Football: City mix things up in Takaro victory

Goalkeeper Jason Fergusson, seen here against Levin, and his Wanganui City team completed their Western Premiership campaign with a comfortable win over Takaro on Saturday.

Wanganui City cruised home to a 7-0 victory over a physical Takaro Titanz in their final Western Premiership game at Palmerston North's Skoglund Park on Saturday.

Travelling to the Manawatu, City were greeted not by a boggy pitch, but rather by a field that was akin to concrete, adding another challenge to what would be a physical match.

Making preparations to be ready to return to the Federation League next year and with the 2014 Premiership title already in the bag, coach Kelvin Francis rewarded the efforts of his squad and kept to a promise earlier in the season by playing his team in a "reverse grid'.

In other words, the defensive lines got to play in the attack while the usual strikers displayed their defensive qualities.

Usually this style of play can turn a game into a mockery, but the City players showed their ability to play in unusual positions and delivered on their roles expertly.

With Dylan Howells and Eli Fleming leading the attacking line, City went ahead early, taking advantage of the fact that an unorganised Takaro side fielded just nine players at the opening whistle.

Howells and Fleming bagged themselves two goals each and with Marcus Jones, who is more accustomed to playing at fullback, claiming another goal for the season it meant City went into the halftime break with a sound 5-0 lead.

The second half saw a few more personnel changes for City, with Francis challenging his players to continue the game plan, even while in unfamiliar roles, and the gamble again paid off.

Jamie Lambe found the back of the net, increasing his steadily growing tally for City this season, but it was Adrian Ngauu breaking his duck for 2014 that attracted the most cheers from his teammates around him.

With the final whistle sounding, City waltzed away with their 7-0 victory and another three competition points to their massive tally.

"Yes, we played a reverse grid on Saturday, but we still stuck to the game plan, we weren't going to be stupid about it," said Francis, when asked about the surprising tactics.

"It was a typical Takaro match - they were brutal. We still had to play good football, and we delivered," he said.

City return to Wembley this weekend to host the Palmerston North Marist 3rds.