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Steve Upfold posted on March 22, 2010 16:56
After taking a first half lead, Pukekohe fell 3-1 to Mt Albert-Ponsonby AFC at Bledisloe Park in their Lotto NRFL season opener on Saturday.
Pukekohe made a solid start to their new season when early substitute Joe Morris - on for the injured Simon Andruchow - finished off Jethro Conway's ball across the box after quick lead up work from Brad Petrie and Steve Upfold.
Mt Albert replied before the break via Jared Colligan's neat finish under pressure and the 2009 NRFL AllStar made it 2-1 with a header 10 minutes into the second half.
Morris' handball in the Pukekohe box which he could do little about saw Nick Farac convert the resulting spot kick for the final margin on the 60 minute mark.
Pukekohe also had the ball in the Mt Albert net in the second half via a neat finish from Ticiano Costa but the goal was ruled out due to offside.
Ticiano Costa and teenager Liam McDonald made their senior debuts for the club in the match.
Meanwhile, in the early kickoff, the Pukekohe AFC NRFL Div 1 Reserve League side were betean 5-0 by Mt Albert after trailing 1-0 at the break.
Matt Grantham and Nate Thivonruk made their official debuts for the club in the match.
Pukekohe's next outing is against Waiuku AFC at Massey Park on Saturday 27 March. Kick off times 12.30/2.45pm
Pukekohe NRFL Div 1:
Pukekohe 1-3 Mt Albert-Ponsonby AFC (half: 1-1)
PUK: Joe Morris
MAP: Jared Colligan 2, Nick Farac (pen)
Pukekohe: Trent Hirst, Liam McDonald, Geoff Rickard (capt), Marcus Bathan, Jamie Hampton, Andrew Lamborn (Jono Botting 54'), Steve Upfold, Jethro Conway (Chris Rowe 75'), Simon Andruchow (Joe Morris 14'), Brad Petrie, Ticiano Costa
Pukekohe NRFL Div 1 Reserves League:
Pukekohe 0-5 Mt Albert-Ponsonby AFC (half: 0-1)
MAP: Chris Gage 3, Christian Martin, Ceagan Carvalho
Pukekohe: Andre van Lieshout, Richie Sharples, Ben Johnstone, Jay Pressnall, Chris Rowe (Cameron Hale 70'), Adam Moorhouse, Nate Thivonruk (Clive Mendham 45'), Matt Nugent, Andrew Bond (Seksit Techo 65'), Jack Crane, Matt Grantham