. "It was a weird, weird game."
Melville looked very comfortable in the opening 20 minutes, pinning Metro in their own penalty area, with the only frustration that Hoyle, playing on the right flank, had not tucked away two glorious opportunities. The first came from a slick move involving Matt Friel, Steven Holloway and Matt Williams, before Hoyle blasted over from 2m, and the second was a free header in front of goal.
But after Melville had fallen behind to a 47th Metro penalty – Sean Devine burgled it out of his former NZ Knights team mate Che Bunce – it was Hoyle to the rescue in racing down the right, and slamming home a shot two minutes later. Metro keeper Marcel Fife, a former Melville youth player, let the ball sneak under his body, but it was good reward for the energetic Hoyle.
Metro were soon back in front, and eased out to a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead, before Holloway pulled one back from the penalty spot, after Williams had been fouled.
Melville man of the match, Paul Stewart then added a cracker, latching onto a loose ball about 16m from goal after a good Melville attack involving Williams and Holloway to ram home a solid left footer.
But Metro struck again with less than 10 minutes remaining. Substitute David Samson gave away a foul in midfield, and Metro pumped the ball into the area and slotted a nice header.
As the clock ran down, Ryan Harden played in a well weighted free kick from the left and in the ensuing scramble Kim netted off his knee. It was perhaps a shade perverse that Melville scored from a free kick, as apart from Harden’s effort, and a good earlier attempt from Williams, Melville’s set plays were mostly disappointing – from soft floaty corners to hit-and-hope free kicks, there was little going on.
By contrast, Metro always looked dangerous from them, and Melville keeper Eddie Trubshoe had to pull off a dramatic late save from Devine to prevent a 5-4 loss.
Late in the game Melville finally dispensed with the "Che Bunce is a midfielder" theory, though the more serous problems originated on both flanks, where Metro got in behind the fullbacks with ridiculous ease.
The service forward was very sloppy, with the distribution from the back four unusually poor. And while it rained all day, the pitch was in remarkably good nick.
The result did not affect Melville’s sixth placing, given Papatoetoe and Tauranga drew 2-2, but it did signal a return to the defensive brittleness which haunted Melville back in June.
Metro are a better team than their third-from-bottom position indicates, but Melville have now conceded 28 goals in 16 matches – compared with 18 in 20 matches last year.
Melville will be without Stewart and Friel next week, (home to Eastern Suburbs) after both received their fifth booking. Friel was again booked for giving advice to the referee, though there was a touch of Monty Python about it. A Metro defender screamed an obscenity at the referee which was audible through most of West Auckland and got off scott free, while Friel copped a card after having a quiet word in his ear.
Results HERE. Table HERE.
Another clean sheet for Melville
Matt Williams and Steven Holloway again got the goals, but it was midfielder Paul Stewart who turned in the most dominant performance as Melville United beat fourth-placed Bay Olympic 2-0 in the northern premier league.
Stewart bossed the midfield, repeatedly winning possession, and mopping up like a powerful disinfectant against a muted fourth-placed Bay Olympic team which barely managed a couple of shots at Gower Park.
Melville coach Steve Williams singled Stewart out for praise, laced with blunt criticism of some of his earlier performances.
"We saw the return of Paul Stewart as a player of note today," Williams said. "He did nothing with Waikato over the summer and for most of this season has played like a half-sucked sausage, but today he stood up as a player of class and style."
The match was played in bleak pre-cyclone conditions, with the metal hoardings on the eastern side of the ground having to be lashed up, after the strong crossfield wind popped their rivets.
Williams suggested the conditions played a big part in Melville’s dominance, with Bay Olympic having been uncertain if thematch would go ahead, and being in a mindset where they were hoping it was cancelled.
"We wanted it more," he said. "We were expecting a tough game, but there was only one side in it."
Melville threatened to run riot in the first half, and but for a couple of wayward shots and fortuitous saves could have been four of five goals up at the break.
But their only goal of the half didn’t come until the 40th minute, when Holloway chased down a through ball down the right, and went around advancing keeper Chris Marsh who had advanced out of his goal. His pinpoint cross gave Williams the easiest of tasks to sidefoot home from a couple of feet at the far post.
Williams returned the favour somewhat for Holloway in the 60th minute, embarking on a mazy run before releasing for Holloway to skip inside two challenges and bury the ball in the corner.
Only blemish for Melville was the late second-half sending off of Phil Stables for a second bookable offence (with his first caution a complete nonsense). However with Stewart looking capable of holding the midfield by himself, it had no impact, and keeper Eddie Trubshoe’s biggest worry was trying to keep warm.
Bay Olympic coach Kim Beale had no complaints. "The score reflected the game," he said. "We didn’t deserve three points."
It was a second successive clean sheet for Melville, though their defence was once again seldom tested. Bay Olympic were without leading striker Colin Gardyne, who had the flu, while Melville were without the suspended Che Bunce.
Charlie Hoyle made his first start in 10 matches and did well down the right, Matt Friel added some artful touches, and Holloway and Williams were a lively combination up front.
Beale named keeper Marsh as his player of the day - and for his troubles he received an unexpected presentation.
Melville supporter Grant Stantiall presented him with his Football Kingz shirt from the 2000 Australian NSL season, which he had purchased on Trade Me for $42. Stantiall recounted the story of how, in the financial crumbling of the Kingz, some players had taken into their own hands to sell club gear in lieu of money they were owed – but Marsh had missed out. Stantiall believed he was righting a wrong by returning the shirt to its rightful owner.
Feature of Melville’s line-up was the inclusion of Marcus Traill on the bench. Though he never got on the pitch, the 32-year-old merchant banker, now resident in the Bahamas tax haven, was warmly welcomed back to the club where he last took the pitch in 2002, and has never left, and has continued to support. Traill still has the same body weight as he did 10 years ago, and impressed at training on Thursday night, though said he had pulled up a bit stiff afterwards.
Wanderers had their game against Mt Albert Ponsonby postponed by the weather and along with Ngaruawahia – who had a first division bye – they fronted at Gower Park. Steve Williams congratulated the Ngaruawahia lads for their season and urged them to continue the job.
The clubrooms heard how Central United travelled all the way to Mt Maunganui only to find their game against Tauranga City United called off.
Meanwhile the Melville club acknowledged the engagement of first team medic Sandi Hastings, to her fiancee Peter.
In other matches the Melville A team lost 2-0 to Hamilton North, and in the C Division Melville Old Boys were beaten 2-0 by Eastern City – a result which is likely to confirm City as league winners and Melville as runners-up.
Melville spokesman Kris Allen said the ethnically-comprised Eastern City team were the best in the league, and the Old Boys wanted to acknowledge that.
However he was disappointed at Eastern City’s lack of respect for the traditions of the game, in leaving straight afterwards and refusing to enter the clubrooms or socialise after such a critical match. For most clubs and teams, this is considered an integral part of the game.
"Maybe it’s about time something was said about this," he said.
Overdue win for Melville
19.7.2008: Melville United have pulled out of their mid-season slump with a 3-0 away win over Papatoetoe.
On the heel’s of Melville’s worst loss of the season, came their best win of the season, with Papatoetoe coach Billy Harris offering the view, both in his programme column and speech, that Melville were the second best team in the league.
It was Melville’s first northern premier league win in four outings and the result lifted them to sixth place in the table, ahead of next Saturday’s home match with fourth-placed Bay Olympic.
It was also Melville’s first clean sheet in seven outings, with the defensive leaks which had contributed to 13 goals in the previous five games cured by a shock move.
Melville opted to player former All White central defender Che Bunce in midfield, with Jonathan Stables and Wayne Bates the preferred central combination.
However it may be too early to judge the merits of this radical decision, given the Melville defence was seldom tested. Melville dominated possession and restricted Papatoetoe to a handful of shots, with Eddie Trubshoe having just one save to make.
Despite Melville’s dominance, the goals were slow in coming. Papatoetoe put up a dogged defence, and it wasn’t as if Melville were wasting golden opportunities, even though they continually seemed to have the home team stretched.
Melville finally breached Papatoetoe’s defence in the 75th minute with a slick move. Substitute Charlie Hoyle fed Steven Holloway from a throw in on the right. Holloway slipped a clever ball through for Matt Williams to run onto, and he had the time and space to pick his spot from about 12m.
Hoyle also played a key role in the second goal in the 88th minute. He held the ball in the corner, from a short corner, and then turned and slipped between the two defenders seeking to dispossess him. His low cross was bundled home at the far post by Holloway.
In injury time Williams went down in the box and Che Bunce stepped up to take a well struck penalty. But it was a bittersweet game for Bunce. Early on he copped an elbow to the head which required him leave the field for treatment. The referee took no action for the foul, but, bizarrely, booked Bunce for complaining about it. It was one of those decisions which players hate and drives spectators nuts. As his fifth yellow for the season, it means Bunce will be suspended next week.
Melville coach Steve Williams was surprisingly downcast about a mostly dominant Melville performance.
"I thought the result flattered us," he said in his aftermatch speech. "There is nothing flash about your team, but you battle and battle."
At this point Williams tired of a Papatoetoe supporter heckling him while he was speaking. So he stopped, and handed the microphone to him.
If that was surprising, even more so was the failure of the Papatoetoe officials to tell their fans to shut up and invite Williams to continue speaking.
It was left for Papatoetoe coach Billy Harris to say: "Sorry about that, Steve", in his speech.
Harris said Melville had denied his team time and space.
"You are the second best team in the league after Central. I’m glad we won’t be seeing you any more this season."
Full results HERE. latest table HERE.
Ouch! Melville hammered
12.7.2008: Melville United have suffered their most comprehensive home defeat in years, at the hands of northern premier league leaders Central United.
Central came from behind to crush Melville 5-1 at Gower Park, thanks to a hat trick from former new Zealand Football Championship player of the year and golden boot Grant Young, and two from fellow striker Dave Richmond.
There was little sign of the carnage to follow when Melville dominated the opening 30 minutes. They took the lead in the 10th minute after Steven Holloway burst into the box and was fouled by Greg Uhlmann. Ryan Harden easily slotted the penalty.
But Central scored three goals in a 10-minute spell just before half time. Richmond waltzed through a squarish and static Melville defence to level, and Grant Young superbly volleyed home to make it 2-1 in the 40th minute, despite being off-balance at the far post.
Richmond added his second in the 45th minute running through unchallenged down the left flank to stab the ball past Eddie Trubshoe.
Player of the day Young glided through a sluggish defence for further goals in the 75th and 83rd minutes.
Despite the hammering, Central coach Peter Martin said Melville had plenty to recommend them.
"You started very well," he said. "With the football you attempt to play, you sholdbe a lot higher up the table. You deserved your early lead and could have had another."
Martin praised the state of Gower Park and the Melville clubrooms, where improvements are continuing.
"It is wonderful to come here," he said. "The club is the home of the game, and it is good you have people developing it."
Melville coach Steve Williams said his players needed to take stock.
"We capitulated," he said. "We have 6-7 players who will be playing national league in the summer, and too many appeared to be just waiting for that. You need to take a good hard look at yourselves."
Pick of the Melville players was Matt Williams, who started in a holding role in midfield, but was moved up front in the second half.
Dave Samson was injured early, with Malcolm Amarasekera getting the nod to replace him. But that required Harden to swap to the left flank to accommodate him, and Harden - still troubled by his left ankle - was unable to supply any attacking ball from that side of the pitch.
Steven Holloway's fitness was again suspect, while the Melville back four, often exposed for pace, were lucky not to concede more goals, and keeper Eddie Trubshoe had a disappointing day.
Melville are away to Papatoetoe on Saturday.
Tina bags a hat trick
A hat trick from the versatile Tina Phillips powered Melville United women to a 3-0 away win over Whakamaru-Mangakino in Waikato Women's B division football on Sunday.
Phillips, who in previous seasons has impressed as a fullback and goalkeeper, has been Melville's most effective striker this season.
It was 0-0 at the break with Melville failing to impress, but a half time rev up from assistant coach Andrea Timings appeared to help.
Melville may have extended their lead but for the curiosity of the home team playing on a pitch with non-regulation "rugby' goalposts.
The win left Melville level at the top of the division on points, but with a goal difference two adrift of Waikato Unicol at the top.
Melville women are at home to Waikato Unicol on Sunday (11am), then away to Eastern Suburbs next week in the Waikato Top 6 competition.
Meanwhile Melville Old Boys beat Te Awamutu 2-1 to stay locked at the top of their C division with Eastern City.
Williams' header earns a draw
 4.7.2008: It needed a powerful late header from midfielder Matt Williams for Melville to finally grind out a 1-1 draw in their local derby with Hamilton Wanderers on a sloshy Porritt Stadium pitch.
It was Melville’s first point in three league outings, but continued their pattern of dominating possession and failing to win.
Botswanan Sam Maposa gave Wanderers a 39th minute lead with a finely struck shot from the edge of the area, though Melville could easily have been further behind, had a goal not been disallowed for offside after a Michael Mayne longshot.
Melville lifted their game in the second half, launching continued assaults on the Wanderers goal.
Wanderers keeper Dan Robinson saved twice from Steven Holloway, Matt Friel had a shot cleared off the line, Paul Stewart hit the cross bar, while Nathan Holten, Ryan Harden, Che Bunce and Williams all shot high.
It was a relief for Melville, that with time running out, player of the day Williams nutted home a strong header from a Harden free kick on the right. It was Williams’ first goal since returning to Melville.
However there was almost a sting in the tail for Melville, with Wanderers sub Marco Rojas squandering a glorious chance to steal a win, after a Melville defensive error. He was right through on goal but unable to beat Eddie Trubshoe from a couple of metres.
Melville coach Steve Williams was both relieved to gain a point, but frustrated by his teams failure to win once again, a week after a horror 0-3 Chatham Cup loss away to Glenfield Rovers.
"It was a big point for us," he said. "We have stopped the rot.
"The game was played by two sides that really wanted to win. Wanderersscored the goal, and it was up to us to chase them from there.
"It was a fair result. There was not a lot of difference between the sides, except a lot of our lads are more senior and should have done more."
The refereeing was weak, and left both teams with a spiralling sense of frustration. However if it was below the standard generally expected for a premier league derby, it must be said Melville had more of the decisions go their way than Wanderers.
"I thought Buncey was refereeing the match," quipped Wanderers coach Mark Cossey in his aftermatch speech.
Wanderers looked beyond the consistent danger Maposa posed and named young striker Warrick Gibson as their player of the day.
Meanwhile the Melville Reserves lost 2-6 to Federation League leaders Matamata Swifts.
"Thanks Melville" - Message from Aaron Scott
26.6.2008: To all the players, members, fans and all those who associate themselves with the Melville United Club...
Firstly, a massive "thank you" could be the understatement of the year. I was blown away by the generosity of the unexpected fundraiser that the people of Melville United did for me. I have always received wonderful support from the people at the club and to now have received financial support to help me pay my travel and other costs incurred in training in Wellington as my build up with the New Zealand Under 23s for the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing is magic.
I was offered deals to play for clubs in the Wellington region in the Central Premier League. But this was never an option for me as I wanted to play for Melville, where I started and still love my senior football. The kindness of the club and its followers reaffirms my decision to stay, because it has a bunch of people who are there for the right reasons and that I have known for years.
A huge thank you to the boys of the first team. Without you, I would never have got picked for this squad, as it was while playing along side you guys that I was first selected into the New Zealand Invitational side. All your support, jokes, songs and messages of goodwill will stick with me the entire trip and no doubt into whatever the future holds for me.
The situation for me is as follows. I am in training camp in Wellington for the next couple of weeks before heading for China. We have tours through Australia and Indonesia with three games in each country plus one more game in China for our build up before hitting the big time in the Games. For those of you who don’t know, our games are against hosts China on the 7th August, Brazil on the 10th and Belgium on the 13th - and fingers crossed more after those group matches.
Finally, I thank you all once again for all the support I have received from teammates and people at the club that over the years.
Thanks again
Aaron Scott
Melville beaten again in the league
21.6.2008: Melville United have stumbled against mid-table opposition for their second successive northern premier league match.
Melville lost 2-1 away to Onehunga Sports, and have now dropped to seventh in the table, a point behind Onehunga.
It was a ponderous and unconvincing Melville performance. They happily played possession football at the back, but – in something reminiscent of Waikato FC over the summer - struggled to get the ball forward with any purpose, usually losing it before getting out of their half.
It was all too slow and disjointed, and Onehunga were able to live quite well off Melville mistakes. Playing on the right flank, at one stage Ryan Harden endured a 15-minute spell where he never touched the ball.
Melville seldom got cracking, despite enjoying a wealth of possession and territory in the first half. They had the assistance of the wind but managed hardly any shots, and few meaningful attacks.
Melville were without LJ Pijnenburg (hamstring), David Smith (ankle), Josh Billman (ligaments), and Matt Hastings, while Aaron Scott watched from the bench, with Olympic team management insisting on keeping him in cotton wool.
And David Samson and Matt Friel played despite illness all week. Jared Benwell made his first appearance since breaking his cheek on April 19, while Matt Williams had his first run of the season.
Steven Holloway made his first appearance in four weeks up front for Melville, but received little service, his team mates reluctant to play the ball to his feet.
Onehunga capitalised on a midfield mistake to open the scoring five minutes into the second half. Che Bunce equalised after 65 minutes with a textbook far post header from a Samson corner.
But to the delight of a home crowd populated by a number of boorish and downright unpleasant individuals on the clubrooms deck, Onehunga regained the lead about 10 minutes later with a long ball played forward.
The Melville back four waited for the offside flag, but it never came, and Tim Hayhow strolled through for his second goal, with Eddie Trubshoe retreating rather than advancing in goal.
Che Bunce had a long one-sided conversation with the assistant referee who kept his flag down, inviting him to confirm he genuinely thought the Onehunga player was on side. The linesman did not respond.
But the bottom line is Melville simply did not play well enough to be pointing the finger at others.
Table HERE. Results HERE.
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