Reserves kick off 2011 with a win and a loss

Western Springs Villa 1 Pukekohe 0 (HT 1 – 0)       2/4/11 at Walker Park

Team: Andy Townsend, Seksit Techo, Ben Johnston, Cam Whalley, Phil Jennens, Liam McDonald, Jonathan Coombes, Gavin Speight, Andy Bell, John Skinner   Subs: Steve Upfold, Brandon Botting

The Men’s Reserves started their 2011 Div 4 campaign on April 2nd, with an away trip to Walker Park to take on Western Springs. This was a Springs side who looked as if they have played together for a long time and definitely had it over our side in terms of physical size and experience. Despite that, the Maroons gave a great account of themselves in their first competitive game together and matched their opponents all over the park.

The decisive moment of the game came right on the stroke of half-time when Jon Coombes tripped an opponent moving in on goal. Despite appearing to have been well outside the box, the referee pointed to the spot, and Springs converted the penalty for what ended up being the only goal of the game.

Despite the 1 – 0 loss, if our option taking and finishing had been better, we would have taken something from the game. So, all in all, a very positive start to the season.

Thanks to the Western Springs lads, the game was played in good spirit and we look forward to getting our revenge when you come to Bledisloe later in the season.

Pukekohe 8 Mangere 2 (HT 3 – 0)        9/4/11 at Bledisloe Park

Team: Andy Townsend, Gavin Speight, Ben Johnston, Brandon Botting, Cam Whalley, Colin Case, Liam McDonald, Jonathan Coombes, Andrew Lamborn, Andy Bell, Steve Upfold. Sub: John Skinner

After the positive start the previous week, the Reserves had a few line-up changes for their first home game, against a Mangere side who had won their game the previous week.

Mangere’s day didn’t get off to the best of starts when they turned up and announced that they played in maroon shirts! ‘Not today you don’t’ was the second thought in my mind (the first is unprintable). After some ransacking of the clubrooms by myself and Tony Wisnewski (thanks, Wiz), Mangere took to the field looking splendid in a set of retro white Pukekohe shirts.

The game itself, as the scoreline suggests, was pretty much dominated by Pukekohe from start to finish. From the moment Jon Coombes opened the scoring with a shot from well outside the box, it was a procession of Pukekohe attacks, with Mangere limited to the odd counter attack. A combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping meant that an own goal and a goal from Andy Bell sent us in only 3 – 0 up at the half.

The second half was more of the same, Pukekohe dominating and adding 5 more to the total with Colin Case, Andy Lamborn, Liam McDonald all scoring and Andy Bell helping himself to two more, to finish the day with a hat-trick. In between some sloppiness crept in, perhaps understandably, which allowed Mangere to steal a couple of goals, but overall it was good performance all round. Not perfect by a long way but, on the back of last week’s showing, it looks like there are some good signs for the season ahead.

Despite the heavy defeat, Mangere deserve a lot of credit for the way they continued to try and play good football right to the end. Thanks to John Keen for refereeing the second half for us.

Next Saturday, the Reserves face Three Kings at home at 1 o’clock, with the 1st team also at home at 2.45 against Central United. Your support for both teams would be very much appreciated.