Today under grey skies, the Over 35’s took on Mangere United, needing 3 points to keep us on the top of the division.
The game got under way with Pukekohe getting the better of the early exchanges. Tactics this week were to get the ball out of the middle of the park and over to the flanks as soon as we could.
The first attack from Pukekohe came from a good build up down the right involving Marty Mercer and Robbie Leonard creating good pressure on the Mangere defence with Marty forcing a good save from the Mangere Keeper. After some good work in the midfield from Davy Bernard who slipped a ball through and after some slight hesitation between defender and keeper, Marty managed to get between them and get enough on it I to flick it into the roof of the net, it was a great strikers goal and 1 – 0 Puke.
Mangere started the first-half playing football, but so far this had been there downfall as the ball was difficult to control on the current surface and every pass gave us the chance of an interception, relinquishing possession, but as the half wore on Mangere started to knock the ball longer and use there pace down the flanks, much to our detriment. It wasn’t long before a neat 1 – 2 had sent the Mangere midfielder through to round (no pun intended) the keeper, but were saved by a brilliantly timed tackle from Mark Harvey to clear for a corner.
Then another chance saw a Mangere striker gifted an open goal but fortunately passed it to his team mate who was in an offside position.
Our best chance of the half arrived when a brilliant ball played through from the midfield by Russell Evans found Marty Mercer running onto it at pace with only the keeper to beat, as he took it closer, the keeper dived and the ball bobbled as Marty tried to wrong foot him, but the unclean contact enabled the keeper to rescue the situation, unlucky lads.
Next a deft free-kick chipped into the Mangere 18 – yard box by John McLaughlan finding a Puke striker who managed to get a glancing flick onto it with his head, wrong-foot the keeper, but managed to get a hand on it and the ball bounced on the line, the ref asked for the keepers honesty to declare if it was a goal or not, but the keeper said no goal, funny that!!
The refs whistle blew for half-time, we played ok in periods, but we needed to move the ball faster and get it wider quicker, virtually we should have been winning 7 – 0, realistically it was 1- 0 and if they got the next, we could struggle, if we did we’d finish them off.
Back into it, Puke started stronger, we wanted this more and a great break down the left-hand side saw Pete Clark find Marty Mercer who whipped a quick cross in to find his team-mate head it inches past the upright.
The 2nd half was all Puke, we battled well we moved the ball quickly down the flanks and heaven-for-bid, the last half – an – hour played some great football. Our next chance came when some neat work from Robbie Leonard and Marty Mercer down the right, found Marty in the box and a quick shot, rebounded off the defenders arm and the referee pointed to the spot, this was our chance to get that 2 goal cushion and finish them off. Then with the keeper being sent the wrong way and the ball slotted home 2 – 0 Puke.
We had the 2 goal cushion to give us that little bit of breathing space and now we entered the Robbie Leonard show. After some great running and chasing hard from Robbie, Graham found him on the edge of the penalty area and with great control, taking the ball on his chest, smashed it into the top right-hand corner 3 – 0 Puke.
Another great break from Robbie, beating 2 defenders, finding his team-mate very unselfishly in a better position, knocked a great ball through and the shot rebounded off the upright, behind the keeper and ran along the line only to be cleared for a corner.
Then a great ball in from the right by Pete Clark found his team-mate to half-volley it into the top right-hand corner. 4 - 0 Puke.
Then probably our best move of the day between Robbie and Graham great 1 touch passing only for us to shave the woodwork again.
It was starting to become a rout and our next bout of pressure, the ball was picked up on the edge of the 18-yard box by Russell Evans to volley into the roof of the net. Great goal and deservedly so after all the effort you’ve put in for us in the heart of the midfield, a just reward. 5– 0 Puke.
Next after some good work from Graham Spinks down the left and some weak defending, Mangere weren’t able to clear and the ball fell at the feet of Robbie Leonard, managing to to slot it home with the quickness of feet. 6 - 0 Puke and that’s how it finished.
Best 2nd half of the season, once we were on top we didn’t give them an inch, we’ve just got to get on top quicker. Stand out performances for me, well every-one played there part, I thought Marty Mercer was great for the first hour he played, in fact so good the other team thought he was a ringer – couldn’t have been watching the other matches!!
Mark Harvey and John Mclaughlan were excellent in the heart of the defence, but player of the day this week goes to Robbie Leonard, 2 excellent goals, some great breaks, stemmed by some very unselfish play, well done, mate!
POD: Robbie Leonard
Goals: Jon Waller 2, Robbie Leonard 2, Marty Mercer 1, Russell Evans 1
Goal Scorers to date: Jon Waller 13, Andy Davey 10, Robbie Leonard 6, Pete Clark 2, Dave Bernard 2, Marty Mercer 2, Graham Spinks 1, John Mclaughlan 1, and Nick Rowe 1.
Training 7.30pm Monday (High School Gym) and next week we are away to Beachlands, 2.45 kick off.