Football: WaiBOP win boosts morale

WaiBOP United player Federico Marquez (right) scored a brace on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

WaiBOP United scored a morale-boosting ASB Premiership victory over the Wellington Phoenix reserves on Saturday, with an enterprising first half laying the platform for a 2-0 win at Eden Park.

It is a good sign ahead of their next match against Hawke's Bay United at the Rotorua International Stadium this Saturday.

Federico Marquez grabbed both goals in the first period at Eden Park, for the league's bottom team, as they dominated proceedings from the opening exchanges making light of their league position.

WaiBOP raced out of the blocks and early chances to Alexis Varela and Fergus Neil provided a sign of things to come and, in the 18th minute, they got the lead their industry deserved, with a goal worthy of the stage.

After being played in behind the Phoenix back four by Jerahl Hughes, Marquez chopped inside Tamupiwa Dimairo and delightfully curled the ball beyond Lewis Italiano into the top right corner of the Wellington goal.

Boosted by the wonderful strike, the WaiBOP side maintained their quick attacking tempo and were 2-0 ahead seven minutes later following good work down the right by fullback Fergus Neil, who found the lively Mark Jones.

Jones jinked through Josh Brindall-South's covering challenge and charged into the area before squaring into the six-yard box, which left Marquez with the simple task of applying the finishing touch.

WaiBOP were now rampant and could have been three-up after seeing a header come back off the Phoenix crossbar in the aftermath of a set-piece.

With WaiBOP holding their 2-0 buffer, the second period didn't reach the same attacking heights with Peter Smith's side content to conserve their energy. They effectively closed out the match with the Phoenix providing little threat to Drake's goal without the thrust of golden boot leader Tyler Boyd.

"We looked to press and counter incisively and you saw that with the two goals, along with a few other chances that should have led to more goals," said WaiBOP coach Peter Smith.

"Second half we wanted to hold the ball and make it tough for them, while also still looking for the third goal that would have completely killed it off. In the end, we didn't need it.

"Freddy took his goals well.

"He's an enigmatic player, but when he's in that mood, particularly first half, he'll be a handful for anyone at this level." WaiBOP United are still bottom of the ladder after five games.