Waiuku go down to Ellerslie but its close

The game was played under lights at Phyllis Street, Mt Albert with the entire Waiuku college mens team in the stands as they were staying up the road due to their week long tournament. The Waiuku team buoyed by their new found supporters played the strongest in the first 45 minutes. Good work from Cody Ralph and Mark Baldwin found Danny Baldwin out right after the Ellerslie defender slipped while trying to clear. Baldwin however just put his effort wide with only the keeper to beat. Robert Thornton, who scored a hatrick in the reserves game on Sunday, was in midfield alongside Wayne Trout and Derek Sinclair and they were bossing the match. On a rare attack, Ellerslie were given a penalty for a hand ball in the area but Justin Baldwin made a superb save diving down to his left. Again Waiuku went forward and went close when Ralph got free but he was foiled by the Ellerslie keeper Tim Hawes. Hawes had to be at his best again to keep out Sinclair and spurred on by their goalkeepers performance, Ellerslie went up the other end and took the lead. Warrick Hart sprung the offside trap and gave Justin Baldwin no chance to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

For the first ten minutes in the second half, Ellerslie grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck and scored twice more. Hart hit a 25 yarder into the top corner of the net before Neil Cheetham slotted home to shock Waiuku. However instead of dropping their heads, Waiuku pushed forward again. Ralph nearly scored but Hawes kept him out and then Danny Baldwin probably should of done better when out in front. Waiuku finally grabbed one back when a long ball from Jerry Hubbard was chased down by Sinclair. Sinclair swivelled in the box as the ball hit the ground and drove the ball low and hard into the back of the net. Waiuku attacked again and were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Mark Baldwin reacted quickest and played a intelligent ball sideways to brother Danny Baldwin who slammed the ball into the top right hand corner 3-2 Ellerslie. A Danny Baldwin cross was met by Ralph at the far post but again Hawes kept him out. Everything Waiuku threw at the Ellerslie keeper from here was kept at bay and Ellerslie took the three points

Coach Jim Evans was disappointed as he knew his team deserved better "Man on another night we would of scored ten but hats off to your keeper for having an absolute stormer. We deserved a bit more luck and we have to stop letting in those goals but it wouldnt of really mattered how many we let in if we had finished some at the other end. It was great having the Waiuku college boys here as support and I am glad we put on a game for them. Robert Thornton is man of the match today for a solid performance in the middle of the park"