Ponte returns to Texas

Aug. 7, 2012, midnight

ON THE HUNT: Wallis Lake’s Mitch Wilson searches for attacking options.

SOCCER

GLUFC Wallis Lake

WALLIS Lake accounted for Port Saints 4 to 0 on Saturday at Boronia Park in a match far tougher then the scoreline indicated.

Wallis spent long periods of time camped in the Saints’ half but with 11 Saints players behind the ball it was difficult to find the goal.

Wallis had a few half chances but scrambling defence turned them away. With two minutes to the half time break and a nil all scoreline looking on the cards, Wallis pounced.

Midfielder Luis Ponte took a short corner and received the ball back, the resulting cross found Dave Bourne and he made no mistake with his header to give Wallis a 1-0 lead. Fifty seconds later Ponte hit a thunderbolt from 30 metres that almost went through the net to give Lakes a 2-0 buffer. After half time Wallis mounted continual pressure, but the Saints lifted their intensity to suit and their defence was very hard to penetrate. Ponte again hit a good shot from distance and this time really rattled the upright.

As the half wore on Wallis was finding more space and the third and fourth goals both came from the strikers Mitch Yarnold and Peter Masterantonio who put the finishing touches on a 4-0 result.

Blake Clark had his first run off the bench in first grade and settled well at fullback. Three points Luis Ponte; 2 points Dane Ellis; and 1 point Griffen Prestwidge. Wallis loses Ponte for the rest of the season as he returns to the USA on Wednesday to continue his University course in Texas. This will mean another positional reshuffle for coach Herb Klemperer for this Saturday’s much-anticipated second local derby with Wallis travelling to South St Tuncurry to take on the Tigers.

This should be a hotly contested affair as the Tigers have turned in some good results this season. Reserves play at 1.15pm and firsts 3pm South Street Oval Tuncurry.

Reserve grade