Waiuku AFC's Kentish Premiers travelled to Western Springs in their first ever match in the new inter-Federation soccer league, and delighted their club and supporters with a convincing 2-1 win.

The team is now fourth on the Division One ladder, and the result is fine reward for a good pre-season lead-up, after three straight wins scoring 15 goals and conceding just two. Springs are one of the competition favourites so Waiuku went into the game as definite underdogs.

Waiuku looked like they were going to find the going tough as quickly as the fourth minute when a free-kick was floated over and Shaun West got about Justin Baldwin in goal and headed the home team in front.

Waiuku settled quickly after that and played a good spell of football. Waiuku started to dominate and create chances and both John Kingsley and Cody Ralph came close but drifted their shots narrowly wide. Daniel Baldwin got free of the defence only to put the ball left of the goal. Derek Sinclair and Logan Drain were starting to turn the tide and the game definitely swung in Waiuku's favour when Shaun West, Springs' goalscorer, was given his marching orders for dissent.

Being 1-0 down at the break, Waiuku knew all they needed to do was keep patient. The breakthrough came when Greg Seed held the ball and passed back to centre back Grant Muckle who crossed a perfect ball on to the far post where Baldwin finished with a close range header. Not long after Waiuku went ahead after good work from Dale Oliver and Drain, the ball found Sinclair's run into the box who turned and volleyed the ball into the far corner.

Waiuku hung on to the result, and had chances to extend the lead, but as the final whistle blew coach Jim Evans was ecstatic. "We showed we have the quality and the heart to mix it with the big boys today. We turned up with only one substitute and still pulled it off. I was hoping for a draw but the boys out there today showed me that we are not here to make up the numbers. We have our goals and we have a real chance of achieving them. The back four were superb and I was particularly pleased with Hubbard and Baldwin, who got man of the match."

(Team: Justin Baldwin, Jeremy Hubbard, Grant Muckle, Dale Oliver, Stephen Pepping, Derek Sinclair, Logan Drain, Greg Seed, Danny Baldwin, Cody Ralph, John Kingsley, Joe Rayson)

Click here to see Western Springs take on the match!

Waiuku are home to Ellerslie at Massey Park on Saturday at 2.45pm.