Sunday 16 July: v Onehunga Sports
The loss to Clendon put the Maroons second from bottom in the league standings.
I don’t think Doddy liked that too much.
In the Waikaraka Park dressing rooms before the match with Onehunga, Doddy “reminded” her team that they should not be looking up at four other teams in this division.
The coach isn’t sure exactly what was said but I think the message got through.
The ladies dominated the match from the kickoff and had a 3-0 lead by halftime thanks to goals from the skipper, Nikki, and “Whippet.”
Things got “a little testy” as the Maroons added to the scoreline, Kelsey and Nikki both suffered head-knocks.
But it eventually simmered down, and when the final whistle went the Maroons could reflect on a quality showing in a game they had to have.
Doddy was withdrawn at halftime with a calf problem that would have major implications for the team (more below).
Result: 4-0 (Sarah Holmes, Nicola Birch, Leanne Dodd)
Player of the day: Nicola. A goal and the biggest shiner of the year to show for her fantastic efforts up front.
Sunday 23 July: vs Mt Albert Ponsonby
Life without Doddy.
Sounds like a bad American sit-com doesn’t it?
The coach wished it was just a bad joke.
But a trip to the physio during the week confirmed the skipper would be forced into a cheerleading role for a month.
With the Maroons needing to win their remaining games to get second spot, now was definitely not the time to be losing their inspirational engine.
As the game against Mt Albert kicked off, the first time we’d seen them since April, we were lined up 4-4-2 with Lana taking over the captaincy for the first time and with Ally filling some big shoes in central midfield.
After a hesitant start the Maroons flicked the switch after 20 minutes and bossed the rest of the half with buddies “Whippet” and Ally both netting.
In Ally’s case, it was her first goal of the year. Not a bad day’s work for someone playing just their second match in a new position and replacing the skipper.
Emily gave us a scare when she took a blow to the head as she raced out to smother an attack but played out the rest of the match.
Niecy added a brave third in the second half, sliding in front of an advancing Mt Albert keeper.
Result: 3-0 (Sarah Holmes, Alice Birch, Denise Edmonds)
Player of the day: Another quality effort from “Whippet” both as out-and-out striker and playing in the hole. Special mention goes to Sonja, Shona and Tracey (the latter two from the fourth division team) who organised an after-match spread the likes of which is rarely seen in the Pukekohe clubrooms. Not a chip in sight.
Sunday 30 July: v Bay Olympic
Two games. Two losses.
That was our record against the second placed side heading into this game at Olympic Park.
If we held out any hope of promotion we NEEDED this game. The two good wins over the previous fortnight would mean nothing without three points here.
Big game this.
With Doddy joined on the sidelines by Emily – who had picked up a delayed concussion from the collision last weekend – Maria and Sonja started in their places.
After a hurried warm-up because of a few late arrivals, the match opened like every other match against Bay Olympic in the past two years.
The Maroons dominated possession and territory but despite creating several quality chances, could not provide the final touch in front of goal.
Now, generally speaking, the coach is quite a relaxed character.
But a bad morning at work beforehand had put him in a foul mood and the prospect of again playing attractive football in division three next season sent him over the edge.
Despite his team’s lovely passing display in the first spell he tore a strip off the Maroons at halftime in the hope that would shock them into action.
It had just the opposite effect.
The Maroons were sluggish in the second half until a lovely exchange on the edge of the box between the Birch cousins led to “Whippet” smashing home from 12 yards five minutes from time.
The excited celebration that followed was fuelled evenly by joy and relief.
The ladies were still breathing.
Result: 1-0 (Sarah Holmes)
Player of the day: The movement that produced the goal was typical of the TEAM effort that day. The Maroons never quit on themselves or their style despite the fact that it looked like it wasn’t going to be their day. The coach was never more proud them than after that game.
Sunday 6 August: vs Mt Albert Ponsonby
Sometimes hangovers aren’t a problem at all.
After taking three in a row and winning the crucial match last week, the team now needed to win the second meeting in three weeks with Mt Albert to claim second spot.
That task was made easier by the return of the skipper, two weeks earlier than expected.
Before the match began a minute’s silence was observed for the passing of Nicole’s grandfather Digger during the week.
With Holmes out, Doddy played “in the hole” and scored one of three to repeat the scoreline of a fortnight previous.
Niecy and Emma also found the back of the net in another quality passing display from the ladies who were now brimming with the confidence a winning streak provides.
Nicole’s effort in the middle of the park would have made her grandfather proud and she came oh so close to getting her first goal of the season when her shot flew inches past the left post during the first half.
The victory, coupled with the cancellation of Bay Olympic’s match with Clendon, put the Maroons into second spot by just one point over Olympic with both sides having now played the same number of games.
Big smiles all round.
Result: 3-0 (Leanne Dodd, Denise Edmonds, Emma McCrory)
Player of the day: Gaylene Woolley. A mesmeric showing on the right wing with the ball at her feet.
*Now is the perfect time to point this out:
If the team had not battled right to the end of their first match of the season against Lynn Avon and forced a late corner taken by Ally (her first) and slammed home by Niecy, they would not be alone in second place on the last day of the year.
Two things I love about football:
- It’s funny how one moment can impact an entire season
- You invariably get what your efforts deserve
Sunday 13 August: Soccer 2 Knockout Cup v Papakura (division one)
The coach had the following conversation with someone in the week before this game:
Person X: “Who have you got in the first round of the cup?”
Coach: “Papakura division one”
Person X: “You’ll beat them.”
Coach: “I know.”
Confidence is a great thing.
The match was scheduled for McLennan Park’s Stadium pitch but some “inclement” weather forced the game up onto the slush pit that is the top deck at Papakura’s home ground.
No matter. Even that heavenly intervention wouldn’t save the home side.
Papakura, two divisions above the Maroons, were always second best and despite conceding a sloppy equalizer, this one was under control before Niecy grabbed the second of two goals to seal a 3-1 win.
Emily returned between the sticks after her enforced three-week stand-down period following a concussion but was largely a spectator.
The victory pushed the ladies’ record against teams from higher divisions (excluding the Premier League) to a perfect 4-0 this season.
Papakura coach after the match:
“You guys are not a third division side.”
Indeed.
Result: 3-1 (Denise Edmonds 2, Leanne Dodd)
Player of the day: Leanne Dodd. The skipper, in just her second match back after injury, scored the opener and set up the second. Doesn’t come much better than that. Doddy likes cup games. Doddy likes playing in the mud. The latter probably has something to do with a West Auckland upbringing.
Sunday 20 August: Soccer 2 Knockout Cup v Mt Albert Ponsonby
3-0. 3-0.
Those two scores are the last two results the ladies had over this team.
16-1.
That is the ladies’ goal difference over the course of their five game winning run up to now.
I suspect they may have been a little overconfident heading in, don’t you?
Despite creating a host of chances that went untaken, the ladies were flat in this one and it took an Emma McCrory effort from distance 15 minutes from time to finally wake them up. Nicola added the second to make the final scoreline 2-0.
The Mt Albert keeper was player of the day but our shooting was directed AT HER rather than AT THE GOAL she was protecting.
A pleasing aspect of the victory was the fact that we still pulled out a win without being anywhere near our best. We would have lost games like this earlier this season.
That’s a sign of a good side.
Result: 2-0 (Emma McCrory, Nicola Birch)
Player of the day: Nicola. Having spent the entire week playing at a Secondary School tournament in Papamoa, Nikki could be forgiven for being a little tired. Not even close. One of the few players who looked interested from the start, she never stopped running and her goal was just reward for her terrific effort.
Sunday 27 August: Soccer 2 Knockout Cup v Western Springs (division one)
Semifinal time.
The second biggest game of the year was against Western Springs – who occupied third place in the first division and contained several players who played for the Uncle Toby’s Knockout Cup finalists during the season.
Coach: “Stay tight to the person you’re marking in and around our own box. They will sting you if you give them time. Understand?”
Team: “Yes coach.”
Ahhh…not so much.
0-3 down at the break.
Although the ladies looked great with the ball in their possession, and continually passed their way through Springs’ without fear, our lack of experience against sides of this quality was the difference.
Example: Springs’ player A was given time and space to pick out a cross to Springs’ player B who had the time and space in the box to hit a first time volley into the roof of the net.
Again, some things you have to learn on your own I guess…
But they also learned they are easily capable of making a two-division leap next season if they wish.
The ladies caused enough problems for the opposition to show anyone watching that with regular matches against teams of that quality, they would be able to keep their heads above water.
And they wouldn’t need floaties.
And that is an incredibly exciting prospect for Pukekohe AFC.
Congratulations ladies.
The match was Rachel’s last for the season as work commitments were to take her to the United States for several months. See you next year Rach!
Result: 0-5
Player of the day: Sarah Holmes. “Whippet,” the smallest player on the park, was outstanding. Holmes looked completely at ease against Premier League quality players and that, for someone who is just 16 and only been playing for slightly more than two seasons, is an incredible achievement.
In conclusion…
After a stuttering start to the year the ladies pulled together brilliantly and showed they are far more than just a division three side.
Their style of play has drawn applause from every opposing team and, unbeknownst to the ladies, several Premier League and Soccer 2 officials.
The winning run that took them from second to last in their division to runners-up was a direct result of their amazing work ethic and dedication, not to mention huge amounts of talent.
Their involvement in both cup competitions showed anyone watching, and far more importantly, themselves, that they are capable of not only mixing it with teams higher up the ladder, but they have the ability to beat those sides.
It’s quite simple really. This team can go as far as they wish to.
During the off-season the ladies can reflect on a marvelous year and, whatever division they find themselves in next year, they will be well worth watching.
Keep your eye on this team.