Thirds kick off Derby Day with good 3–0 victory over Waiuku Thirds.

The game started well for Pukekohe and had a couple of chances early on to go ahead. But 10 minutes into it the ball was played out of defense to a new member of the squad Eflan who with great vision and control, found his team mate Imran in space on the edge of the 18 yrd box and smashed it into the bottom corner. 1 – 0 to Pukekohe. Puke were quite on top in the early parts and should have had another as Bondy had two or three shooting chances outside the box which narrowly missed and as he said at half time “scoring not my thing”, well guess what mate that’ll be changing!!

Then enter Graham Spinx and with an absolutely precise corner, finding Jon Waller to head in the 2^nd. 2 – 0. To be honest we could have and should have been safely  5 up by half time  (sound familiar).

The defence held strong led by captain Richie Sharples playing his usual solid game. Brian Mac also had a good game, helped by Ali who was able to cover the ground he couldn’t and clear the lines. Fabs helped us out in goal, thanks mate – did what he had to do, he wanted to stand there or look good, well Steve you got 1 – you stood there. Maddison had a strong game at right back and learning all the time with good touch and great fitness, improving every game. Liam Mac came on in the first half for his first introduction to 3^rd team football and made some excellent runs down the left, if it wasn’t for Nick Rowe you’d have been able to make some more, finishing with some good shots on goal.  Great stuff Liam, what I like best is you play where you’re supposed to, there’s a couple of players could learn a few things here. Good to see the youth coming through (Dave Wright keep your hands off).

There was some good running and skill from Adam Moorhouse, going close on numerous occasions, keep it going mate, they’ll come, sometimes just needs to be a bit simpler.

Then wait for it some great skill from Nick Rowe to turn sharply in the area and find Bondy with a clever little back heal and smashed low in the corner, Puke 3 Waiuku 0, so what were you saying at half time Bondy.

Then another excellent turn but Nick Rowe going it alone this time and curling a shot ‘Dave Seamen’ would have been proud of which was tipped onto the bar by the keeper.  Followed by some very unselfish work from Eflan in the Waiuku Box, who found Graham free with only the keeper to beat and somehow he managed to get to it and the ball rebounded over the bar.

All in all a good win, it’s not easy out there (he says with 5 stitches in his head) so onwards and upwards, Ellerslie next week.