By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham United has gone down 2-3 to rivals Bunyip Districts in its round 4 clash at IYU Reserve in Pakenham.
Bunyip started far too strongly with two goals inside the first 10 minutes and firmly putting the clamps on with a third after 27 minutes.
By the time the third goal was scored, United had already made its only two substitutes of the game with Hamza Ahmed coming on for Yenzo Sanut and John Ayama replacing Vincent Makota.
With no fresh legs coming on in the second half, closing the margin was always going to be a tough task but Pakenham put up a spirited effort.
Albert Mambo got Pakenham on the board at the 64-minute mark and Manyok scored his second for the season 11 minutes later.
It made for an intriguing finish to the game but Bunyip was able to hold Pakenham at bay.
The result leaves united as one of two clubs in the 11-team competition to have lost all its matches so far.
Their competitiveness was, however, pleasing after 9-0 and 7-2 losses in the last two weeks to Seaford and Aspendale respectively.
ROUND 4 RESULTS: Barton United 1 v Mt Martha 2, Aspendale 2 v Mentone 1, Casey Panthers 4 v Seaford United 3, Pakenham United 2 v Bunyip District 3, Rosebud 0 v Hampton Park United 1.
LADDER: Hampton Park, Aspendale, Rosebud, Casey Panthers, Bunyip District, Mentone, Seaford, Mount Martha, Mount Eliza, Barton United, Pakenham United.
