Hat-trick Sinks Warkworth

Waiuku AFC continued climbing the NRFL Division 2 ladder with a 3 2 win over visitors Warkworth FC at Massey Park on Saturday.

In form striker Derek Sinclair continued his scoring run by netting all three goals for the home side and proving his nickname of ‘Sinks’ to be very apt.

The first half, however, didn’t get off to the start that coaching team Jim Evans and Jason Heather had hoped for. Warkworth target man Steve May managed to open the scoring after just seven minutes when the defense opened up in front of him to get a shot away and into the far corner. Lifted by this early goal Warkworth pressured the defense and were unlucky not to get a second as the home side struggled to gain any rhythm or structure in their game. Waiuku gathered their composure and went in search of the equalizer. It came after 25 minutes when a Charlie Heather corner was missed by everyone and fell to Sinclair lurking at the back post who finished easily. Sinclair’s second came just three minutes later when new signing Grant Duncan - who was being heavily marked - flicked the ball backwards over his head to an advancing Sinclair who neatly converted from 18 yards out. The chances continued to come now with Duncan, Sinclair and Dom Winter all failing to hit the target. An otherwise incident free half was over shadowed by a double sending off. Both teams lost a player after what can only be described as an over reaction from the referee when right back Elliot Crean got into a minor scuffle with a Warkworth player resulting in two red cards. Both teams down to 10 men and 2 1 going into the break.

Robbie Leonard was replaced during the half time break by midfielder Arthur Hislop who had an immediate impact when the game resumed. With five minutes gone he picked up the ball in his own half and went on a driving run forward. The end result was a perfectly timed cross into the path of an unmarked Sinclair who finished to seal the hat-trick which has been evading him all season. Minutes later Sinclair was bundled over in the box by the Warkworth keeper. Young midfielder Charlie Heather stepped up for the spot kick but only managed to fire wide. The visitors were buoyed by this and fought hard to get back into the game. They were rewarded with 15 minutes remaining when a spectacular shot from 45 yards caught keeper Stu Ruddell off his line and went in off of the crossbar. The remaining time saw Waiuku under a lot of pressure as Warkworth pressed for the equalizer but the home side held out to secure the points.

After the game Jim Evans said “we will need to work on our finishing this week because we should have killed the game off after half time. Warkworth kept going and made it a nervy ending, but we got the three points and that’s what matters. Derek Sinclair gets man of the match for his three well taken goals”.

Waiuku travel to North Shore United next Sunday. Kick Off 2:45pm.

Team – Stu Ruddell, Elliot Crean, Jerry Hubbard, Sam Van Pomeren, Mitch Thomasen, Charlie Heather, Phil Donovan, Robbie Leonard (Arthur Hislop 45), Dom Winter, Derek Sinclair, Grant Duncan.

Subs not used – Justin Baldwin, Evan Crean, Scott Petersen.