Wellington Teles continued his great form for Pakenham, scoring the second goal to help the Cougars to a 3-1 win over Baxter. 83921 Picture: JARROD POTTER
By JARROD POTTER
PAKENHAM made the most of their trip to Baxter, claiming a 3-1 win despite injury concerns and a damp pitch creating havoc for the players.
Elbert Teles and Sebastian Moreno were out injured for the Cougars and it forced a reshuffle of the team. Pakenham tried to go to a four-man backline in the first half but Baxter started off the stronger on a waterlogged ground that shouldn’t been allowed to play on.
Edward Codd for the second week in a row was dangerous down the left wing and at the 20-minute mark he fooled his opponent, cut onto his right foot and unleashed a venomous strike, only to be denied by the woodwork.
A fumble from Pakenham keeper Aaron Vaughan allowed Baxter to take the lead, but Codd continued his stellar match to kick a goal from 25 yards out to square the match.
Pakenham coach Marcos Sakano put his team back to a three-man backline and bolstered his midfield – a gamble that paid dividends straight away as Baxter faded against the fleet-footed Cougars.
Pakenham had the game by the scruff of the neck, with players like Partick Nolan, Wellington Teles, Keegan Bloomfield, all dominating through midfield and backline.
Pakenham’s new pairing of Colin Kinlan and Sean Stevens, two veterans of the game controlled the backline with authority, leaving Baxter wishing they had taken their first half chances.
As the game wore on and the field and conditions worsened, Pakenham kept hitting the post and yet they never gave up.
In the last 10 minutes they put the match winner away – Wellington Teles broke clear to score the second before Patrick Nolan put away the sealer with a screamer out on the right wing.
Keegan Bloomfield was among the best in his solo effort up front by himself all day, fighting off two or more defenders on each chance, but he managed to open up chances for his team-mates.
With the win, Pakenham sits second on the ladder and faces Old Trinity Grammarians at home this Sunday from 2.15pm.
