The Skins Sweep to Victory

The Marist Skins remain in title contention for the Div 9 championship with a 4-2 win over the Petone Chuggers on a wind swept Cobham Park. Ground conditions were conducive to attractive football and the Skins obliged in the first half especially.

Playing with the wind the Skins went ahead after twenty minutes when defensive lynchpin Scotty Donaldson launched a rare raid into the opposition half before slipping a through ball which dragged the Chuggers keeper out and powerful centre forward Ray Hardy tackled the stranded keeper before dribbling the ball into an open goal.

The heavens opened as three further goals were perfectly orchestrated within 10 minutes. Workhorse central midfielder Aaron Watson claimed one with a 30 metre swirling shot. This goal was the third and was sandwiched between two beauties which came from nice Skins passing where much like his namesake Dr Watson, Aaron helped solved the Skins scoring mystery with two nice assists. Jim Boutcher and Oliver Davie were noted down as the scorers.

The halftime break left the Skins 4-0 up, but some gritty defending repelled plenty of long balls and shots as the wind continued to play a part. Finally after about 20 minutes the Chuggers scored with a long shot. But unlike their opponents, the Skins managed to stop leaking goals until the diminutive Chuggers speedster broke his way through the defence and claimed a second goal for the visitors with about 15 minutes left. The Skins stood strong where others would’ve faltered. The 4-2 win enabled the Skins to stay in touch with the leaders, with Aaron Watson claiming the Man of the Match award.

Things don’t get any easier with a physical away match against the top of the table Naenae Hypocrites on the cards. Last time the two sides met the Skins were humbled, but that was a holiday weekend and the Skins can hopefully take plenty of confidence with them from last week.