Football: Wanganui City end league season on high, focus shifts to silverware

A comfortable win in a nine-goal closing round Lotto Federation League game would usually be a cause for celebration.

But Versatile Wanganui City probably feel like their season is just getting started.

City beat wooden spooners Palmerston North Boys' High School 6-3 at Wembley Park on Saturday and can now fully focus on two trophies in September with a Federation Cup finals run and the local Charity Cup against rivals GJ Gardener Wanganui Athletic to come.

The home side came into the match needing a victory against a PNBHS side which had recorded just one win in 15 games, in order to seal sixth place on the league table.

While City dominated the early play, with chances to Kyle Graham-Luke and Dan Aplin, it was the visitor's taking a surprise early lead through Benjamin Mori in the 16th minute.

The response from City was swift, however, through Graham-Luke, who rocketed the home side level from a tight angle at the edge of the box a few minutes later.

The school boys took the lead once more in the 27th minute before a Graham-Luke penalty, then a brilliant solo effort from Jordan Joblin-Hall and a third goal from Graham-Luke late in the first spell earning City a 4-2 lead at the break.

Eli Fleming scored from a corner just four minutes into the second half to round out a solid middle period for City.

One more goal for each side rounded out the match, but was amid missed a raft of clear cut chances for City.

"It was a dead rubber league game for us and we wanted to use it to give us confidence for next week," said City player/coach Anthony Bell.

"In the end when you bag six goals and probably leave another 16 out there you've got to take positives like that."

Bell was pleased his attacking players got on the score sheet ahead of next Saturday's away Federation Cup semifinal against Gisborne United.

"Putting goals away is what we've got to do next week. Doesn't matter how they go in, they've just got to go in."

Bell said City would be traveling to Gisborne to play attacking football. "We have to."

Meanwhile, Bell gave himself a few minutes on the park to test himself out following a long break from injury but said "I'll probably leave it next season" for a full return.

A sixth placing in the Federation League was an improvement on their return to the league last year, but Bell said it was below the top four goal they set themselves at the start of the season.

"We had injuries throughout the season and a few results in that middle patch when we got draws instead of wins," he said.

"We left three or four draws out there which should have been turned into wins and that would have put us in the top four.

"Like every team you have your excuses of injuries. I don't think we've started a game this season at full strength.

"If we're at full strength I reckon we could push top 2 at this league."

In other results, Athletic beat Massey University 3-2 to seal fifth spot, Hokowhitu FC and Red Sox Manawatu drew 1-1 and New Plymouth Rangers beat Napier Marist 3-2.