Waiuku Prems Back on Track

 Waiuku AFC got their season going back in the right direction with a resounding 5 1 away win to Western Springs at Seddon Fields on Saturday.

Coaching team Jim Evans and Jason Heather fielded the same team that drew against Tauranga last week - a team that was described as mediocre and second rate in The Bay of Plenty Times by the Tauranga coach. This week’s result surely questions the accuracy of that quote.

It took in form striker Derek Sinclair only four minutes to open the scoring after latching onto a long pass from Elliot Crean – Sinclair neatly slotted past the keeper to open the Waiuku account. Crean was instrumental in Waiuku’s second only minutes later when he was just too fast for the home defense and was clumsily fouled in the box. Vice captain Darren Woolnough stepped up and converted the spot kick at the second attempt after the keeper came too far off his line on the first one. Western Springs’ first half woes weren’t over yet and a soft clearance fell to young Dom Winter who fired the ball back into the danger area. The keeper seemed to have the ball but it somehow fell from his hands into the path of the advancing Danny Baldwin who made no mistake from close range. 3 0 at the break and Waiuku were looking far from mediocre.

Western Springs came out and did their best to get back into the game, however right midfielder Charlie Heather had other ideas. A fantastic solo effort saw him get the ball wide on the right, take on three Springs players and put a left foot shot from outside the box over the keeper. The home side rallied and began to build some chances and just as they thought they were getting somewhere Robbie Leonard popped up to score Waiuku’s final goal – another brilliant shot from outside left and an almost carbon copy of Heather’s goal. Not to be outdone by the players, keeper Stu Ruddell got in on the act by pulling off a great reaction save down to his right from a Springs header. The home side did manage a consolation goal near the end of the game but it was too little too late. Waiuku took the three points with a very strong performance all round.

After the game, head coach Jim Evans said, “I’m really proud of the players and they deserve a good win because they’ve been working hard. They’ve shown everyone they can play football but more importantly they’ve shown themselves. Robbie Leonard had a great game in the middle of the park and gets man of the match”.

Waiuku take on top of the table Mt Albert Ponsonby at Anderson Park on Friday night. Kick off 7pm.

Team – Stu Ruddell, Elliot Crean (Mitch Thomasen 80), Jerry Hubbard, Sam Van Pomeren, Darren Woolnough, Charlie Heather, Phil Donovan, Robbie Leonard, Dom Winter (Simon Millynn 70), Derek Sinclair, Danny Baldwin (Arthur Hislop 55).

Subs not used – Phil Van Den Broek, Evan Crean.