1st Team Send Pukekohe Farmers Packing!

A glorious sunny winters afternoon and a brand new # 1 field... what more could the BMAFC players and supporters want! 6 points from 2 games will do thank you.

The reserves were first up on the new #1, taking on Division 3 table-toppers Ellerslie, and opened up in style with a gritty 1-0 win.

Next up was the 1st team still hurting from their 5-1 loss to cellar-dwellers Bay Olympic the week before. With their pride hurt and a 2nd place finish well in truly out of reach now they had Pukekohe visiting who were sitting in 3rd place 7 points clear of 4th placed BMAFC. Plenty to play for as Pukekohe had beaten 2nd place Three Kings the week before, they too are chasing that 2nd place which will give them promotion into the NFRL Div 2.

The stage was set for an entertaining game as both teams needed the win, Puke were obviously feeling confident, because as the players lined up before KO to shake hands they all commented to GK Adam Mathews "hard Lines keeps" arrogant or just playing mind games! With the pitch turned around now there was also and advantage when the wind was blowing which Puke took full advantage of in the 1st 15 mins as BM struggled to retain possession or get it out of there own half, the did however weather the storm that Puke was throwing at them and started to play their own game by keeping the ball at feet & getting it wide on the biggest pitch in Auckland, this proved fruitful as Captain Antz started to run havoc down the left hand side, he cut inside and got outside his opposite so many times that frustration got the better of him or was it Antz trickery, Antz was clipped inside the penalty area, the Referee had no option but to point to the spot, while Antz was dusting himself off Chris Wood drilled home the resulting penalty into the bottom right of the goal.

This seemed to give the boys a boost in confidence after weathering an onslaught in the opening 15 mins, BM started to get control of the midfield, the forwards were starting to get their foot on the ball and link up play, unfortunately though the swirling wind give Chris Wood nightmares as the ball swirled and spun of the wrong side of his head, the resulting clearance header ended up being a perfect though ball for the Pukekohe striker who calmly slotted home past the advancing Adam Mathews. BM 2nd goal soon followed as Old Boy Brian Preston picked up a loose pass on half way who then feed Antz who then slipped it through to POD Matt Henney who then laid it on for speedster Mustak Ali too tuck away, 2-1 the lads were buzzing! They were enjoying themselves on the big pitch using the width to its full potential, Antz slammed home one of his trade mark goals as he cut in from the left and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner. Puke grabbed a 2nd 5 mins later as some poor marking at the back post left 2 Puke players unchallenged in the air which 1 of them duly nodded home the cross. The entertainment didn't stop there as Pukekohe battled on and were unlucky not score a couple more as Brian Preston, Ross Murphy and Shane Dalton all slid in for goal line clearances to finish of the half.

Local Guru Brian Derby was again helping out the lads by standing in for Head Coach Pete Jones while he was away in the UK, Brian's call at half time was for us to make sure that we keep defending as a unit, if we lose possession make sure we get our shape back as too often we were ball watching and were allowing Puke to play at the ball unchallenged. The 2nd half was end to end with very few real chances created until the back end of the half when BM again worked some good passing through the middle of the park which found Matt Henney on the right hand side of the 18 yard box with time to pick out the top left coroner, a cracking finish to some good possession and movement.

Final score 4-2, the lads were jubilant! The reserves were in full voice on the balcony, supporters entertained, Brian Derby suffering from heart palpitations, Pukekohe sent home packing, bitter and twisted knowing that this result could cost them 2nd place if not 3rd, BMAFC have a chance of claiming 3rd spot if they win their remaining 5 games, Pukekohe however have a tuff run home as they have yet to face the other top 5 teams to finish the season, BM run is not so easy either, but with the support they have been getting and hopefully some more there is no reason why they cant grab 3rd spot in there 1st season in the AFF Championship.

Next game is against Fencibles @ Riverhills Park 2.45 KO.

By Brian Preston