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Tom Cramer posted on March 30, 2009 12:58
Waiuku 2 Pukekohe 0 (Half Time: 2 – 0)
Team: Kavakava Manumua, Andy Hey, Geoff Rickard, Jason Paranihi, Marcus Bathan, Richard Koaneti, Robbie Leonard, Kamaliele Papaui, Steve Upfold (Jamie Hampton), Jethro Conway (Joe Morris), Jeff Hekelaar
Sub (Not Used): Jamie Clarke
Ah, the return of football. Don’t you just love it? Glorious sunshine, smiling faces, blisters from those new boots, the deafening sound of the O35s knees and hips creaking. What more could you ask for. Well, three points would have been nice as this year’s Derby Day finale saw the 1st team open their NRFL season against Waiuku.
Ferocious dealing in the transfer market meant that it was a Pukekohe side with a distinctly International look who took the field on Saturday at Massey Park. A Dutchman, 3 Tongans and a token smattering of Englishmen all featuring in the starting line-up.
Pukekohe started the game reasonably well and thought we had got the dream start when Robbie Leonard popped up in the box to nod the ball into the back of the net, only to be denied the goal by the linesman’s flag. Difficult to see from where I was sitting, but the general opinion after the game seemed to be that it was a very close call.
Salt was rubbed in the wound a few minutes later. In an attempt to play the ball out from the back, possession was given away and from the resultant through ball, Geoff Rickard was left with little option than to pull down Waiuku striker Jesse Smyth-Kirk as he raced through on goal, giving referee Chris Kerr no alternative but to show the red card. Down to 10 men after only 11 minutes of the game and the punishment was increased when Kava could only parry the resulting free-kick to the feet of Cody Ralph, who put Waiuku 1 up from close range.
Puke continued to play good football but 15 minutes after going ahead, Waiuku got their second goal. A long ball over the top was misjudged by our defence allowing Smyth-Kirk to pop up unmarked on the right and square the ball for an equally unmarked Ralph to notch his second of the game.
Despite the scoreline and being a man down, the mood in the dressing room was positive at half time. The lads felt that they had done enough in the first half to know that they were capable of causing Waiuku problems and that the game certainly wasn’t over.
The second half saw Pukekohe dominate possession and create chances but we were unable to convert any of our possession into goals. Waiuku also had their share of chances in the second period, with only the woodwork and a spectacular save from Kava preventing them from going further ahead.
It was bitterly disappointed dressing room afterwards. It says a lot that, even though we played with 10 men for the majority of the game, the feeling was that we had blown an opportunity to get some points on the board. We all felt that we had done enough to get something out of the game. Sadly, we don’t get points for "should’ve" and "could’ve". Despite the positive things to come out of the game, and there were many, the fact remains that we lost. Losing Geoff so early in the match obviously had a major bearing on the result but we won’t use that as an excuse. While we were happy with the pressure we applied, at this level pressure has to be converted into goals. Dominating teams for long periods in a game means nothing if there is nothing to show at the end of it. Another harsh lesson which the team will be taking on board.
It’s not all doom and gloom, we played some very attractive football and there were some great individual performances. Robbie Leonard put in a man of the match performance and Jeff Hekelaar was quality up front. Joe Morris came off the bench and turned in a superb performance. We still have injured players to return to the squad, once they are back and we have a settled team on the park I’m confident you’ll see some very good things from Pukekohe AFC’s 1st team this season.
Congratulations to Waiuku on your win and we look forward to doing battle again at Bledisloe later in the season.
Man of the Match: Robbie Leonard
The team now have to pick themselves for a tough game at home against Three Kings United next Saturday. Kick off is at 2.45 and, as always, your support would be very much appreciated. Especially as Saturday's game will mark the farwell of Jason Paranihi, who will be playing his final game in Pukekohe colours.