3-1 v Ryde Panthers

Scorers: Southy 2, Erik 1

A great win today from the boys who 5 players down and were pushed all the way by a good Panthers outfit on the postage stamp that is Glenorie Park. With some of our best attacking options missing, we were also missing Kyle and Harker who joined Dru and Stathis on the ‘I’m not coming because girls’ list. Luckily, after some early chances from the Panthers, Smorgs began an 85 minute clinic on midfield dominance, teeing up first with Ando then with Cam down the right, which allowed Erik and Clayts to take some early shots from just ouside our half/2 metres outside the box. A corner eventually gave the Pumas their first, as Southy boomed a finish, before a long Cam throw to Erik’s nod let Southy power home his second. Bazzo picked up a card to up his abysmal fine tally, and Godders, Skip and Darryl kept the other black cats quiet.

Second half was a great 45 mins of football. The tiny field meant end to end action, with sustained Panther pressure eventually resulting in a goal curling in from a corner. Az then set about repairing the damage to his reputation last week caused, making save after save at full stretch, tipping the ball over or around the bar each time. The Pumas though started to even things out, before in the final 5 minutes Smorgs put Erik through for him to hammer home, sealing the game which Robbo celebrated by chopping down a bloke to pick up another yellow.

MOTM: Az. Somewhere between 6 and 10 amazing touches in the second half kept the Panthers at bay so we could wrap up the win.

6-1 win v Little Britain

Scorers: Harker 2, Kyle 2, Smorgs, Robbo

The traditional Mothers Day clash saw mum’s come from near and far to watch the boys put 6 away in a dominant performance. Dru was welcomed back after several weeks lost in Canberra, with Erik warming the bench – neither contributed to the mother count or the score sheet for the week. The Pumas started really well, and with Little Britain yet to arrive put 3 goals away in 10 minutes courtesy of Kyle’s crowd pleasing pidgeon, Hurr-Kurr’s toe poke and Smorgs’ neat bottom right finish. However, the Rovers secret weapon was soon to arrive, and once Andy Pipkin stepped onto the field, the game evened up nicely. Dru was so impressed he played a great through ball for him, but Az stepped up to challenge and clear. Realising his mistake against such an icon of the game, Az made amends by taking swift evasive action from a free kick, diving completely the wrong way to make it 4-1 after Robbo converted a neat chance.

Second half was more of Pumas v Little Britain. Only Clayts appeared to be immune to the Mullet of the Decade, keeping him scoreless, however Bazzo became his third starry eyed victim, butchering a throw in the worst possible manner. Harker and Kyle put another two away after some great work from Smorgs, Stathis and Smitty up front, before the Pumas started a sub-game of basketball, seeing how many times we could touch the ball with our hands before the ref called it.

MOTM: It could only go to one man, who’s wizardry put a spell over the Pumas, but couldn’t prevent his team from crashing heavily to continue our unbeaten start.

1-1 draw v Pennant Hills

Scorers: Clayts (pen)

Looking to build on a good start, the Pumas were again down Dimo (ankle) and Dru (strippers), but welcomed back Godby to full time duty. Our usual pre-match warmup also lacked a little, with not much running and fetching the ball from behind the goal as Clayts was taking longer than usual to hack his way around Linwood Golf Course. Nevertheless, Godby wasted his customary pidgeon during warmup and the boys lined up against a young looking Penno outfit. Evens for the first while, with first Robbo then Cam going close, before Clayts took exception to being beaten and 2-ironed their striker in the box. Az went the right way but couldn’t prevent us going into half time 1 down.

We played much better in the second half, passing the ball properly and creating upfield pressure without going close. Eventually, Erik latched on to a through ball which was deflected by a defender and milked the collision for all it was worth as he tried to shepherd it out for a corner. Clayts stepped up and slotted another well taken penalty, before the game settled into an arm wrestle. Godby’s great back heel at the top of the box set up a shot, by Penno, at our goal, but Az was alert to his defender’s brain fade and saved our blushes. Cam also went really close to scoring off a corner, again at our goal though. We just aren’t very smart people. Tireless work from Levente, Kyle, Hacks and Ando in the mids saw Penno with no easy ball, and the backs held strong as the game finished 1-1.

MOTM: Clayts. Was immense in the second half and added another penalty to atone for the earlier mistake.