By JARROD POTTER
FFV METROPOLITAN 2 SOUTH EAST – ROUND 11
PAKENHAM United had a field day against Frankston Pines, slotting goals from all over the park in a 10-goal rampage.
The Cougars sit atop the Metropolitan 2 South East ladder with a five-point buffer and a plus-39 goal difference and took on Pines… last in the division sadly, with a minus-54 goal difference.
Needless to say, this one was in the bag long before the final whistle and the Cougars made that clear with six first-half goals.
It started in the second minute as Jayden Wright opened the accounts before Keegan Bloomfield joined in at the 14 minute mark… then again at the 18 minute stage as the Pines’ defence was sawed apart by the fleet-footed Cougars.
Wright earned his second just before the half and Todd Burt drilled two in a minute.
The second half devolved somewhat for Pakenham United though as the side missed easy opportunities and generally squandered the chance to run away with a rare 15 or 20 goal triumph.
It seems obscene to say a 10-goal win was underplaying their achievements, but in this case the Cougars had a lot left in the tank against the wayward Pines.
Nonetheless United still drilled another four in the second half to take the emphatic victory as it choked Pines out of the clash with quick, mobile possession.
Chris Franssen stepped up off the bench for a brace in the second half while Burt finished his hat-trick and Llewellyn Friend capped things off in the 72nd as he slotted the last.
“We tried to keep possession of the ball and make them run because we know they’re a very slow team,” Pakenham coach Mario Hilli said.
“Skilful side and very good players, but they just didn’t have enough skill base to make a match out of it.
“When they had it we looked in trouble, because we were diving in at people who can play the ball, but when we had it we made them run around and as you can see, they’re not the fittest side going around.”
Pakenham United has a bye this weekend before hosting South Yarra SC at home on 12 July.
“We get a break next week and every team we play from now on are ones we don’t have to worry about for the rest of the season and it makes it harder for them to catch us up,” Hilli said.
Meanwhile Pakenham’s seconds were knocked over 1-2 by Old Scotch SC.
However Bunyip Strikers had a belting win, brushing aside Old Scotch Golds 9-1 with Jody Cooper belting in five – but the seconds were defeated 1-2 by Old Mentonians. Bunyip sits second in Metro 6 South East and faces Harrisfield after the bye.
