Football: Former Bay custodian proves the difference

Hawke's Bay United midfielder Ryan Tinsley is outmuscled by WaiBop United opponents in the battle for possession yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

HB Utd 0 WaiBop Utd 1 Park Island, Napier

Waibop United head coach Peter Smith gave his former Hawke's Bay United goalkeeper Danyon Drake a huge hug after the final whistle blew yesterday.

It was a hug which summed up WaiBop United's 1-0 win over Hawke's Bay United in their 17th round ASB Premiership football match at Bluewater Stadium. Player-of-the-match Drake was the difference between the two teams.

The former Taradale High School student who was the Bay team's deputy keeper to Richard Gillespie in 2013 made some cracker saves including four from Bay striker Sean Lovemore who was fourth in the Golden Boot race going into the round.

"I grew up here so I always want to play well when I come back," 21-year-old Drake said.

"I just try and do what I can. All the boys played well and it rubbed off on each other."

His one and only appearance for Hawke's Bay in 2013 was 20 minutes off the bench during the 6-4 loss to Waitakere United in the second leg of their semifinal series.

"I drove here in my car today. Now I want to go home on the team bus and enjoy the celebrations ... it will only be chocolate milkshakes though because we've still got one more game next week," Drake added.

Smith's grin was bigger than Drake's.

"Not many teams come here and take a win. Hawke's Bay are a well organised team. Everyone has been gutted by our last couple of results and we want to finish the season strong," Smith said.

His Hawke's Bay United counterpart Brett Angell gave an appropriate summation of the hosts' day with this quote:

"We didn't deserve to lose but we didn't do enough to win either."

Had Hawke's Bay United won yesterday they would have secured a playoff spot. Frederico Marquez' 90th minute goal for the visitors means Hawke's Bay United must secure a competition point in this Sunday's home game against Canterbury United to book a playoff berth.

"By the time we kick off against Canterbury we will know what needs to be done. It's still in our hands," Angell said.

A lack of quality in the final third proved to be the hosts downfall. They had enough possession and made 11 shots at goal but couldn't capitalise on any.

Far too often Angell's troops lacked the necessary tempo and urgency. While none of the Hawke's Bay lads played badly they didn't produce a display cohesive enough to match their playoff aspirations.

Hawke's Bay keeper Josh Hill can be proud of his contribution until Marquez' moment of glory. Taking the hosts lack of spark at times as well as hot conditions into account it was surprising Angell didn't make more than one substitution.

In sharp contrast the visitors had the necessary hunger levels. Close behind Drake in the battle for player-of-the-match honours were former Waitakere United defender Aaron Scott, striker Dylan Stransfield and Marquez.

Scott displayed the benefits of his vast experience. His composure on defence was first class and his option taking when sparking counter attacks was equally as good.

Another former Hawke's Bay United player, Fergus Neil, was his usual industrious self for the visitors.

If there was a positive for Angell it was the fact there was only one addition to his injury list after the match. Defender Wade Randle collected an ankle injury in the first half.

Angell said it was too early to know whether or not Randle would recover in time for the Canterbury game.

Other games at the weekend saw the Phoenix Reserves beat Canterbury United 2-1 in Petone, Auckland City beat Waitakere United 1-0 in the Kiwitea St-hosted Super City derby and Southern United beat Wanderers 1-0 in Dunedin.

-Scorers:

WaiBop United 1 (Frederico Marquez 90th), Hawke's Bay United 0. HT: 0-all.