Football: Athletic and Red Sox stalemate

David Glaister and his Wanganui Athletic team had to settle for a scoreless draw with Red Sox on Saturday.

Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic 1sts have moved up to second place on the Lotto Federation League table, but that was about the only good outcome from their 0-0 draw with Breakers Red Sox Manawatu at Skoglund Park on Saturday.

Looking to put the pressure on previous second placed New Plymouth Rangers while also hoping to move within a victory of table leaders AFC Havelock North, who both still have matches in hand, Athletic had to settle for one competition point instead of the expected three in a match that never got up to fifth gear.

"What happened? The best answer I have is 'nothing' - that's the problem," said coach Jason King.

"We were patient and moved the ball around well, but then so were they.

"As my captain Matt Calvert said, 'we cancelled each other out'."

Played in drizzling conditions, both sides took the extra time for ball security, but by halftime it was clear that while Athletic weren't doing anything wrong, they needed to be sharper and more focused.

"We just couldn't finish the shots that we had," said King.

"Overall, everyone was about the same. No one really stood up and no one really fell down."

Each side had rare opportunities to convert - at one point King noticed the Red Sox goalkeeper was spilling his pickups, so he directed the forwards to dash in when the keeper would come up for ball recoveries.

"Then, for the life of me, he wouldn't drop another one.

"So we stepped back, and he started spilling them again."

Red Sox had one decent opportunity to break the deadlock, but the Athletics defenders threw themselves in front of the goal to snuff out the chance.

While a physical match, King said there was nothing untoward, although David Glaister did pick up one yellow card caution.

Oliver Carter was moved into centre back from right back and had a good game in the new position, while youngster Jake Simcox finally got the opportunity for a 20 minute stint off the bench and looked comfortable at League level.

King noted they could have really used the x-factor of Raymond Hove, who fractured his arm last weekend and ironically had a rare Saturday off work so he came to watch the away game.

Athletic will now host Gisborne Thistle this Saturday at Wembley Park, with the visitors sitting a close fourth on the table as the only team to have beaten Havelock North in League play this year.