This week’s fixture saw us up against Eastern Suburbs, another team in the top half of the table ...

Despite creating a number of goalscoring chances, with Jesse Bleeker working his socks off in the lone striker role, the first half didn’t go according to plan.  Luck certainly appeared to be conspiring against us and we went in 3-0 down at half-time.

The second half was a far better story (not so much in terms of performance, but more so in terms of an end product) for the Maroons.  Although we did concede another goal during the half, the hard work and dogged persistence showed by all of the team saw us get back into the game with Dale Austin getting on the scoresheet as the result of a good spell of attacking play by the Maroons.  Unfortunately we couldn’t get any more shots into the back of the opposition net and the game ended in a 4-1 defeat, although we again showed promising signs for the future.

Player of the day honours went to Neil Kraakman, whose commitment, communication and pure hard work on the pitch are an example to the rest of the team.  Neil was also the recipient of the pink band this week, having skyed a shot over the bar with just the keeper to beat (having done all the hard work up to that point)!

A good team effort (as always) this week, something which will hopefully lead us to get a result in the bag sooner rather than later.  Bring on Three Kings next week ...

Team: Anthony Kwan, Mike Thomas, Petru Musta, Shane Harneiss, Dave Wadeley, Mark Ellis, Tom Shakeshaft, Neil Kraakman, Jason Harneiss, Dale Austin, Jesse Bleeker, Emil Bojam, Donald Fleming, Mike Smyth

Goalscorers: Dale Austin

Final Score: Pukekohe 1 – Eastern Suburbs 4

Next Fixture: Away v Three Kings United, Saturday 14th June (1:00pm)