Football: Bay Utd again put up hand

Bay United's Nile Walwyn and Martin Canales Ramos (obscured) put the squeeze on Wellington Phoenix Under-20 defender Dylan Fox at Park Island, Napier, yesterday. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

THREE points cropped up after yesterday's win - Angus Kilkolly and Facundo Barbero can sniff out a goal, Cory Chettleburgh lights the fuse and, when that happens, captain Finlay Milne and his backline can better focus on putting up the shutters.

Thirsty Whale Hawke's Bay United again showed enough to suggest they have the ability to make the playoffs when they beat the Wellington Phoenix Under-20s 2-0 in Napier.

"First half, we were quite sharp because we haven't started quite well in the past few weeks so it was good to come out quite strong," said Kilkolly after they led 1-0 at halftime in the Stirling Sports Premiership clash at Park Island to bounce back to fifth.

The Bay-born striker latched on to a Nile Walyn cross from the right wing at the far post to drill it past Phoenix goalkeeper Oliver Sail for a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.

However, he said the second goal couldn't come quickly enough because they needed that comfort zone much earlier to prevent the visitors doing the unthinkable with an equaliser.

That 2-0 insurance policy didn't come until the 82nd minute from the boot of substitute striker Barbero. The Argentine received a well-timed cross from wing back Fergus Neil on the left flank and took a deft touch to bring the ball to order before poking it into the net.

"That goal from Facu was a little breathing room for us but it would have been nice if we had put a few more in in the first half," said Kilkolly, mindful the youthful Phoenix side took an end-to-end approach.

"They probably deserved to score a few goals because they've come out quite strong in the second half to put us under pressure so we sort of had to chase that last goal, so we were nervous until that last goal."

Coach Brett Angell oddly enough substituted Kilkolly in the second half when it was obvious Sam Mason-Smith and the usually reliable Saul Halpin didn't have their sensible shoes on yesterday.

Asked if he would like to have played 90-plus minutes, he replied: "You always want to carry on but when you've got depth on our bench - Facu, Ben [Everson] and Co - you expect to come off because they can make a difference and Facu did that, so that's what you want from your bench."

Notably vice-captain Chettleburgh's presence made a difference as his physicality and agility added much-needed urgency to the engine room.

"Cory buzzes around and brings a bit of aggression for us and wins tackles to make us stride up and be more positive in the game, so it's good to have him back," Kilkolly said of Chettleburgh, who started his premiership campaign only after serving a seven-week suspension carried over from the Lotto Central League in winter.

Sail thought in the back two thirds of the field the Andy Hedge and Valerio Racuglia-caoched Phoenix were okay but lacking lustre at the coalface although it would have been beneficial to inherit a striker from the A-league squad to do the job.

"We could have strung more passes together with numbers going forward and it would have been nice if our fullbacks got a little more involved up front," he said but felt Bay United traditionally were hard to break down.

Sail said the broad Bluewater Stadium pitch also tested their reserve.

"The young boys do quite well to throw their weight around with the bigger boys but that mongrel and professionalism in the game will come with age."

The goalkeeper said it was disappointing they didn't have much to offer bar counterattacks with a few half chances.

The key to assuming the mantle of giant killers was keeping a clean sheet on the platform of a clinical attitude.

Sail saulted the Bay franchise and province for providing usual ideal conditions to compete in.

The U20s will play the Hamilton Wanderers at the FMG Stadium as a curtainraiser match in a televised 4.15pm kick off before their A-League side's match.