Football: Ten-men Hawke's Bay United hold Southern United to a stalemate in Dunedin

Southern United's Danny Ledwith (left) applies pressure on Maxime Oliveri in Napier in December but the French midfielder scored a goal in Sunnyvale, Dunedin, today. Photo/Photosport

They may be a two-goal team but seventh-placed Hawke's Bay United also have kept fifth-placed Southern United to just as many goals in Dunedin today.

The Thirsty Whale-sponsored side also accomplished that with 10 men after centreback Cameron Lindsay was sent off in the 14th-minute of the drawn affair at Sunnyvale.

Bay coach Brett Angell said Lindsay and his defenders felt the first goal from Azariah Soromon, burying Abdulla al-Kalisy's cross, was offside and the player had expressed that discontentment quite vociferously to referee Allan Wilson.

"He voiced his opinion around that and the referee gave him a straight red card," Angell said, Lindsay had approached him on the sideline to reveal he had spoken "inappropriately" at the official, who was well within his rights to give the marching orders.

The Englishman understood the referee and his assistants felt a Bay United player had touched the ball to put Soromon on side.

However, Angell was over the moon with how his troops had conducted themselves in taking the odds within their stride to come away with a point on the road in their penultimate ISPS Handa Premiership match.

"From an attacking point of view we've managed to create issues for the opposition," he said after all goals were scored in the first 45 minutes in a physical encounter.

Defensively, especially in the second spell, Bay United's focus and energy was a credit to all in showing their character.

"We had to change formation slightly and move a couple of players into that [centreback] position and what have you," he said, lauding the young players' for growing as individuals and a team who are out of the playoffs.

Veteran Paul Ifill equalised from a penalty kick a minute after the first goal for a handled ball.

However, Garbhan Coughlan nudged the hosts 2-1 up after doing justice, with a tuck inside the right upright, following an Al-Kalisy and Daniel Ledwith passage of play in the 35th minute.

Bay United French import midfielder Maxime Oliveri levelled terms again with Southern goalkeeper Liam Little couldn't do much about it in the 44th minute.

"It was a great, well-worked goal with a great ball there from Josh Murphy and a great finish from Maxime."

Angell said no doubt there was disappointment from both sides they couldn't score a third goal.

"Mac didn't really have to do too much in relation to saving goals," he said of Bay keeper Mackenzie Waite.

Southern assistant coach Terry Boylan told Otago Daily Times the side was disappointed not to win.

However, it was still viewing it as a point gained rather than two lost, Boylan said.

"There were some parts of the performance that were good but then there were others that were sloppy and we let ourselves down.

"That's being realistic about it. We're trying to be positive about everything but, I think, everyone knows it was a poor result against a 10-man team.

"The guys were wanting to play really well and maybe just a bit too much passion hindered their performance today," he said.