Hugo Lodewyk, 17 next month, showed he is a capable understudy to regular goalkeeper Mitchell Stewart-Hill, who has knee problems.
Jirah Wanoa and Junior Jimmy renewed their centre-back partnership to pleasing effect. Jimmy was yellow-carded for his reaction when Peringa dangerman Domenico Squatriti got under his skin in the 30th minute, and sometimes he overplays his hand in possession. But his presence transforms the defence.
Wanoa benefits from that, and on 69 minutes showed his development as a never-say-die stopper. Peringa man of the match Robbie Yule hoisted the ball into Thistle’s goalmouth, where Squatriti got in a looping header under pressure from Lodewyk. Wanoa recovered five metres in the time it took the ball to travel from the striker’s head towards the net, and volleyed clear.
Central midfielders David Salmon and Cory Thomson got stuck in while playing some nice football. Thomson drew a smart save from Peringa goalkeeper Nicholas Walker with a 30-metre shot in the 81st minute.
Up front, Somerton was well marked by Yule but still managed to get the flick-on that led to the match-winning penalty. Alongside him, Travis White almost scored with two chip shots. One – on the run from 30 metres in the 50th minute – hit the bar. The other – a snapshot from 15 metres in the 90th – drew an outstanding save from Walker, who tipped it on to the bar and caught the rebound.
But the match-winning passage of play came from substitute Ruben Garcia. He came on for left-back Ziggy West-Hill, who had hurt himself in a collision with Squatriti in the 47th minute. Kaden Manderson moved to left-back and Garcia took Manderson’s place on the left wing.
On 82 minutes, Somerton held off Yule’s challenge from a Lodewyk goal-kick to nod the ball on. Peringa right-back Bryn Kearton – who had an otherwise steady game – tried to head the ball back to keeper Walker, but Garcia steamed past, reached the ball before Walker and pushed it ahead.
Walker said he didn’t touch Garcia. Repeated viewings of Rangai Media’s match footage at game pace left me none the wiser.
The key point is that Garcia’s commitment to get to the ball first made the opportunity. The speed of his run meant that once he was airborne going to the ground – whatever the cause – it was spectacular and convincing.
Somerton scored from the penalty spot to take his league tally to six and equal second place in the goalscoring race.
Squatriti was hobbling from the time he clashed with Hill and, as the scorer of five of his team’s six goals this season, he was kept on till the end.
Peringa were similar in style to the other New Plymouth teams, FC Western and Rangers – fit, defensively strong and committed.
Centrebacks Jason Richardson and Yule made life uncomfortable for White and Somerton, while the imposing figure of keeper Walker made the goals look small. All defenders scrambled to block shots.
Peringa midfielders Flynn Whitaker, Jayden Gally, Chad Jones, 16-year-old Asher Ryan and Jack Gunson moved the ball smartly and hassled the Jags midfielders relentlessly.
Up front, Squatriti was dangerous, fit or hurt, and had willing support from Cody Buck and substitute Reed Young.
The most encouraging thing about the Jags’ performance was the strength of their core, from Lodewyk through to Somerton, and the flanks weren’t bad either.
Coach Tam Cramer said it wasn’t pretty but he was happy to win and not concede a goal.
“Sometimes you have to win ugly,” he said.
He is glad of the bye on Saturday, and hopes injuries have a chance to heal.
“Today was an opportunity to have a look at Hugo (Lodewyk), and Mitch (Stewart-Hill) can have a couple of weeks’ rest. It’s good to know Hugo can step up if he needs to.
“At one stage I had five players on the pitch telling me they were injured, and three subs.”
Isaac Bush came on for Salmon in the 70th minute, Garcia replaced West-Hill in the 77th and Shai Avni replaced Somerton for the last five minutes. Salmon had been ill during the week, while West-Hill and Somerton were injured.
“We ground it out, and everyone put in a shift,” Cramer said.
Peringa coach Domenico Squatriti (the striker’s identically named father) said his team had early opportunities they didn’t take.
“We’ve got some young fellas this year and they did really well. We lost nine from last year’s squad, and have only four players from last year.
“Both teams played some good football today. It’s a shame one team had to lose.”
Referee Chris Niven kept a firm grip on the match, yellow-carding Thistle’s Jimmy and White, and Peringa’s Kearton.
Other Federation League results: New Plymouth Rangers 5 FC Western 3, Palmerston North United 6 Whanganui Athletic 0, Taradale 1 Havelock North Wanderers 4.
