Team Wellington ended our three match winning run in the ASB Premiership on Sunday, claiming a 3-1 victory at David Farrington Park in Wellington.
A first minute own goal, off the unlucky Tyler Lissette, followed by two goals – from league leading scorer Ben Harris and Luis Corrales – six minutes apart inside the final 15 minutes saw Team Wellington hold a 3-0 lead.
Loaded WaiBOP got ourselves on the board in the 82nd minute, two minutes after Corrales’ strike, via Ryan Tinsley.
The result sees Team Wellington jump over WaiBOP United and Hawke’s Bay United into third spot, a point behind second-placed Canterbury United.
The hosts quickly went 1-0 head in just third minute as Lissette turned the ball into his own net, but after a tricky first ten minutes we settled into our work and were unlucky not to at least be level by the break. The best chance came on twelve minutes when leading scorer, Stephen Hoyle, was played in by Federico Marquez, but he sent his shot over.
Team Wellington’s keeper, Scott Basalaj, was the busier of the two custodian during the first half hour of the second half, as we used the breeze to keep the hosts largely camped in our half. Ryan Tinsley, Federico Marquez, Alexis Varela and Sean Morris all went close while Mark Jones was [extremely] unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty after seemingly being clipped in the box.
Saul Halpin missed a glorious opportunity for the hosts in a game not short on openings.
The next goal arrived in the 74th minute when Team Wellington’s Harris grabbed his eighth goal of the year, putting the ball into the roof of the net under pressure from recovering WaiBOP United defenders.
Corrales provided further insurance for his side when he tapped home at the back post on the end of an excellent Andrew Bevin break and cross.
Tinsley got us on the score board two minutes later, hooking the ball home in the aftermath of a corner but that was it for us, despite late chances for substitutes Wade Molony and Sanni Issa, and we were leap-frogged by the hosts as the race for the top four tightened further.
Team Wellington 3-1 WaiBOP United (half: 1-0)
TW: OG 3’, Ben Harris 74’, Luis Corrales 80’.
WB: Ryan Tinsley 82’.
Team Wellington: Scott Basalaj, Anthony Hobbs, Bill Robertson, Chris Bale, Tom Jackson (Leonardo Villa 77′), Luis Corrales, Mario Barcia, Alex Feneridis, Ben Harris, Fergus Neil, Saul Halpin (Andy Bevin 67′). Subs (not used): Alex Carr (rgk), Steven Gulley, Magno Viera.
Loaded WaiBOP United: Zac Speedy; Scott Hilliar (James Hoyle 84′), Mario Ilich, Tyler Lissette, Finn Cochran; Ryan Tinsley, Alexis Varela; Mark Jones, Federico Marquez, Sean Morris (Sanni Issa 69′); Stephen Hoyle (Wade Molony 79′). Sub (not used): Neil Achary (rgk).
