Thirds Keep Winning Streak

The field was in tip-top condition. Ha yeah right. On a muddy track the Thirds took on bottom of the table Papatoetoe Utd. A game which could have been a banana skin to slip on, especially after they drew 0-0 with the previous top team a couple of weeks ago.

Puke proved to be too much for them again though. (We beat them 5-1 in the first round.)

There was a few goals, so i'll just run through them quickly. I can't even remember how some of them were actually created...

Goal 1: Clive Mendham climbed abover the defence to head (back) in a great Jay Pressnell corner.

Goal 2: Tony Wiz put a slightly over-hit through ball in front of Si who snatched the keepers fumble to slam home.

Goal 3: Si turned provider for Wiz this time, when he beat half the Papatoetoe defense, and the keeper, and rolled a square ball in front of Wiz for a simple tap in. Still a goal in every game for Wiz.

Goal 4: Wiz had mentioned not getting the chance to shoot from outside the box this year,so when a little space and time presented itself, he turned and smashed one in over the keepers head from about 25m.

Papatoetoe then kicked off, and Puke were caught making subs. The two Papatoetoe strikers played about 4 one-twos and scored. Oh well, carry on.

Goal 5: A crazy piece of defending saw a Papatoetoe defender pass the ball to the keeper in the 6yd box, who even with advice from Si not to pick it up, still did. Apparently the defenders excuse was "it can't have been a pass back, I kicked it forward to the keeper". Papatoetoe then lined the goal with players and a square ball to George found a gap where it was slotted in.

Only tow goals came in the second half for Puke, probably due to a combination of more mud in the half we were attacking, and some great goal keeping.

Goal 6: Wiz scored his 2nd hat-trick against the same team this season, when a neat first touch pass from George set him free in the box. The keeper advanced and the ball was slipped in past him.

Goal 7: This was probably the most unexpected goal of the day. The ball was flicked to Wiz on halfway from Si, and on the turn Wiz slid it through in front of a maroon striker. Turned out it was Roly (our usual centre back). Roly out paced the defenders and slotted home with expert ease.

Papatoetoe did score again, our shape got a bit muddled in the late stage of the game and they snuck through for another easy finish.

So 7-2 finish, could have been more but we'll take it.

Next game (weather permitting...) is against Eastern Suburbs away. If their fields look like ours do now I wouldn't expect to be playing.

Big thanks to Roger for reffing again, you did a great job, hardly even noticed you were there so that must be a good sign!