The team seemed as cool as cucumbers on a hot September morning and they played without apparent nerves. From the outset our desire and skill level was apparent. After 15 minutes of 'feeling each other out', Omar opened the scoring from the left with a lovely shot that curled over the keeper's head; 1-0 Tech. 15 minutes later a rare defensive error from Andrew let the Burwood striker through for a 1 on 1 which he put away well. However within 2 minutes we had struck back wih Omar grabbing his second - another dipping shot that found the top left corner, after a lovely through ball from Jordan; 2-1 to us. Burwood struck back soon after when we were unable to clear a cross and from the ensuing scramble a goal was scored. But this time it was our turn to hit back quickly - after Jamie's shot rebounded from the post Levi was there to slot home. 3-2 to Tech at the break. We were playing the better football, stringing passes together well, attacking down the wings and Luke and Johanna controlling the centre. Still, we were only a goal up.

The second half started tightly and even though we had the better of the play we were unable to finish them off. Some good defensive work from Sean and Andrew particularly kept most of their 'through ball' attacks at bay. Callum created chances down the left and eventually it was Omar (again!) who finished well after dodging between two defenders to bag his hat-trick. 4-2 and now it was all one-way traffic, with Andrew heading home and TJ getting the sixth for us to finish 6-2 victors over the top placed 2nd division team.

Congratulations and 'well played' with impressive games all round the park; the team thoroughly deserved its win and showed the degree of improvement made this season, even though we didn't have many wins to show for it. In 11th and 12th grade Burwood and Tech had been virtually inseperable and now we've seen just how far our game has developed by playing DIV 1 football. Clearly, it's where we are meant to be.

August 22nd, Knockout Cup: Woolston Technical 0, Nomads 5; at Nunweek Park

What an improvement. After a big team talk at training where we set some very specific goals, we came out with much more physical intensity. Unfortunately a penalty to Nomads in the first minute wasn't part of the plan. While Nomads grabbed another before half time they didn't score again until 20 minutes from the end. This was a great effort to concede just 1 goal against this team in 49 minutes of football. Our physicality and desire put them off their usual game and they got rattled. This pressure resulted in us having a number of chances but we were unable to convert. They scored 3 in the last 20 minutes to close it out but this was truly a fantastic effort. Great games all round but especially to Levi and Jimmy, who was Player of the Day.

August 15th, RD 14: Woolston Technical 0, Nomads 11; at Tullet Park

We tried hard, we never gave up, some good skills were shown. We defended poorly from corners and Nomads scored some very good goals. Nomads are a classy team, no question. Afterall most of them play at Canterbry rep level and are good athletes. However I was disappointed in what appeared to be deliberate repeated tackling from behind to bring one of our players down whenever we threatened (as happened on 3 occasions in the first half). This professional fouling would be red carded by some refs.

August 8th, RD 13: Woolston Technical 3, Avon 5; at Garrick Park

A good competitive game where we showed true Tech spirit to battle all the way without giving up. They scored first but we were gifted an opportunity from Avon's keeper whose poor kick Luke calmly volleyed straight back over his head and into goal. 1-1 at the break and we were in there fighting. Unfortunately a defensive lapse very early in the second half gave them the lead and with the wind at their backs and winning the ball in the middle they managed to add another 2 goals to lead 4-1 with about 15 minutes left.TJ pulled one back to make it 4-2 but Avon scored again for a 5-2 lead. Jordan managed another goal to make it 5-3 at the final whistle. We had played well, created chances and fought hard. TJ looked dangerous, Luke and Johanna battled well, Omar, Levi and Jordan all showed good form and Sean kept their dangerous striker pretty quiet most of the day.

August 1st, RD 12 : Woolston Wechnical 1, Ferrmead Bays 3; at Garrick Park

I was very proud of the way the team played yesterday. They picked themselves up from last week's shambles and showed more intensity, good passing and great effort right to the finish. Andrew scored first mid way through the first half but a good Bays goals levelled the scores at half time. In the end Bays attacking forces took their opportunities and we could not manage another goal. However lots of players had lots to be proud of yesterday, all over the park. Great grames from Callum, Andrew, Jimmy, Alex, Johanna, Sean and Levi who was player of the day.

July 25th, RD 11: Woolston Technical 1, Waimak United 8; at Kendall Park

We travelled to Kendall with high hopes against 6th-placed Waimak who were very lucky to beat us 1-0 in the first round. They played extremely well and the game was virtaully gone in the first 10 minutes when we found ourselves 3 nil down. It's all very well wanting to win but we didn't put the effort into executing well. Far too many balls are just being kicked away, we are not maintianing possession or getting first to the ball.

Waimak had only scored 6 goals all season and they were 5 nil up at the break. We didn't give up, which was good to see. However the gap between our skill level and application, and being competitive at this level is still quite large. Waimak have put the work in at training during the season. It's now up to the players whether they want to put the work in to redress the gap, or head back down to Div 2.

July 18th, RD 10: Woolston Technical 1, Cashmere 5; at Cuthberts Green

We started in heavy fog against 3rd placed Cashmere. A defensive error saw Cashmere run through for a one-on-one for them to score first. We struck back when Levi burst through down the left, shot and kept chasing to pounce on the keeper's fumble to make it 1-1. In a fairly even battle we held our own for a while before Cashmere scored from what looked (from halfway) to be a player standing right on the goal line in an offside position. Jimmy then brought a player down outside the box and the direct free kick sailed into the top right corner without a hand being laid on it. Down 3-1 at the break but some good effort being shown.

In a tight second half Cashmere grabbed a goal from a good cross and scored right on full time in what appeared to be a very long second half. Our first touches up front let us down a number of times and we are still trying to find the right midfield combination. Sean had an excellent game in defence - particularly covering the pacy and classy Antonio; and Jimmy had a much better second half with some good saves to earn Player of the Day.

June 27th, RD 9: Woolston Technical 0, Burnside 7; at Avon Park

A tough game for us without Luke and 4 players getting out of their sick bed to play. This also meant a few players playing out of position which upset team shape a little. Unfortunately a poor goalkick gifted Burnside a goal inside the first couple of minutes. Then a longish shot caught our keeper off his line and it sailed over his head and into goal. A skillful chip and a headed corner made it 4 nil at half time. The team not looking too flash. Another opposition goal right from the whistle and it was a case of could we keep it respectable. We scrambled and defended well most of the second half. Jamie replaced Jimmy after 10 minutes (he really wasn't well enough to play but showed guts to hang in that long) and they scored with just a minute to go to finish at 7 nil. To be fair they could have scored a few more and we rarely threatened. Burnside are a very good team but we were not at our best today. Andrew won Player of the Day for a sterling effort in central defence after being very ill all week.

June 20th, RD 8: Woolston Technical 1, Halswell 0; at Halswell Domain

A much better perfromance all round. More intensity, much better composure and we played to the game plan. Good efforts from many players all over the park. An outstanding game from Alex earned him Player of the Day. The feeling of the first win was awesome for the team but the coach was even more pleased with the turnaround in performance. Well done.

June 13th, RD 7: Woolston Technical 0, Cashmere 5; at Spreydon Domain

Our worst performance in 3 years. Not enough of anything by anyone. The less said the better. Callum and Alex both had a good half at left back. Losing Sean with a locked knee early in the second half didn't help. Johanna tried her heart out all game and kept her composure to win player of the day.

June 6th, RD 6: Woolston Technical 0, Ferrymead Bays; at Lyttelton Domain

Bays were one of the top 3 teams last year but we'd played them in a pre-season game and I thought an upset was possible. Playing into a howling Southerly we did really well to make half time nil nil. We thought we were really in with a big chance.

Then the big disappointment of a goal scored by us, then disallowed by the ref/linesman - no-one except the linesamn saw the supposed goalkeeper obstruction (TJ isn't big enough to obstrcut anyone!). The Bays coach even apologised. Our heads went down a bit and the momentum of the game changed. Their skillful forwards managed 2 good goals late in the game to take a 2 nil win. We played well but that controversial disallowed goal really hurt. The Bays coach thought we had improved a lot since our pre-season game. Sean won Player of the Day for a good game in central defence.

May 30th, RD 5: Woolston Technical 0, Waimak Utd 1; at Ensors

This was a game that both teams could have won many times over. Each team was unlucky on numerous occasions not to find the back of the net. Waimak started the stronger and dominated the first period. Tech did not clear well from the back but a combination of scrambled defence, Callum clearing off the line and Jimmy coming out of his box twice to snuff out threatening attacks kept us in the game. Thomas' introduction sparked the forward line and we started to play with better shape, knocking the ball around pretty well but we didn't take the chances that came our way. Nil nil at oranges.

The second half was highlighted by good defence from both sides. Each team also had opportunities that looked like certain goals from the coach's technical area only to be sprayed wide or high, or denied by the crossbar. With less than 5 minutes remaining a Waimak cross was left to bounce in our 6 yard box and from the ensuing non-clearance Waimak scrambled it in. We played well as a team and certainly a better brand of football but Waimak played well and would have been hard done by to get nothing from the game.

Great games from Jamie (POD), Luke, Levi, Thomas, Aaron and Sean.

May 16th, RD 4: Woolston Technical 0, Nomads 10 @ Garrick

Another game against a fully loaded rep team. Nomads had put 11 past Cashmere and 14 past Halswell already this season. We had 3 players sick or injured who by rights should have been at home in bed; but they showed their spirit by turning up to play for the team anyway. In the first half we were not able to get much possession of the ball and were not able to hold it when we did. They scored 2 from corners and had a long shot sail over our keeper's head. Half time came with us trailing 4 nil. The second half started badly when Jimmy had to come off injured. Sean had to move to goalkeeper and we had 2 central defenders with heavy colds trying their best. Our midfield was not able to win and hold ball and the floodgates opened. By the time it was over we'd conceded 10 and only really threatened their goal a couple of times. This was the first time in over 2 years that we have failed to score a goal. The gap between last year's DIV 2 (and in some cases DIV 3) against a virtaul rep DIV 1 team really showed today.

Michael played solidly all game and was a deserved Player of the Day.

May 9th, RD 3: Woolston Technical 1, Burnside 5 @ Burnside Park

The crack Burnside team (full of rep players) played briliant possession football. We defended stoutly with the exception of 3 errors: a mis-kicked clearance and 2 corners. They scored from each, plus one more well constrcuted goal and led 4-0 at the break. In the second half Tech played with great spirit and never gave up. The team were rewarded with a second half 1-1 result and showed that they can compete at this level and play good football when they concentrate, support each other and hold the ball as a team.

Aaron was Player of the Day for a fantastic second half defensive effort.

May 2nd, RD 2: Woolston Technical 2, Halswell 2 @ Garrick

A much brighter start to the game and a goal either side of half time to Thomas saw us 2 nil up. However Halswell fought back bravely and we couldn't put the game away. With just a couple of minutes to go a high bouncing through ball had our keeper off his line but not connecting. The Halswell header just had enough to get over the goal line with 2 Tech defenders chasing. Disappointing we didn't get the win but more importantly a much better effort.

Good work all day from Levi, TJ, Alex and Luke who was Player of the Day

April 26th, RD 1: Woolston Technical 1, Avon 5 @ Avonhead
An early goal from Avon put us on the backfoot before we had time to settle and we we failed to recover. We were 3 nil down before grabbing one back just ahead of the break, with a nicely taken shot from Omar.

The second half was more evenly fought but we struggled to take advantage of the wind. Avon managed another 2 late in the game, though one was heavily disputed as the linesman had flagged offside but the ref over-ruled (incorrectly).

Jamie and Callum worked tirelessly There was some good defence from Johanna, Andrew and Sean. Jordan was Player of the Day.