Football: Coach praises WaiBOP for fightback

Mark Jones scored in WaiBOP United's 4-3 win over Canterbury United. Photo / File

A 90th-minute winner from Fergus Neil clinched a 4-3 come-from-behind win for WaiBOP United over Canterbury United at John Kerkhof Park in Cambridge on Saturday.

Having fallen behind on three separate occasions, WaiBOP clinched their dramatic victory as Fergus Neil pounced to score his second of the day as the game entered stoppage time.

The visitors took a 35th-minute lead via Aaron Clapham after the Dragons midfielder regained possession and drove forwards to clip the ball home beyond WaiBOP keeper Danyon Drake to lead 1-0 at the break.

Peter Smith's home side was level inside 60 seconds of the restart as Wade Molony bent the ball home after good work from Mark Jones in the lead-up. However, Canterbury were in front again just two minutes later after Ashley Wellbourn slotted home. But once again WaiBOP found an equaliser with Neil rolling the ball into the net after Jones' cross was flicked on by Federico Marquez.

Canterbury United's Adam Dickinson earned a penalty which was dispatched by Clapham as the visitors hit the front again. Almost inevitably WaiBOP found an equaliser, Jones the scorer this time, rifling home in the 81st minute after Reid Drake provided the opportunity with some neat play in the Canterbury area.

WaiBOP then found the dramatic late winner with Neil striking home after being played into the Canterbury box.

Smith was delighted with his team showing some strong character to earn the points.

"I don't think the heart can take a few more games like that," Smith joked.

"Full credit to the lads, we spoke about what we needed to change at halftime and the lads came out and turned the game around. We've spoken about that recently, the resilience within the group, and that's relevant today in the fact that it was a team performance. It personified the spirit that's in the team for sure.

"I've said constantly we think we're a playoff team. To be a playoff team you've got to win at home, initially. We had a great performance down in Dunedin last week and again we've showed today there is a bit of fight and a bit of battle.

"They're coming to training, they are working extremely hard and it's shown on the Saturday."

ASB Premiership 2014-15 - Round 10

WaiBOP United 4-3 Canterbury United (half: 0-1)

WB: Wade Molony 46', Fergus Neil 64', 90', Mark Jones 81'

CU: Aaron Clapham 35' , (pen) 68', Ashley Wellbourn 48'