Maclaren bounce back with 3-0 win

 MACLAREN hit back from a disappointing loss last weekend to beat a youthful Defence 3-0 in the Port Moresby Super League at the Bisini Soccer Grounds on Saturday.

Leading 1-0 at the break with a goal to Toru Simoi, Maclaren scored twice in the second stanza to wrap up the match comfortably.

The goals were scored by Solomon Islands sweeper-cum-striker David Taro and flanker Joe Dickson who scored his first goal in the super league competition. 

The Gulf man weaved his way past a sloppy defence before finding the target.

“It’s my first goal in the super league and I feel so proud,” he said.

However, Dickson admitted that it had taken three games before scoring his first goal in this competition.

Stand-in coach Milton Gori said they knew it was critical for both teams after losses last weekend.

“We had to regroup to come back with a win. Of course, it was a disappointing loss last Saturday but we put that behind to come up with a victory today,” Gori said. 

“It was a critical match knowing that Defence also lost their game against Hard Rocks last Saturday.”

He also admitted that Defence striker Pettyshen Elizah was their only threat.

And they came up with a strategy that would neutralise Elizah.

“We worked on a plan by moving the ball to the flanks before coming in and it worked to our advantage,” Gori said.

They meet Hard Rocks next week and are hoping for another win.

 Results: Maclaren 3 Defence 0, Blue Kumuls 3 Mungkas 2, Yamaros 3 PS Rutz 0.