Hawke’s Bay deny Wanderers elusive win
Hamilton Wanderers are still without a victory this calendar year and Hawke’s Bay United stretched that winless streak by winning 1-0 in Hamilton on Sunday.
Wanderers played more than an hour with 10 men after winger Bailey Webster was sent off for needlessly kicking Hawke’s Bay’s Kohei Matsumoto after Hayato Wakino put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute.
Hawke’s Bay held on for their first victory in this season’s national men’s football league after drawing 0-0 with Wellington Phoenix reserves last weekend, but they wasted several chances to finish off Wanderers who could have pinched an equaliser in the second half.
Wakino’s winner was just enough for Hawke’s Bay, though, as Wanderers fell to a second successive home defeat at Porritt Stadium in former All Whites head coach Ricki Herbert’s second match in charge.
Wanderers’ cause was hindered when Webster saw red following a minor scuffle with Matsumoto, who was booked for the incident which occurred right in front of the linesman.
Webster petulantly lashed out by kicking the Hawke’s Bay left back and was immediately issued a red card moments after Wakino had broken the deadlock with a tidy finish.
The Hawke’s Bay striker was put through on goal after some
good passing through Wanderers’ midfield and Alex Palezevic’s ball sent Wakino clear to score their first goal of the season.
It was the first real sight of goal for either side but Wakino’s opener didn’t open the floodgates for more in stark contrast to last season’s encounter between these two in Hamilton, which finished 6-4 to Wanderers after three players were sent off during a crazy 90 minutes of football.
Defences were far tighter, with Hawke’s Bay keeping a clean sheet for a second successive match, but Wanderers are struggling after opening their campaign with a thumping 4-1 home defeat to Tasman United last Sunday.
Xavier Pratt missed their best chance in the second half after substitute Samuel De St Croix’s delightful flick opened up space for a clear shot on goal from just inside the box, but the midfielder dragged his effort horribly wide.
As Wanderers pushed for an equaliser, Hawke’s Bay found space when counter-attacking but their final ball was substandard and gave the hosts continued hope of snatching a point despite having a man less.
Visiting head coach Brett Angell became increasingly frustrated with their poor execution in attack as the game opened up in the closing stages.
Wanderers keeper Matt Oliver was only really tested twice and made fine saves from stinging shots fired on target.
The hosts battled away but Hawke’s Bay, who were semifinalists last season, held on and were good value for the three points.
Life doesn’t get any easier for Wanderers, who finished ninth (out of 10) last season, after opening their campaign with two home defeats. Herbert’s men travel north for two matches in Auckland in the next two weeks against Eastern Suburbs and Auckland City FC respectively.
And Wanderers have hardly looked like scoring but for one penalty converted against Tasman.