Maroons pipped at derby post

The men's first team were beaten 3-2 on Saturday by local rivals Waiuku AFC in their Lotto NRFL Men's Division 1 match at Bledisloe Park.

The Maroons were good value for their 2-1 halftime edge provided via goals to skipper Marcus Bathan and Joe Morris but second half strikes to former Pukekohe AFC player Jamie Pegg and Jeremy Hubbard secured the points for the visitors.

Waiuku's Jesse Smyth-Kirk opened the scoring after 17 minutes with a sharp finish on the end of a quick counter attack.

But Pukekohe responded and levelled through a superb free kick strike from distance from Bathan – on his birthday no less - that crashed in off the underside of the Waiuku crossbar.

That gave the team another lift and 10 minutes later the Maroons were duly in front  when Joe Morris headed home at the near post on the end of a dangerous by-line cross from the ever-threatening Geoff Rickard.

The halftime advantage might have been larger but a succession of well-hit Jamie Hampton corners - won via some good regular link-up work down the right flank from Robbie Leonard, Ben Johnstone, Jethro Conway and Rickard -could not be forced over the visitors’ goal-line.

The second period produced more of the same with the Maroons looking likely down the right and dealing effectively with what the visitors had to offer on attack until the 66^th minute.

A ball in behind the Maroons back four wasn’t dealt with giving Pegg the chance to score and the teenager obliged to level the match at 2-2.

The visitors’ winner came 12 minutes later and was well worthy of the title. A half-cleared Waiuku corner fell to Hubbard 25 yards out and, after a neat first touch, he rifled the ball into the top left corner of Jamie Clarke’s net.

Despite being on the wrong end of the final score line, the Pukekohe side can take heart from a team performance which included some strong individual outings for a number of players including teenagers Leonard, Hampton, Conway, Andrew Lamborn and Andy Hey.

But man-of-the-match for the home side for the second week running went to Rickard for the quality of his work on and off the ball in creating constant problems for the Waiuku defensive unit.

A big thanks to the large number of supporters who came down to cheer the lads on – it made for a great atmosphere.

The Maroons’ next match is against the league-leaders Three Kings United on Saturday at Keith Hay Park on Saturday. Kickoff 2.45pm.

Details:

Pukekohe AFC 2-3 Waiuku AFC (half: 2-1)
PUK: Marcus Bathan, Joe Morris
WAI: Jesse Smyth Kirk, Jamie Pegg, Jeremy Hubbard

Pukekohe: Jamie Clarke, Ben Johnstone, Andy Hey, Marcus Bathan (capt), Andrew Lamborn, Robbie Leonard, Jethro Conway, Duncan Moxon (Ben Willmott 80’), Jamie Hampton, Joe Morris, Geoff Rickard.
Subs not used: Chris Rowe, Tony Wisnewski, Steve Upfold, Trent Hirst (RGK).