Team Wellington

Hawke's Bay United

2

5

Peter Halstead 72, 88

Leon Birnie 24
Seule Soromon 45+2
Daniel Kirkup 63
Andrew Abba 74
Chris McIvor 87

by Gordon Irving at Newtown Park
nzfc.co.nz

A week ago Team Wellington fought back from 2-0 down at halftime at home to Manawatu to win 3-2 but today it was too much for them to do the same against Hawke's Bay, eventually losing the match 5-2.

This match has been renowned for goals. Team Wellington won last year’s encounter 4-3 and a couple of season ago stuck seven past Hawke's Bay, so the crowd that turned up on a sunny but breezy afternoon to Newtown Park were expecting much of the same.

In the end they weren’t disappointed but the start of the game showed little sign of any goals, let alone seven.

Both teams seemed cagey from the first whistle and the match got bogged down in the middle of the park, with neither goalkeeper being forced to make any necessary saves.

That changed in the 24th minute when Hawke's Bay captain Leon Birnie created some space for himself on the edge of the Wellington box and snuck his shot inside Jake Gleeson’s right hand post. It was a lead that was just about deserved at that stage as the visitors looked to have more creativity than a lifeless Team Wellington.

With the fourth official indicating two minutes of injury time at the end of the first half, Hawke's Bay doubled their lead. A cross was floated to the back post where Suele Soromon cushioned his header past Gleeson for a 2-0 half time advantage.

A week ago whatever Wellington coach Stu Jacobs said in the dressing room did the trick and his side went on to claim the three points from a similarly bad position against Manawatu. It wasn’t to have the same effect today.

With Wellington now chasing the game, gaps were opening at the back and Hawke's Bay were creating chances at will. Gleeson in the Wellington goal, in in place of the injured Phil Imray, kept his side in the game with some scrambling saves. But with the chances mounting it was only a matter of time before the Bay scored another.

This time it came from a corner after another Gleeson save and big central defender Dan Kirkup rose unchallenged in the middle of the penalty area to plant his header into the roof of the net midway through the spell for 3-0.

Peter Halstead had been brought into the action for Wellington to add some punch to the attack and he got one back with a cool finish in the 72nd minute. But within a couple of minutes Hawke's Bay extended their lead back to three goals when their own substitute Andrew Abba made it 4-1.

With the game heading for a close Chris McIvor came off the Bay bench to make it 5-1 before Halstead got his and Wellington’s second for a 5-2 final scoreline.

It was a scoreline that Bay coach Jonathan Gould enjoyed.

“We’ve come here in the past and taken some tankings so we’ll enjoy this one. I remember coming here a couple of years ago and conceding seven.”

“There was a little bit of fear at the start and that was noticeable in the way the game was played but once we got the first goal we were a lot better,” said Gould.

Wellington coach Stu Jacobs had few complaints after the game.

“We were flat all game. We had no drivers out there so when things went pear shaped there was no one to spark us into life.”

“I’ve told them to go away for four days and come back to training on Thursday night with that spark.”

When Jacobs was reminded that his team had turned around a two goal halftime deficit a week ago and did he think it was possible again today, he was clear in his thinking.

“Hawke's Bay have too many good players to let us get back into it.”

Jonathan Gould can now eye a playoff spot but knows it will be difficult.

“We have four out of five games at home but teams like coming to Park Island because they know the set up and we have to make sure we get the points.”

Photos: Marty Melville

Team Wellington

V

Hawke's Bay United

1 Jake Gleeson (GK)

1 Mitchell O'Brien (GK)

3 Steve Gulley (out 54)

2 Chris Davies

5 Michael Eager

4 Greig Henslee

6 Michael Pickering (out 54)

6 Che Bunce

8 Peter Howe

7 Cole Peverley (out 80)

9 Ross McKenzie

9 Dan Kirkup

10 Luis Corrales

10 Suele Soromon  (out 70)

11 Brian Little (out 67)

11 Graham Fyfe

13 Karl Whalen

13 Leon Birnie  (out 80)

22 Adam Birch

16 Ian Hogg

23 Tim Schaffers

21 Woo-Jae Kim

Substitutes

Substitutes

7 Sam Blackburn (in 67)

3 Reiner Beaufiend (in 80)

14 Sam Jenkins (in 54)

5 Campbell Parkin

18 Peter Halstead  (in 54)

8 Chris McIvor (in 80) 

21 James McPeake

12 James Oxtoby

25 Paul Whitmarsh

19 Andrew Abba (in 70) 

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Just over half an hour from kick off and it's another scorcher at Newtown Park for today's match between Team Wellington and Hawkes Bay

There's a bit off a breeze that's got up at Newtown and it'll favour the team playing away from the zoo end of the ground in the first half

The game is underway with TW playing with the wind at their backs in the first half. The players will be thankful for the breeze as it takes the sting out of the sun.

4'

first corner of the game to HB who have dominated the early stages of the match but the corner is easily gathered by Gleeson

9'

free kick out wide on the right for TW taken by Brian Little and keeper O'Brien comes and doesn't get but the ball drifts past the post

15'

nothing on target to report just yet, Gleeson in the TW goal has taken a couple of crosses but HB's O'Brien has just touched the ball for the first time.....from a pass back.

20'

sorry there's been so few entries so far today but it's been that sort of game...a nothing to report game. Things are too rushed, no composure on the ball and no one yet showing a touch of finesse to create anything of merit on the opposing goal

24'

GOAL!0-1 First shot first goal. HB skipper Leon Birnie gets a shot away from the edge of the box and it nestles in the corner of TW goal. 1-0 Hawkes Bay and in a pretty flat match it's probably deserved.

25'

the referee calls a halt t o the game so the players can get a drink. A bit unusual in that the temperature doesn't compare to centre court at Melbourne but the liquids will be gratefully received by the players no doubt. You wonder why the game is played at 3pm in the height of summer!!!!

30'

free kick is floated in from the left by TW and O'Brien uses a foot to get it clear. Unusual but effective

31'

TW get a freekick on the edge of the box and HB's Che Bunce is booked for a rash tackle......but the free kick from Brian Little is awful, it beats the wall but doesn't get off the ground and O'Brien gathers easily

34'

Ross McKenzie sent away into the box down the inside right channel b ut his effort is saved by O'Brien and a tame effort it was. Expect better at this level

40'

approaching halftime and HB deserve the advantage they hold in what is a very poor match. Kirkup and Bunce in the centre of the HB defence are doing things easily not that they've had much to test them so far. HB not much better but have created more half chances and are holding the ball well for an away team.

43'

great chance for HB. The corner drifts to the back post and Che Bunce comes steaming in and his header grazes the crossbar. No complaints from TW if that had gone in, Bunce is the dangerman at corners and no one bothered picking him up.

45'

almost the equaliser as a header from Whalen is cleared off the line. Two minutes of added time.

GOAL! Deep into injury time in the first half and TW are caught at the back post as Suele Soromon steals in with a diving header for 2-0.

HALFTIME - Just time to kick off and the ref signals the end of the first half. Well it's history repeating itself as TW found themselves 2-0 down a week ago at halftime to Manawatu. They came back and won that game 3-2 but will have to improve greatly today if they're to do it again. HB deserve their advantage at the break.

They're back on the pitch at Newtown with the home side facing a mountain to climb if they're to get anything out of the game. A poor first half display has disappointed the home support and Hawkes Bay deserving of the lead.

48'

Michael Pickering does well for TW and gets to the bye line and his wonderful cross is met by Luis Corrales who's header crashes back off the HB crossbar. Maybe there is life in TW yet. Good work from the home side.

51'

TW keeper Jake Gleeson is hurt under the challenge of Kirkup. The ref's having a word with Kirkup but there appeared little wrong with the challenge although Gleeson is slow to get to his feet.

54'

double substitution for TW Peter Halstead and Sam Jenkins on for Steve Gulley and Michael Pickering

58'

wasteful by Graham Fyfe who was found in space in the box. Time to bring it down and pick his spot and instead he drags his effort wide. That would have been game over.

59'

another effrot from HB. This time Henslee's effort is saved by the legs of Gleeson but the build up was too easy for HB and TW have been put on notice, this could end up as 4 or 5 if they're not careful.

62'

Jake Gleeson keeping TW in the game at the moment. There's big holes in TW defence and almost exploited by Leon Birnie who's shot is scrambled for a corner by Gleeson.

63'

GOAL! It had to come and it was too easy. The corner is headed home by Dan Kirkup. 3-0.

70'

Another effort for HB and Fyfe's effort is saved by Gleeson.

72'

GOAL! 3-1 Peter Halstead gets one back for TW but there's a long way to go.

74'

GOAL! 4-1 The fightback didn't amount to much as HB sub Andrew Abba on for Suele Soromon restores HB's three goal advantage tucking his shot under Gleeson.

77'

Almost another for HB as Henslee flicks an effort onto the TW crossbar before it drops to safety. HB are having fun out there.

80'

double sub for HB as Chris McIvor and Reiner Beaufiend come on for Cole Peverley and Leon Birnie. Job done for the HB pair.

83'

free kick to TW on the edge of the box but it's a tired effort from McKenzie who watches it fly over the crossbar. Poor

87'

GOAL! Too too easy for HB as Chris McIvor slides home the fifth

88'

GOAL! Straight away Halstead gets his second to make it 5-2 but it's not enough for TW

FULLTIME All over at Newtown and HB have done it easy. They have fully deserved their 5-2 victory and look headed for a play off spot but for TW it's going to be a hard slog from here and they will need to improve big time on this performance. Well done HB.