Football: Bay Utd overcome jitters

Bay United's Facundo Barbero challenges Southern United's David Hayman in Dunedin yesterday.

All the talk was about Hawke's Bay United starting with a hiss and roar to draw first blood but that didn't eventuate in Dunedin yesterday.

Instead, Southern United sunk their teeth into the visitors' flesh even before the ASB Premiership game was a minute old at the covered Forsyth Barr Stadium.

"In some respects it's no different because it's the 11th time from 14 games that we've found ourselves behind," Bay United coach Brett Angell said yesterday not long after arriving in Napier following their 2-1 victory over the southerners.

"It's a horrible habit we keep getting into and we just can't put our finger on why we start so slowly," he said, emphasising captain Ross Haviland and his men didn't reach for the panic button.

Nine minutes after the first goal from Andrew Ridden, Croat import left wing Viktor Lekaj levelled terms for Bay United sporting the away strip of Manchester City's colours.

This is how the premiership website writer saw the winning goal:

"But the 'free kick' that counted, was a penalty awarded by referee Peter O'Leary, as George Milne launched a rash tackle that led to the spotkick that Ryan Tinsley hammered past keeper Batty to score in the 56th minute.

The report quotes Southern coach Mike Fridge, rolling his eyes, to say: "Another penalty ... we have conceded so many this season. They have cost us dearly.

"Worse still, it was a tackle that did not need to be made and, again, left us with a mountain to climb against a team that has only lost four matches all season."

Despite his misgivings about the start, Angell took comfort in the victory as Bay United jumped back into third place on 24 points on the premiership ladder with Waitakere United a rung and point below as the playoffs loom. Sixth and seventh-placed Wanderers Soccer Club and WaiBOP United are out of the race but Wellington Phoenix, in fifth place, remain in contention although the Canterbury United and Auckland City matches won't be a stroll across the park.

English import Tinsley's goal puts him in joint third in the golden boot race with seven alongside Bay striker Sean Lovemore.

Angell had no qualms with the penalty, saying Milne had brought down Englishman Saul Halpin but felt it could have been worse for the hosts who demobilised striker fane Morgan five minutes after the winner.

"Mike [Fridge] was quite pleased with the ref for not pointing to the spot but we were pretty disappointed to be honest."

Bay host WaiBOP United this Sunday at 2pm before rolling out the carpet to Canterbury United the following Sunday at the same time.

Angell did not want to be drawn into the playoff permutations except to stress the importance of claiming maximum points from the remaining two games.