Football: Wanderers in a shambles

Team Wellington striker Angus Kilkolly secured a hat-trick against Hamilton Wanderers in a 3-1 win last Sunday. Photo / Grant Stantiall

A spirited second half was not enough to save Hamilton Wanderers Football Club falling to their fifth defeat against Team Wellington this season and sitting firmly at the bottom of the table.

Former All Whites coach Rickie Herbert has yet to pick up a point this season, losing all five of his games. Herbert was brought in to replace Mark Cossey last season who won two of his five opening games against Eastern Suburbs and Southern United in the 2016/17 season.

Fans had hoped that Herbert had addressed Wanderers leaking defence which had conceded six in a defeat to Auckland City FC last week.

Two early goals from Angus Kilkolly for Team Wellington put those hopes to bed as the travelling team stormed out to a two-goal lead in eight minutes.

It was a wake-up call for Hamilton Wanderers who tried to work themselves back into the game as Armin Pasagic had a free kick for Wanderers go narrowly wide.

Scott Hilliar and Joel Stevens were stretching the Wanderers defence to their limit as Team Wellington elected to start with five attacking players to take advantage of Wanderers defensive woes. Tommy Semmy, Wanderers' new Papua New Guinean signing combined well, with Pasagic with the latter's shot pulling a good save out of Wellington's goalkeeper Scott Basalaj.

Michael Built, who was tasked with being the lone striker for Wanderers, then had his first shot of the match but straight at Basalaj who saved easily.

Despite briefly getting back into the game Wanderers were again put to the sword as Team Wellington scored their third just before half time as Sékou Diane sent in a cross which Kilkolly headed home.

On the stroke of half time Hamilton Wanderers did something they have only done once before all season — score a goal from open play.

Pasagic squeezed in a shot that took a deflection and went straight over Basalaj's head, giving Wanderers a glimmer of hope as the game ended 3-1 at half time.

The second half was slightly better for Wanderers who managed to not concede a goal for 45 minutes.

Sam O'Regan and Raheem Hunter-Ali were both putting their bodies on the line for defence. Hunter-Ali saved three times off the goal line to keep Wanderers from conceding a fourth.

Hamilton Wanderers face off against Canterbury United next weekend but they have four more games to secure at least one win in 2017.