PN Marist put in game of the season

Palmerston North Marist coach Scott Hales was both pleased and disappointed after his side demolished Western Suburbs 6-0 in their penultimate Central League game of the season at Memorial Park on Saturday.

The win was Marist’s second over one of the league’s top sides this season, after beating Miramar Rangers in the opening weekend.

After being 2-0 up at halftime, Marist crushed Wests on the break in the second spell with Rhys Galyer (two goals) and Jerram Tuck, who netted a hat-trick, too quick for the hapless Wests defenders.

It was Tuck’s 15th goal of the season.

Hales trudged away afterwards lamenting what might have been this season.

‘‘I’m proud of our effort, but it’s a little disappointing,’’ Hales said. ‘‘I had to ask the squad where has that been all season.

‘‘I think yesterday we finally executed what we’ve been trying to do all season.’’

Gone was the at-times dodgy defending that has often cost Marist poor goals for most of the season, with Graham Craven a colossus in the heart of the defence.

Surely one of the summer national league sides will chase Craven.

Hales set up his side to play deep and then quickly get the ball forward to their midfielders, especially Nathan Cooksley, who had one of his best games of the season, who then fired the ball forward.

Craven’s fellow defenders Robbie Yule, Wade Randle and Joe Craven all had strong games.

‘‘Possession is only possession,’’ Hales said. ‘‘It’s what you do with it when you’ve got the ball and we played right to our plan.’’

So frustrated was Wests coach Declan Edge even yelled out to his team to get forward as ‘Marist weren’t only parking the bus, but they had the trailer back there was well’.

After the game Edge admitted Marist’s win was deserved as he sought out each Marist player to acknowledge them.

Marist end their season at home next Saturday with a game against relegation-bound Petone.