Late penalty keeps City's perfect record intact

Feilding United's Jorel Tane and Wanganui City's Anthony Bell contest possession at Wembley Park on Saturday. Photo/ Bevan Conley

It took an injury time penalty but the Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts have held on to their perfect season record in the Horizons Premiership.

City struggled to overcome a ten-man Feilding United before eventually prevailing 2-1 in a scrappy game at Wembley Park on Saturday.

As coach Kelvin Francis predicted pre-match, mid-table Feilding played aggressive, physical football in an attempt to combat the slick City attack which has been averaging more than five goals a game.

It worked for the visitors, who while not looking too threatening themselves, successfully stifled City's natural game.

The home side was limited to just a few chances in the first half as they struggled hold on to the ball for long periods and were sometimes frustrated into hopeful long balls.

For the first time this season City were held scoreless in the first half and as the second began they still weren't finding any way through.

So Jason Fergusson decided to go over the top instead.

The defender hit the ball from about 40m out and with the ball dropping at an awkward angle from high above the leaping Feilding keeper could only get a fingertip to the ball as it sailed into the back of the net.

The 54th minute goal soon looked like it could be the winner when Feilding went down to ten men.

Jordon Gleave was shown a straight red card midway through the second half for clattering Latham Berry after a free kick had been awarded.

But if there was any indication this was an off day for City, it was that even with a one-man advantage they still couldn't get on top of Feilding.

Worse, they let them back into the game, conceding their first goal (aside from an own goal) in 707 minutes of football this season.

Michael Lewis equalised 13 minutes from time when City defensive line was breached for perhaps the first time in the match and Lewis was allowed to run on to a nice ball, taking two touches before shooting past Glenn Graham in goal.

Feilding sensed an upset and pushed just as hard as City to find a winner but instead it was the competition's front-runners who got the break.

City stand out Max Davidson was judged to have been fouled in the box when he got in front of his marker as they were both going for the ball.

The referee pointed to the spot amid protest from the Feilding players before Kyle Graham-Luke stepped up to comfortably slot the penalty deep into injury time.

There's a saying about champion teams finding a way to win and the fact that City collected three points from perhaps their most underwhelming performance of the season is one way they will reflect on this match.

Francis knew his side got away with one.

"I was sweating there thinking this is going to be a draw today but we kept battling until the end so I'm proud of the effort there," he said.

"They certainly came out a lot more physical than I expected it was going to be but that's the way Feilding have always been.

"They pressed us hard and they wanted to see how we reacted to that."

Francis said his side were guilty of playing too many long balls and not being patient enough with the ball.

"We were dwelling on it too much and they didn't give us the time and we really couldn't string those passes together," he said.

"They really made us work hard and I think they can take that back to Feilding knowing that they pushed the top team right to the end.

"They probably deserved to come away with a point but I'm certainly not going to say that I'm unhappy to have three."

In Palmerston North, City's title rivals snuck past seventh-placed North End 2-0 to keep in touch at the top of the ladder.

A resurgent Breakers RSM Rovers visit Wembley next Saturday as the second half of the season gets underway with City in pole position.