Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley was a relieved man after his team's 3-0 win over Brooklyn Northern United in their Captial Soccer premier division match on Saturday.
The win not only kept Wairarapa United well in the hunt for competition honours, but it was about the first time this season where
their second half effort more than matched than first half performance.
"We've tended to fall away in the second spell, so it was pleasing to see us do a lot better there this time," Keinzley said. "There was plenty of heart and resolve shown then, and that's what we wanted to see."
The fact Wairarapa United managed to score three goals against a side which had only conceded that number in their previous four games spoke volumes for the persistence of their attack.
The only goal of the first half was actually an own goal by Brooklyn Northern United, but Wairarapa United scored two fine goals in the second spell, the first by Pita Rabo after a Murray Burling free kicket and the other, an "absolute rocket" by Petero Dauniseka from all of 25m out.
"We were all over them in the last 25 minutes?.by then we had exposed their defence a few times and they didn't have any answers," Keinzley said. "The confidence just kept growing and we played some excellent soccer, it was just what we needed."
Standout player for Wairarapa United in the first half was Guiseppe Cagliari whose assertiveness on defence was particularly noteworthy while left half Carl Shailer and fullbacks Aaron Spierling and Robbie Bull also impressed.
The news was not so good for the Wairarapa United seconds who conceded the lead in the Capital Soccer third division series when they were beaten 4-1 by Wellington United.
The game was something of a farce with the official referee failing to turn up and three Wellington United club members taking turns at controlling the game which was played on long grass more akin for a rugby field.
Two of the Wellington United goals came from penalties and there was more than one occasion when they actually had 13 players on the field at the same time.!
Wairarapa United officialdom intend to write to Capital Soccer expressing their frustration at this state of affairs but they are not hopeful of having the game replayed.
