A bit of rain and terrible ground conditions couldn’t stop the Cougars recording their 10th win of the year. 84900 Picture: JARROD POTTER
By JARROD POTTER
PAKENHAM Cougars continued their rampant run through the lower leagues of the Football Federation of Victoria with a 4-2 win over the Rowville Eagles on Sunday.
In conditions only befitting swine and not soccer, Pakenham charged ahead and in the first 2 minutes, the first venture forward by Rowville resulted in a penalty and a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars wouldn’t allow another chance as they completely controlled the game from that point on, with Rowville rarely able to get past half way.
Three goals were disallowed for Pakenham in the next 10 minutes by an offside call from the Rowville goal keeper, not the linesman, which for reasons unknown was accepted on face value.
This frustration didn’t halter Pakenham’s progress as they kept pushing and kicked a pair of goals the opposition nor referee could find fault with in the next 20 minutes. Patrick Nolan, Sebastian Moreno and Wellington Teles all struck cannons into the Eagles’ net, taking a 3-1 lead at the half which could’ve been six or seven on a ground with a clean penalty area as the Cougars strikers got stuck in mud past their ankles.
A scrappy free-kick 25 yards out from goal gave Rowville some hope of an upset and at 3-2 in Pakenham’s favour, the game went dramatically Pakenham’s way.
The Cougars robbed the Eagles blind of possession – Rowville would have to be content with watching the Pakenham speed quartet – Nolan, Sebastian Moreno and the Teles brothers – zip past them with scant regard.
Rowville’s secret weapon, the unpenetrable mud in the penalty area, kept more shots and more opportunities out than the rest of the team combined – countless opportunities would have thundered into the net if the ball could roll in close rather than bogging down.
In the last 10 minutes Edward Codd put the result beyond doubt with a composed shot in the 18 yard box.
The Messrs Teles dominated the wings – Wellington on the right wing and Elbert playing a makeshift role on the left wing, opening up rowville consistently and switching the play with beautiful whole-field crosses.
Nolan’s first foray up front paid dividends with a goal, but rest assured, if this match was played at Cardinia, Nolan would have five or six to his name as no Rowville defender came anywhere near stopping him.
Pakenham sits third on the FFV, Mens Thirds Division-Six South East ladder, but has played fewer matches than the teams above them.
The Cougars host first place Mornington on Sunday at Cardinia Recreation Reserve at 2.15pm.
