Athletic's Jude Hiri gets caught by City's Max Davidson. Photo/ Lewis Gardner
Athletic's Jude Hiri gets caught by City's Max Davidson. Photo/ Lewis Gardner
Two games, 180 minutes of football and still no goals.
It may have not been the yawn-fest of the season's opening day scoreless derby, but the much-anticipated second Lotto Federation League meeting of the season between GJ Gardner Wanganui Athletic and Versatile Wanganui City still failed to give either sidelocal bragging rights on Saturday.
Add to that last year's Charity Cup final, which went to penalties, and the two Whanganui rivals have now produced three consecutive stalemates in gameplay.
Both sides came into this League match in good form and separated by just one point in fifth and sixth on the ladder - which pulled the biggest crowd of the season at Wembley Park and they were treated to a more entertaining game, yet saw no goals.
"I didn't quite fall asleep in the dugout this time," said Athletic coach Jason King.
"Happy with the [competition] point but disappointed it was another scoreless draw.
"I think it was a little bit more entertaining than the first game of the season - we just seemed to cancel each other out, mostly."
City tried to used counterattack to pierce or go around a solid Athletic defensive set up, while at the other end it looked like set pieces would be Athletic's best scoring option.
Athletic's Peter Czerwonka produced a powerful header early on from a corner, but it sailed over the bar in a first half with few chances.
Dan Aplin got a clear sight of goal for City in the 51st minute, but couldn't get enough angle on the shot and Athletic keeper Matthew Calvert only had to dive a little to his left.
City had the better of the third quarter in terms of attack but each time it was Calvert, Czerwonka and Shaan Stuart – with the help from an energetic Jake Simcox – holding firm.
James Southerly fired two long range shots for Athletic towards the end of the game, but never really threatened, while the injection of Jake Lockett sharpened City's attack but to no avail.
City's player/coach Anthony Bell - who is sidelined with an injury - was disheartened at not being able to break down Athletic.
"The way they set up - it was pretty frustrating, to be fair," he said.
"For long periods of time they'd keep the ball, pass the ball around the back and then kick it long.
"We probably could have done more, maybe pressed a bit higher, but then we're at risk of exposing ourselves as well.
"Our chances today were really only half chances, we didn't really have any clear cut chances and that's probably credit to them, how defensively they did play.
"Yeah, we put in a performance but probably weren't quite there. All and all pretty disappointed.
"We haven't lost to them all season so bring on Charity Cup [at season's end]. No draws there."
Meanwhile, King was also left to lament his side not being able to find the back of the net.
"We seemed to create some good chances, I think the first half we played reasonably well and in the second half we just couldn't find the back of the net again it was almost like stage fright in some ways," he said.
The defensive trio of Calvert, Czerwonka and Stuart had played well alongside Simcox, he said.
City's Zane Robinson and Athletic's James Satherley battle for possession. Photo/ Lewis Gardner
"Jake's growing and growing and I think being able to work alongside someone like Shaan [Stuart] he's learning a lot about defensive duties but he's also got plenty of go forward as well.
"I don't think they managed to come up with anything which really managed to test Matty [Calvert] too much.
"It's very much a winner take all type of situation for Charity Cup at the end of the season - that will be an entertaining affair, I'm sure."
Athletic have a week off before taking on Palmerston North Marist away.
"It's time to see what we can do there and leapfrog City and pick up a third or a fourth - whatever is mathematically possible."
Meanwhile, City have a Federation Cup quarterfinal against Hawkes Bay's Western Rangers at Wembley Park this Saturday to look forward to.
"That's done, derby days done, it's a bit gutting not to take three [points], but we'll take a point," Bell said.
"We have to move forward and we have to look at that now."
The result leaves City (5-4-3) in fifth on 19 points, one ahead of Athletic (5-3-4) in sixth.
In other results, leaders Havelock North Wanderers beat Massey University 4-0, North End AFC defeated Palmerston North Marist 4-1 to leapfrog them into third and Hokowhitu FC beat New Plymouth Rangers 3-0.
