posted on August 27, 2006 15:56
The ladies' first team got a taste of what life would be like playing in division one on Sunday, and if their performance against Western Springs was anything to go by, they are quite within their rights to ask: "Please sir, can I have some more."
Despite falling to a 0-5 in the semifinals of the Soccer 2 Women's Knockout Cup, the ladies looked quite at home with the ball at their feet and produced the kind of passing football that is quickly earning them the reputation as a side to look out for in the coming years.
These ladies have the ability to mix it with the likes of Springs in division one and with regular matches against sides of that quality under their belt, the sky is the limit for the Maroon bunch.
What they did learn on Sunday at Seddon Fields however is that if you give good players time to hurt you, they invariably will.
After a Maroon mix-up on halfway - which came about through an attempt to play the ball to feet, the home side took advantage and opened the scoring inside five minutes despite the brave effort of keeper Emily Stichbury in rushing out to block the first Springs attempt.
For her trouble Emily sported a nasty gash opened by the sand-based pitch for the rest of the match.
After that early tremour the ladies steadied things and kept moving the ball about with the attacking trio of Sarah Holmes, Nicola Birch and Denise Edmonds looking dangerous.
But the Maroons couldn't turn that promise and pressure into an opening and were made to pay 15 minutes later, when after a Springs wide player had time to pick out a cross, one of their strikers hammered home a first-time volley from 15 yards that would have made Wayne Rooney proud.
You don't see that in division three of the Soccer 2 ladies competition.
Springs added another well-taken effort before the break and despite an 0-3 scoreline the coach was excited by the team's first period showing.
All the talk was about staying switched on without the ball and marking tight when needed and the Maroons showed in the second spell that they were learning what will be required at that level.
What they also showed was they are clearly capable of passing their way through any opponent and impressed in moving the ball out of trouble by finding team mates rather than resorting to the 'big hoof' - which drew praise from more than just the opposition coaching staff.
With tiredness setting in for the Maroons, the home side made their extra pace and fitness tell in adding two more strikes to round out the scoring.
When the final whistle blew the Maroon side could reflect on a terrific effort that showed, if they wish, an application for division one football next season would by no means be a step too far.
If anything, all they'd need is a better coach.
Player of the day went to Sarah for another impressive showing in distributing the ball around the park.
A big thanks must go to the supporters who came through to watch the ladies - the Dodds, the Wilds, the Daveys, the Birches, the Shearers, the MacDonalds, the Morris' and extra thanks to the du Maurier clan who - without ties to the team - have been along to support the ladies regularly this season and it was great to see them there again.
What they saw was VERY entertaining. Congratulations girls. Well played.
Details:
Pukekohe 0 v Western Springs 5
HT: 0-3
Pukekohe: Emily Stichbury, Lana Morris, Karla Shearer (Kirstin Davey 70'), Nicole Aukett, Alice Birch, Leanne Dodd (capt), Gaylene Woolley (Kelsey MacDonald 55'), Emma McCrory (Rachel Dominick 60'), Sarah Holmes, Denise Edmonds, Nicola Birch. Res: Sonja Abbott.