Marist Skins: Shooting Fish in a Barrel: Wellington United Salmon 3 Marist Skins 4

Scotty is the detail man, but damn! that was a close-run thing. 1-0 down to a good finish from the excellent Salmon striker, the Skins were not playing especially well, but then there was a wake-up. Thomas had done some promising work down the right flank, but Ben's arrival (and the confidence boost the defence received with Thomas back in goal instead of this year's sicknote, Jimmy) triggered some excellent football and a fightback leading to 3 goals before the half ended.

Ray put the Skins back on track with 2 goals, a clean finish from a fumbled save after a Scotty C looping shot and a powerful header. Scotty C also hit the net, putting himself in the way of a hard challenge from the keeper, and just getting a touch on the ball.

The change of ends meant the rising wind and lowering sun counted against the Skins and the Salmon looked to be taking full advantage. A handball from a grounded player put the ball back to a Salmon forward who knocked the ball superbly over Thomas from outside the area. And then the first goalscorer outpaced the defence to put another quality finish away.

This was not to be the Salmon's day however. One of the more agricultural challenges from the powerful Salmon defence was penalised, and the freekick was floated to the back post where Mark put in a decent header that the keeper could only palm across the box for Willie to strike powerfully home. Or for Willie to walk into, scuffing it over the line. Depends who you talk to.

The Salmon continued to pressure, but the Skins held on for a good win. This is a tight division, and no mistake. The Skins strikeforce showed quality finishing and there was superb industry in the midfield to limit the opposition and create chances. While the defence conceded 3 today, it still performed solidly, with Dion and Dan still managing to support their wingers while shacking the opposition wingers

Goooooal