It was so near, yet so far for the Waiuku AFC Kentish Premiers on Saturday as the club hosted Auckland glamour team Ellerslie at Massey Park in front of a big crowd.
After a first-up win in the new Waikato-Auckland league, Waiuku were keen to show that result was no fluke, and the signs looked good when captain Logan Drain headed in a goal to take the team to an early lead.
Ellerslie fought back and equalised to take the half time score to 1-1, but Waiuku came out fired up in the second half and Daniel Baldwin put the Blues in front again.
But an equaliser from Ellerslie and then a late penalty saw the visitors take the match 3-2, although Waiuku remain in the top six on the table after the second round.
While there was much to be pleased about, the late goal left the team thinking that they had let one slip.
Meanwhile, Manurewa (Waiuku’s next opponent after this coming weekend’s bye), were demolishing Western Springs 6-1, which might put our 2-1 win over Springs into perspective. Remember though that Springs were missing their regular ‘keeper through suspension.
Cambridge hosted Mangere and went down by a goal, 1-2, while Fencibles also went down by the odd goal in a 1-0 loss at home to Ngaruawhaia.
The surprise of the round must have been Pukekohe’s 2-2 draw with Papakura - many would have expected the ‘Kura boys to close out this one, but a Joseph Morris double saw the maroons collect their first point in the league.
 Onehunga Mangere had the bye this week, which leaves the table showing Manurewa and Ngaruawhahia with two wins at the top, Onehunga as the only other unbeaten side, in third.
Fencibles are fourth and Ellerslie (with a game in hand) are fifth, one place above Waiuku.
With a bye this week we’ll likely drop down the table until the missed game filters through all the teams, but at least we have a good couple of weeks to get ready before the scheduled Chatham Cup match on Friday April 25 (Anzac Day), at home against Auckland Sunday Football League side O’Connells.
Trouble is, we’re supposed to be playing Manurewa the next day, but the good folks at the Federation are looking into that one for us so watch this space.