Soccer: Team Wellington take out White Ribbon Cup

Team Wellington won the White Ribbon Cup today, beating Waikato FC in the final in Hamilton. Photo / Thinkstock.

Team Wellington have claimed their first piece of silverware and maintained vital momentum heading into the ASB Premiership playoffs with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Waikato FC at Gower Park in Hamilton today.

Hat trick hero Ethan Galbraith was the chief destroyer but Patrick Fleming, Henry Fa'arodo and substitute Dakota Lucas all chimed in with goals for the visitors, while Waikato's captain Adam Thomas claimed the home side's goal from the penalty spot in the 55th minute.

The White Ribbon Cup was introduced this season to give the six clubs not involved in the O-League competitive football where gaps previously existed in the season.

The final win was a welcome fillip for Wellington coach Matt Calcott after the ASB Premiership's recent break for the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifiers.

"It's great to win the White Ribbon Cup but it's also about getting back into the right head space after a bit of a break," Calcott said.

"We've got Hawke's Bay left to play on Easter Sunday and while there's not a whole lot on it we can just build again and look forward to the ASB Premiership semi final, probably against Auckland."

Calcott praised the contribution of Jonathan Raj and Henry Fa'arodo as well as fullbacks Justin Gulley and Luke Rowe who were pushed high throughout the match and were key performers in attack and when Wellington pressed Waikato into mistakes when they didn't have the ball.

Gulley laid on Wellington's second goal for Patrick Fleming in the 16th minute that had Wellington in control early in the game but two moments either side of halfway took the game away from Waikato.

Waikato were just finding their feet when Jesse Edge blazed over from close range after a flowing move five minutes before halftime, then Waikato keeper Mark Fulcher came for , but failed to collect, a cross early in the second half allowing Henry Fa'arodo to head into an empty net.

"The chance we missed just before halftime and Mark's mistake missing that cross for the third goal - they were the two key turning points in the game, no doubt about it," said Declan Edge.

But Edge was gracious in defeat praising the visitor's high pressure approach. "Team Wellington came here today and pressured us and pressed us and some of our players weren't quite good enough to deal with that type of pressure."

Harry Edge won a penalty for Waikato, which his captain duly converted to close the score to 3-1 but Ethan Galbraith's second goal restored the three goal cushion almost immediately.

Waikato upped their own efforts in pressing Wellington but couldn't force a telling mistake and fell further behind 15 minutes from time when Galbraith completed his hat trick.

Substitute Dakota Lucas added further gloss to the win with Wellington's sixth goal deep into injury time.

Team Wellington 6 (Ethan Galbraith 12', 57', 75'; Patrick Fleming 16', Henry Fa'arodo 46', Dakota Lucas 90+5') Waikato FC 1 (Adam Thomas-pen 55') HT: 2-0