One rainy Saturday at the Domain…

The first 10 minutes were a cautious affair with each team adjusting to the conditions and testing each other out. The Maroons (or blues for the day due to changed strip) started to get the upper hand and take control of the game. Steve Upfold was on top of his game in centre Midfield and Geoff Rickard holding the ball up well as the lone striker. On 13 minutes a free kick saw a wild overhead kick just go wide right from Robbie Leonard. A testing ball from Ben Johnstone, flicked on by Joseph Morris was snapped up by the keeper in front of Geoff. On 19 minutes another piece of quick football put Geoff through on goal only to see his chipped effort plucked down by the keeper. One minute later Steve drove in a shot and 5 minutes later a good cross from Jamie Hampton was fumbled by the keeper and bundled over the bar for a corner.

All was going well, until the 30th minute when Onehunga were allowed too much space on the right and fired in a hanging cross to be headed in well by an unmarked player inside the 18 yard box. The last 5 minutes of the half suddenly saw us 2 more goals down from opportunistic chances taken well by Onehunga, one of which sadly took out our keeper, three chances, and three goals.

The second half was a generally one sided affair, all maroon (blue), but replacement keeper Ben Johnstone did well on two or three occasions to close out the opposition. Within 4 minutes of the restart Geoff Rickard put a square ball to Joe in front of goal which was well smothered by the keeper. 6 minutes later Robbie had a shot blocked and on 60 minutes Geoff forced the keeper into a fumble which was just snatched off the line. We could sense Onehunga were on the back foot and a goal was coming. On 80 minutes Jeff Hekelaar fired in a shot off the post and the rebound just put wide by Robbie. However 1 minute later a sweet cross from the left by Ben Wilmott found Robbie just inside the box and he buried his header to the bottom right of the goal.

The last 10 minutes were all Pukekohe. On 88 minutes Marcus Bathan hit the post again from a corner and then the resulting corner was bundled off the line. Sadly the comeback was not to be despite creating enough chances to win 4-3, however, this game was effectively decided in the last 5 of the 1st half.

I suppose the Onehunga Mangere coach summed up the game well “You were by far the better team today, you played the better football, dominated most of the game and it was clear to see that you came here to play football. You deserved more from this game than you got. However at the end of the day we took our chances better than you did and got 3 goals.”

I remain by what I have said in the past that this team are playing good football which will see the results come and our first win is just round the corner, Keep believing and never give up, the quality of our game in the first 25 and second half was superb.

Thank you to our band of lovely traveling supporters, your voice is most welcome and pleasing to hear.


Team: - Jamie Clarke (Andrew Lamborn, 45), Ben Johnstone, Chris Rowe, Andy Hey, Marcus Bathan, Steve Upfold (Captain), Robbie Leonard, Jeff Hekelaar, Jamie Hampton (Jethro Conway 61), Joe Morris (Ben Wilmott, 51), Geoff Rickard

Man of the Match: - Geoff Rickard

Goal: - Robbie Leonard, 81