Steve Upfold posted on April 25, 2007 20:47
Two games, nine goals, two wins and two perfect records intact after Anzac Day fixtures for the men's and women's first teams on Wednesday afternoon.
The men's team took a 4-1 come-from-behind win over Eastern Suburbs in the Super Division while the ladies were 5-0 winners at Ellerslie.
After reaching the break 0-1 down, the men took advantage of the dismissal of one of the visitors to bang in four unanswered goals in the second spell with Chris Rowe, Jason Paranihi, Sam Price-Bates and Andy Davey all hitting home.
The win puts the Maroons atop the Super Division standings after three matches ahead of this Saturday's showdown with Mt Albert Ponsonby, who have also taken maximum points from their three games.
Right back Rowe levelled the score at 1-1 with a speculator from distance that was fumbled into the net by the Suburbs' keeper. Paranihi gave his side the lead with a trademark effort from outside the box before Price-Bates' impersonation of his captain's goal gave his side a 3-1 lead.
Seven minutes from time, Davey rounded out the scoring by heading home his intial effort that was blocked by the advancing Suburbs keeper.
Man-of-the-match honours went to Brad Frost who put in a quality shift as an emergency left back.
Meanwhile, the ladies' first team strolled to victory over Ellerslie in bright sunshine at Michaels Ave Reserve.
The Maroons took an early sixth minute lead through Alice Birch's cross/shot that worked its way through a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net.
Birch's central midfield mate Leanne Dodd doubled the score 10 minutes later when she collected a neat lay-off on the edge of the area, and after working a little space to get off a shot, the skipper buried a drive from 20 yards.
Striker Rose Kraakman followed that up on the half hour mark with a jinking run after a neat passing movement to beat an Ellerslie defender and the keeper before tapping home to give her side a 3-0 lead.
Rose's daughter Nicole made it a 4-0 advantage at the break when she squeezed her effort between the keeper and the post from just inside the box.
Six minutes into the second half Dodd grabbed her second of the match as she spotted the Ellerslie keeper off her line and expertly chipped the stopper from 35 yards out.
With the result no longer in doubt, Dodd and Rose got some well-earned rest and the ladies finished the match by keeping the ball for long periods and recording their second straight clean sheet.
Player-of-the-day went to Nicola Birch who put in a typically tireless effort up front and was heavily involved in the Maroons' sparkling lead-up work.
Wednesday's results:
Super Division: Pukekohe 4 (Chris Rowe, Jason Paranihi, Sam Price-Bates, Andy Davey) Eastern Suburbs 1
Ladies' division two: Pukekohe 5 (Leanne Dodd 2, Alice Birch, Rose Kraakman, Nicole Kraakman) Ellerslie 0.