Another Win... Another Loss...

The men's third team have started a horrible pattern of win-loss-win-loss-win... hopefully it won't continue all season.

The teams 5th game was against Otahuhu Suva at home. The opposition played very unorthadox football and really cancelled out all of our efforts to play a flowing game. In attack they seemed to play 3-3-4 and in defence 5-4-1! It certainly made things interesting. Their main tactic was very rugby league- hit it high and long so the chasers could get up and press, and it worked for them.

All 3 goals came from long balls that the Pukekohe defense failed to deal with.

Puke had chances to get on the board, but nothing found its way into the back of the net. Nuff' said... 3-0 to Otahuhu was the final score.

Game 6 was against Three Kings Pingers, on the oddly positioned Quarry field in Mt Eden. Three Kings started well and had Puke under some pressure, but a few great saves from Menno, some good blocks by Clive and Roly and a brilliant off the line clearance by Terry kept the game scoreless for about 20 mins. Kings also went a man down permanently early on, due to a deliberate and really quite stupid handball which their home ref saw fit to red card him for.

Simon broke the deadlock when a freekick whipped in wasn't dealt with by the keeper after Si got the original flick on at goal and he slotted home the rebound. Nick Bennenbroek (filling in from the U17's) scored the 2nd when brave Montri got onto a neat chip behind the defense by JR. I say brave, because as Mon flicked the ball into Nick's path the Kings keeper absolutely smashed him. Unfortuanelty he left the field not to return, although he did get credited with an assist. So no subs for the rest of the game, I guess there's more than one team struggling to put warm bodies in shirts.

The second half was quite an even affair, Puke managed to take 2 more chances while Kings could only score one of a few decent efforts. Menno again pulled off some blinders, and another certain goal was cleared off the line, this time by Clive. Nick scored his second after some great build up play, and Si also grabbed a double when the keeper fumbled into his path- he'll probably not score one easier and didn't even celebrate... good on ya Si.

Kings probably deserved another goal, but Puke always were going to win this game.

Another big thanks to Nick for stepping up, and 'big ups' also to Jonny Goulstone who played his first ever senior football match, after last playing 14th grade for Puke a couple of years ago. You did really well Jonny, interesting to see two Goulstone boys tackling the same on the same side of the field to say the least... And cheers Rog for running the line.

Goal Scorers to date: Wiz 6, Si 3, Karl, George & Nick 2, Roly, Bondy, Montri, Ben, Jay 1 each.

Next Game- Home v Bay Olympic Shakers.