Football: Webber’s goals add to Moturoa’s success

Will Johnston

Seven goals by Moturoa’s Tyler Webber helped him claim two accolades in Taranaki’s football premiership on Saturday.

Webber bagged the competition’s golden boot prize for netting the most goals during the season after the team’s 13-1 drubbing against Kaitake in a catch-up game at Oakura.

The striker passed opponent James Bevington (17) to finish with 21 goals for the season.

“He’s an insane little football player,” Moturoa head coach Dyl Coutts said. “His speed and composure in front of the goal is insane, he was unlucky not to pick up a few more during the season.”

Adding to the trophy cabinet, Moturoa was crowned champions of the competition for the first time since their three-peat between 2017-2019 after an unbeaten season from 14 matches.

Moturoa finished the season with 40 points, 10 clear of second-placed FC Western reserves.

Head coach Dyl Coutts said Saturday’s result was the icing on the cake.

“The boys came out firing,” he said.

A different attitude and formation were the ingredients of Moturoa's success, which saw it score 62 goals and concede only five.

“The boys have all brought into that attitude. We’ve been there or thereabouts with the league anyhow, with thirds or fourths."

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing during the season. FC Western was the only team to come close to beating Moturoa with a draw earlier this year. It was one game that could have gone either way.

“We want these hard battles and FC Western was right up there with us.”

A Federation Cup knock-out match against Gisborne United was an obvious highlight for him.

“They were a hearty, heart team and they stuck to their guns, and we came out with a 4-1 win which was good.”

A 7-0 win against cross-city rivals New Plymouth Rangers and a 3-1 victory versus FC Western were other matches that stood out.

While he couldn’t narrow down key performances, he said the season wasn’t just about the 11 starting players, but the 19 in the squad.

“They’ve all stepped up. Our captain Dean Wilson has been amazing.”

Moturoa plays Taradale in the Federation Cup final on Saturday, September 7 after twice being runners up. Coutts expects Moturoa to continue their form from the local competition.

“We want to prove what we can do to ourselves, and we want to show the community that Taranaki’s got a good, strong footballing community.”

With changes looming across Central Football leagues next year, Coutts said it will affect Moturoa but isn’t sure how it will look yet.

Meanwhile, Moturoa’s women’s team is sixth in the eight-team Central League.  

In the Federation League, FC Western is the best of the three Taranaki teams sitting in third place behind Palmerston North United and Marist teams, which are locked up in first place. New Plymouth Rangers is in seventh and last year’s Taranaki champions Peringa is in last place in the nine-team competition with three weeks to play.