Football: Wanganui Athletic thrash Red Sox to set up intriguing North End duel

Jordan Gilmore scored twice in one of his best games in a Wanagnui Athletic shirt at Wembley Park on Saturday. Photo/ Stuart Munro

A rampant GJ Gardner Wanganui Athletic recorded their biggest win of the season on Saturday to set up an intriguing mini-series in the race for second spot in the Lotto Federation League.

Athletic put three losses in four games behind them in thumping Red Sox Manawatu 7-0 at Wembley Park.

Braces to the attacking trio of Jordan Gilmore, Josh Smith and Ryan Holden featured in the rout which was only prevented from reaching double figures by some late match heroics by Red Sox keeper Jarod Harvey.

What the scoreline did was give a healthy boost to Athletic's goal difference, which could become crucial in the race with North End AFC for second place.

The two sides now play each other twice in two weeks - home and away - starting at Wembley Park next Saturday.

Athletic jump to third after the weekend but North End kept their six-point gap to second after beating Hokowhitu FC 5-1.

But Athletic can steal second by beating them twice.

Coach Jason King was just happy his side got a few goals under their belt as a confidence boost.

"This is what we need going into these really crucial games against North End, which is a nice home and away series, basically, to see where we finish up," he said.

"To be fair, I think we should've had a lot more, especially in the first half. I don't think we worked out there's a rectangular thing with a net on it and you are meant to put it in there."

The home side's first goal didn't come until the 34th minute when Gilmore, who showed hunger all afternoon, pounced on a ball the visitors failed to clear.

That followed an eventful opening spell which included a nasty head clash between Athletic's Scott Burney and Red Sox Ben Jourdain, forcing both from the field to get stitched up at Whanganui Hospital.

Athletic were well in control but there was some endeavour from Red Sox Joshua Davis and Aiden Beals, who had a late first half chance but couldn't get enough power behind the header.

Holden slotted a penalty during seven added first half minutes for a 2-0 halftime lead after Ross Kinnerley was bought down in a scrap with his marker.

Then the floodgates opened with four goals in the first 23 minutes of the second half.

Smith was put through in the 47th minute for his first, a tidy shot past Harvey, and then one more each went to him, Holden and Gilmore.

Gilmore's came from being in good position to follow up a Smith shot which rattled the post, while Holden's nice finish came on the back of clever interplay between Smith and Cam Mackintosh.

Ross Kinnerley added Athletic's 7th in the 76th before Harvey went on to deny several more Athletic chances.

Wanganui Athletic's Logan Hughes looks for support. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Red Sox haven't won a game all season making, it hard to gauge where Athletic are really at, but King said any win like that is positive.

"Goals create a great mentality," he said.

"The goals weren't stupid cheap goals - we worked a lot and got ourselves at the right end of the pitch. From that perspective that was really important for us as well.

"A good, strong win is always what you need. I mean, wins against strong teams are always important but this proves that we can play well."

With about four frontline players unavailable King, was able to give a decent amount of game time to the club's reserves players including 14-year-old Karan Holland.

"He stepped up to the reserves this year. Out there today he had the support of the lads around him and he did a really great job."

It was also one of Gilmore's best performances in an Athletic shirt following an up and down 2017.

"He's really come on, especially this season, he's really shown a lot more passion and he's really getting himself on the ball and I think up the top of the pitch he's really starting to press his case that that should be a place where he plays," King said.

"His energy and aggression to get himself on the ball. I think that's where a lot of our possession came from today, just pinching the ball today."

In other matches, New Plymouth Rangers beat Massey University 2-1 in New Plymouth while league champions Palmerston North Marist beat Wanganui City 2-0.

Half the league finishes next weekend while Athletic, North End, Massey and Hokowhitu play catch up games the following Saturday.