Football: WaiBop end strong season on high

Tauranga's Thomas Probert (right) in action for WaiBOP United against Hawke's Bay United. Photo / File

WaiBOP United finished a memorable 2014-15 ASB Premiership season with successive victories after they overcame a 0-1 deficit at halftime to beat Southern United 2-1 in Cambridge on Saturday.

Second-half goals to Robbie Greenhalgh from the penalty spot and substitute Jarrod Young earned WaiBOP the match points to finish the season in fifth place, two points adrift of fourth-placed Hawke's Bay United.

But who knows how far WaiBOP may have gone had they not had three points deducted for playing an ineligible player in the 3-0 win over Wanderers SC at Links Avenue on November 22?

To the credit of the players and coaches, that decision was quickly put behind them and after the Christmas break they were easily one of the best teams in the league.

Coach Peter Smith was proud of how well his team battled for the win on Saturday and throughout the season.

"We spoke before the game that we wanted to finish on a high by getting another three points in the bag after we gave ourselves a good victory last week in Hawke's Bay," he said.

"It would have been easy to let it go a bit with two games left but it shows the character and resilience we have in the squad that despite not being able to qualify for the play-offs we have stuck another six points in the bag. It is very pleasing from a coaching perspective."

Smith said his team deserved to come out on top against Southern United.

"We dominated possession but we found ourselves a goal down at halftime.

"We said in that top third we need to be a bit more clinical and the quality of the ball needs to be that bit better and that bit sharper. To be fair to the lads in the second half we had that cutting edge up front and we looked a constant threat going forward every time.

"Robbie Greenhalgh did exceptionally well in the middle of the park, Alexis Varela again worked tirelessly and the last three or four games I think he has been a different class. The back four held well with young Alfie Rogers again putting in a good performance alongside Aaron Scott and Craig Wylie.

"Right through the team everyone worked hard and that is testament to the culture we have got here."

WaiBOP United 2 Southern United 1 (halftime 0-1)

WaiBOP: Robbie Greenhalgh (pen) 62', Jarrod Young 74'