Wairarapa United football coach Phil Keinzley greeted his team's 3-1 win over Wellington United in their Central League match at the Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton on Sunday with relief more than excitement.
The victory saw Wairarapa United move from ninth to eighth in the 10-team competition and as such provided
them with much needed breathing space in their battle to avoid possible relegation.
And that's why relief was the first feeling experienced by Keinzley when the final whistle sounded.
"I think everyone realised how important this win could be," Keinzley said yesterday. "It doesn't mean we are out of the woods but it's a huge step in the right direction, that's for sure".
Keinzley was especially pleased with the dominance Wairarapa United had in terms of territory and possession in the second half after they went to the interval level pegging at 1-1.
He said the halftime team talk had revolved around the need to use the full width of the paddock to spread the Wellington United defence and hopefully create some gaps from which they could capitalise.
"It was all about applying pressure from the word go, and maintaining it all the way through," Keinzley said. Wairarapa United will have a rest this coming weekend with their scheduled match against Miramar Rangers at Miramar being postponed because of Miramar Rangers being involved in Chatham Cup action.
This means Wairarapa United's next assignment will be against Taranaki in New Plymouth the following weekend and Keinzley is anticipating having a full strength squad from which to select for about the first time this season. Back from suspension will be Adam Cowan and Andy Robertson and hopes are that goalkeeper Richard Gillespie will be recovered from the shoulder injury suffered on Saturday while playing club rugby in Hawke's Bay.
