On Saturday the Over 35’s visited Metro, seeking bitter revenge from their earlier clash, where Metro positioned at the other end of the table to Puke, managed to steel the 3 points, which could have a dramatic effect on the outcome as the closing of the season draws near.
The late kick off to the game meant we could play it on Metro’s No 1 pitch and a lovely surface it was. There was absolutely no reason why we couldn’t bring our A game and knock the ball around effortlessly, but we forgot!!
The game kicked off and it was Puke that created the early pressure, we started confidently and our first chance came minutes into it, with some good dribbling down the left from Pete Clark, beat the defender created enough space to get the cross over, setting up Mart Mercer to go close.
Our next chance early on was much the same again, Pete Clark beat the defender on the left wing, and stepped inside, spotted a team mate just inside the 18 yard box and with a quick strike 1 – 0 Puke.
The first 15 minutes was all Puke, the next 15 minutes all Metro, as they found there feet and started to play. They took the game to us and after some great work in the centre of the midfield created an opportunity, but some great work by Marty Round who pulled off a great save, as he lost the rebound, Mark Harvey was on hand to clear off the line. Several minutes later a shot rebounded off the left-hand upright, we were lucky to survive again.
Metro were creating some good pressure and as they worked there way into our 18 yard box again, after a bit of a scramble and some good work from Phil Taylor, Metro were awarded a penalty from what looked like a fair challenge. Before we know it Metro were level 1- 1.
Heads up and back into it, the next 15 minutes was all Puke and a neat back heel put Marty Mercer through who rounded the keeper on the left-hand side of the 18 yard box, with a 2 team mates in the middle and an open goal it had to be 1-1, as the keeper leapt up after his despairing dive, to grab hold of Marty and just about rugby tackle him to the ground. A professional foul, surely! The keeper must receive his marching orders but alas, no, free-kick to Puke and no card, strange!
Another cross from Pete Clark, found Marty Mercer running through, sandwiched in between two defenders, but could only head it into the keepers arms.
A good ball from Davy Bernard found Russell Evans, on the left-hand side of the midfield and a rash challenge from the Metro defender brought Russell to the ground. A little bit of retaliation occurred and the two needed to be cooled down by the referee.
The resulting free-kick was knocked into the Metro box by John McLaughlin and with the referee so late in blowing his whistle, the Metro defender caught it, thinking he had blown for something else, resulting in a penalty to Puke. It wasn’t right but it made amends for the penalty they’d been given.
This then smashed into the roof of the net, 2 – 1 Puke. This was how we went in at the break. We were the better side but weren’t using that good surface to its advantage and needed to be quicker and more clinical with our passing was the half-time team talk and enter Andy Davey.
As the 2nd half opened, Puke were awarded a free-kick outside our own 18 yard box. Big John McLaughlan, knocked it long, we managed to flick on and who was there but Andy Davey to round the keeper and slot home with his first touch of the game, 3 – 1 Puke.
As the legs grew more weary, more chances opened up for both teams, but as much as Metro were gifted some golden opportunities, they never looked like they even wanted to score or maybe it was just great defending. Then were gifted another when after a back-pass, Marty Round asked the Ref if it was deliberate or not and therefore could he pick it up? The ref said “Play on” so as Marty picked it up, awarded them a free-kick 7 yards out from goal, but even from that distance couldn’t hit the target.
As the game wore on Puke were starting to dominate and as the Metro keeper cleared with a miss-kick it was quickly picked up by Marty Mercer and with the keeper off his line, shot narrowly wide.
Next a loose clearance as reached Davy Bernard thirty metres out and seeing the keeper off his line volleyed straight into the top corner, great goal, and Puke up 4 – 1.
Then a great ball through from Russell Evans, found myself clear to round the keeper and knock it in, but I think the linesman was watching a slow-motion replay and decided to flag as the ball hit the net and that’s how it finished.
It was a good performance, we still didn’t quite mange to work out why it’s called “The beautiful game” but effort and commitment was second to none. We took our chances and that was the difference. The players that stood out for me, were keeper, Marty Round, Mark Harvey in the centre of defence, Marty Mercer up front and in the midfield but player of the day today was Davy Bernard, giving us great energy in the midfield and a great strike for our fourth goal, well done mate.
POD: Davy Bernard
Goals: Jon Waller 2, Andy Davey, Dave Bernard
Goal Scorers to date: Jon Waller 11, Andy Davey 10, Robbie Leonard 4, Pete Clark 2, Dave Bernard 2 ,Graham Spinks 1, John Mclaughlan 1, Marty Mercer 1, and Nick Rowe 1.
Training 7.30pm Monday (High School Gym) and next week we are home to Mangere, 2.45 kick off.