On Saturday the Over 35’s travelled to Mangere Domain to try to keep our "undefeated away" record intact to gain 3 points and keep us on the top of the division with 1 game to go.
On what was a magnificent day, we were awarded their no1 pitch but unfortunately was a little uneven in parts. Anyway the game kicked off and Puke had the early momentum, knocking the ball around quite nicely through the midfield and a great ball through from Marty Mercer found his team mate on the edge of the 18 yard box, spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed him, 1 – 0 Puke.
Great start, right lads back to basics and lets do nothing stupid and build on this lead. Well not quite, with Onehunga/Mangere now exerting themselves and finding a little bit of confidence put us under the cosh for the next few minutes ending up with our defence unable to clear and with the Puke keeper’s view obstructed, Onehunga/Mangere found the back of the net, and the score 1 – 1.
We could have easily found ourselves going down 2 – 1, as an expert clearance of the line by Mark Harvey, kept us at level pegging.
Then a good break down the right from Robbie Leonard and with a great pass put Andy Davey in the clear and with only the keeper to beat skied it a little over the bar. But that was more like it; we were getting the ball forward quicker and always going to beat them for pace at the back.
Next some more good play from the Puke defensive line between Roysa and Mark Edwards found Graham Spinks who knocked it through to his teammate and as much of a replica to the 1st goal lobbed the keeper again and 2- 1 Puke.
Some more Puke pressure earned us a corner after some great work from Graham and Andy Davey. Andy flew in at the far post to meet it, made it and the ball parried by the keeper, fell to my feet and hammered it home, 3 – 1 Puke. This was more like it!
With some more good build up work around the midfield and a great ball through from Russell Evans, the ball was picked up on the egde of the 18 yard box and with only the keeper to beat, smashed a left-footed drive into the bottom right-hand corner, 4 – 1 Puke. The ref blew for half-time.
The team talk was to keep it going, let’s not get complacent and end up with 7 centre forwards. Goal difference could be important at the end of the season, but 3 points was more vital.
Back into it and yes we got a bit carried away and Onehunga believed they could still get something out of this, we stopped playing the way we had and before we knew it the opposing striker was through round the keeper and 4 – 2 Puke.
More opposing pressure and we failed to clear a couple of attacks, resulting in Mangere corner and before we knew it the ball was picked up from the edge of the area and the shot took a wicked deflection and before we knew it, 4 – 3 Puke.
We managed to settle a little then with a great ball through to Andy Davey, beat 3 defenders for pace and only the keeper to beat, but a slight bobble as he tried to round the keeper resulted in not quite chipping the keeper as he dived and managed to get a hand to it and the danger was cleared.
Then another Puke attack with some great build up work down the right from Mark Harvey, sent in a superb cross and Marty Mercer beat the keeper to it and with a slight flick on, the ball rebounded off the Mangere defender and into his own net, 5 – 3 Puke. Sorry Marty cant really give you that one as it definitely wasn’t going in before it hit the defender and that’s how it finished up.
We were clinical in parts, and that was what gave us the edge, we are now joint top on points but Western Springs have a game in hand, so all we can do is win the next one.
Player of the day this week goes to Roysa for a good defensive performance missing out on $50 in the Mangere clubrooms, (but that’s another story!!)
POD: Roy Cook
Goals: Jon Waller 4, Own goal
Goal Scorers to date: Jon Waller 18, Andy Davey 12, Robbie Leonard 6, Pete Clark 2, Dave Bernard 2, Marty Mercer 2, Graham Spinks 1, John Mclaughlan 1, and Nick Rowe 1.
Training 6.00pm Monday (at Club) and next week we are away to Eastern Suburbs, 2.45 kick off.