Team Wellington

Waikato FC

3

0

Tyson Holmes 19'
Ethan Galbraith 28'
Dakota Lucas 54'

by Cameron Russell at David Farrington Park / asbpremiership.co.nz

WELLINGTON - Three goals, a clean sheet and a first three points of the season. Team Wellington did all that was necessary to dispatch a young Waikato FC side on a glorious sunny day in the capital.

Wellington coach Matt Calcott said earlier in the week it was crucial that his side got off to a good start, and he got just what he asked for after 19 minutes when Tyson Holmes chested in a Luke Rowe cross to give Wellington an early lead.

The home side soon doubled their advantage on 28 minutes when Waikato keeper Mark Fulcher spilled a Michael White shot into the path of Ethan Galbraith to tap home.

Waikato FC, very much on the back foot, had their best chance of the half when Michael Thompson nearly acrobatically turned in a cross only for Phil Imray to push it around the post.

The second half started in similar fashion, with Team Wellington forwards Ethan Galbraith and Dakota Lucas looking a constant threat to the Waikato FC backline.

Dakota Lukas added a third after a mazy solo run split through the Waikato defence, before he knocked the ball past Fulcher into the bottom corner on 54 minutes.

With the result all but sealed, Team Wellington sat back and the visitors picked up in attack. Adam Thomas had two efforts that forced saves from Imray, but ultimately Waikato FC couldn’t find a consolation goal.

A pleased Matt Calcott praised his side’s efforts, but believes the score line easily could have been more favourable.

He said: “I think we could have had scored a few more to be honest, we dominated possession apart from a 15 minute lapse at the end, but we came here to get three points, and we did that”.

All three of Team Wellington’s forwards got on the score sheet and Calcott said a combined effort is needed to succeed in the ASB Premiership.

Calcott said: “I think you need to have a few guys banging in about ten or 12 goals and if you get that then you’ll find yourself in playoff contention. The guys set standards for themselves to work hard from the front, and they did that today”.

Waikato FC coach Declan Edge was disappointed with the result, but believes things will come together once his young team gels together.

“We’ve played three very good teams so far and apart from the Auckland game, I believe we have kept possession close. I thought we looked more dangerous today, but because were playing an expansive game with a young team, there are a few individual errors we need to fix," Edge said.

Things don’t get any easier for Waikato FC when they host a tough Waitakere United side, but Edge reckons the results will soon come.

Declan Edge said: “We’re not doing anything that can’t be fixed with training twice a day, six days a week. We can talk about it all we like but with young guys, we're going to have up’s and down’s, but we’ll get back to work again next week”.

Team Wellington

V

Waikato FC

1. Phil Imray

25. Mark Fulcher

20. Luke Rowe (Patrick 81)

15. Jesse Edge

19. James Musa

2. Tyler Lissette

5. Nick Branch

6. Mike Kramer

13. Karl Whalen

14.Josh Greene

8. Michael White (Fenton 68)

11. Boyd Tyler (Frischknecht 76)

6. Darren Cheriton

8. Matteo Ballan (Thomas 60)

4. Michael Eager

10. Adam Thomas

11. Tyson Holmes

7. Jason Hicks (H. Edge 60)

10. Dakota Lucas

3. Jesse Smith

12. Ethan Galbraith (Fleming 72)

17. Michael Thompson

Substitutes

Substitutes

7. Wiremu Patrick (on 81)

4. Harry Edge (on 60)

9. Patrick Fleming (on 72)

5. Ryan Thomas (on 60)

15. Sam Mason-Smith

9. Daniel Frischkinecht (on 76)

23. Louis Fenton (on 68)

12. Danyon Drake (RGK)

27. Scott Basalaj (RGK)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

7'

Sorry we're a bit late here folks.  Transport issues and a clash with the Wellington Santa Parade left us late.  We'll get the squads up as we go.  SO far best chance of the game fell to Michael White who has blazed ver from 12 yards out.

11'

Michael Thompson booked for an elbow to the head of Nick branch.  Second time he's earned the referees ire.

19'

GOAL! Galbraith plays Rowe through wide on the left and he crosses in to Tyson Holmes he knocks it in with his chest.  Nicely worked by the home side.

23'

Holmes on the create here and plays the ball across to Lucas who heads wide.

25'

Lucas working hard chases a ball down in the area, knocks it back to WHite but Lisette scrambles his way out to block.

26'

Burger finished so full concentration.  Fulcher out about 25 yards to sweep there.

28'

GOAL!  Galbraith with the tap in.  Waikato have 8 in the area but FUlcher spills a save under pressure from White and Galbraith follows it in.

34'

Awful pass from Lissette gives the ball to Holmes who lays it off Lucas but Lissette comes back and steals the ball knocking it to Fulcher who clears it.

37'

Thompson for a great chance there, off his feet overhead, foces a sharp save low from Imray.  The resulting corner is wasted.

41'

All the pressure from the home side.  Fulcher looked to catch one otusdie the area there.  As one wag suggested, the first time he's caught one all day and it was outside the area.

44'

Lucas takes the ball into the area but his feet are too fast for him and he leaves the ball behind and he's forced back out of the area.

45'

TW corner, but it's over the head of Musa, despite him using Jesse Smith as a step ladder.

45+

Waikato corner but again a wasted chance as a 25 yard shot trickles into the hands of Imray.

Half time here.  Well deserved lead for the home side.

The crowd here lapping up a stunning day.  Not a cloud in the sky and amusing banter.  "Calcott, take two off and make it fair"

50'

Great runs by Galbraith and Lucas to open the half but they haven't unlocked things yet.  Lucas' results in a foul from Jesse Edge.  Just outside the area but White's free kick is just over.

54'

GOAL! Dakota Lucas with a great solo run splits open the defence and slots calmly under Fulcher to make it 3-0.

56'

Galbraith with a great chance, but Jesse smith blocks it from point blank range.

60'

Changes for Waikato - Ryan Thomas and Harry Edge on for Ballan and someone else...  My spotters are dreadful today. Maybe it's Hicks?

67'

meandering a bit here, although a great shot there from Thomas from 25 yards out forced a good save out of Imray.  Resulting corner as ineffectual as ever.

68'

Michael White OFF for Louis Fenton.

69'

James Musa in the book for 'breaking up a promising attack' with his arm.

72'

Galbraith off for Patrick Fleming

73'

Thomas again forces a save out of Imray.  For a lad of 12 he's tearing it up a bit.

76'

Daniel Frischkeinecht on for Boyd.

77'

In caseyou hadn't realised this isn't exactly gripping viewing currently.

79'

Fulcher triies to wake the crowd up by coming 30 yards out and missing the ball.  Lucas tries to slot it but sends it just wide of the open net from 32 yards.

80'

Resulting Goal Kick is intercepted and a cross in from Fleming but Lucas can't get it our from under his feet.

82'

Wiremu Patrick on for an injured Luke Rowe.  Good shift by Rowe.

83'

...and Fulcher is out again, Lucas' crosses from wide but Holmes can't get the header on target at the keeperless net.

85'

Tyler Lissette in the book after Michael Eager goes over his leg.

85'

Cheriton's resulting free kick sails just wide of the post.

86'

Superb work there.  Dakota Lucas makes a hash of a pass leaving Frischenekt in on goal.  Musa throws himself to the ground to block it, then beats two tacklers to put Wellington back on attack.

88'

Then the next moment he's out of position as Waikato attack.  The good and the bad from the big lad there.

Full time here.  Game never quite rose to great heights and the home side were barely troubled.