Football: Hawke's Bay United show what might have been after victory over Eastern Suburbs

Hawke's Bay United coach Brett Angell says the win over Eastern Suburbs yesterday shows what his troops can achieve if they stick to he game plan. Photo/file

Hawke's Bay United left a calling card for any national summer campaigners who may be smug about making the cut after they beat Eastern Suburbs in Palmerston North yesterday.

The Thirsty Whale-sponsored Bay side beat the second-placed Suburbs 2-0 in the ISPS Handa Premiership with second-half goals to Tinashe Marowa (52nd minute) and Japan import Hayato Wakino (75th) after a scoreless first spell at Memorial Park.

"In some ways it makes reading these results harder because I've always said that we should have got something out of last week's game," said coach Brett Angell, alluding to the 3-2 loss to defending champions Team Wellington in the previous round.

Angell felt yesterday's outcome over Suburbs was the performance they were waiting for.

"We played for the full 90 minutes, our energy levels were good and we've had to improve on that so it's a shame we have been in that situation a little bit from the physical point of view."

However, the Englishman said the collective saw the benefits of what was possible when everyone adhered to the game plan.

"As we know scoring goals changes the complexion of a game and Tinashe got the first one with a nice composed finish and it was actually the same for the second one."

Marowa came through the transfer window this month from Tasman United to reignite his flagging fortunes after a trial with A-League campaigners Wellington Phoenix didn't eventuate last year.

Fellow midfielder Wakino had jetted home for Christmas but only returned this week after his grandmother felt ill.

Angell also lauded reserve goalkeeper Mackenzie Waite, coming in for concussed Ruben Parker Hanks, for a critical save.

"Outside of that, it was a quiet debut in relation to what he had to do," he said, adding Jordan Lamb was the third debutant as a substitute.

Having a drought at their official home ground of Bluewater Stadium, Park Island, in Napier, Bay United have registered a 100 per cent, two from two outings at the Palmy venue. They beat Tasman United there last summer.

Angell said it was an uncharacteristically stifling hot day at Memorial Park but felt captain Bill Robertson and his men had a tepid 15 to 20-minute start with Suburbs asking a few questions.

"I thought once we settled own and got a foothold in the game we started to take the game to them."

Adam Thurston, Angell said, had clipped the upright and Suburbs goalkeeper Lewis Caunter was equal to the occasion when Marowa unleashed a shot.

When play resumed in the second half, Gavin Hoy made a great cross that Marowa and another transfer signing, Englishman Sam St De Croix, missed on the far post.

"I thought it might be one of those days again but we kept going forward but the players had their finishing boots on this week."

Angell said both facets of the game, defence and attack, fell into place and players concentrated when they had to to create numerous chances and tucked away two of them with composure.

Bay United play Marowa's former club, Tasman United, at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, in a 2pm kick off this Sunday.

■ Premiership standings (pts/games played): 27 (13) Auckland City, 26 (13) Team Wellington, 23 (13) Eastern Suburbs, 20 (12) Canterbury United, 17 (13) Tasman United, 16 (13) Waitakere United, 16 (13) Hawke's Bay United, 15 (13) Southern United, Wellington Phoenix Reserves 12 (12), Hamilton Wanderers 3 (13).