City's Marcus Jones, right, came on to play well against Hokowhitu Rangers, but it was too late to prevent a devastating loss in the Horizons Premiership on Saturday. Photos by Sharon Francis.
City's Marcus Jones, right, came on to play well against Hokowhitu Rangers, but it was too late to prevent a devastating loss in the Horizons Premiership on Saturday. Photos by Sharon Francis.
It was a deflating weekend for Whanganui's travelling Central Football teams as both lost by identical scorelines but under different circumstances.
For Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts coach Kelvin Francis, there was sad acknowledgement that his Horizons Premiership side had been out-generalled and out-maneuvered despite their best efforts by awell prepared Hokowhitu Rangers FC, losing 3-1 at Memorial Park.
Rangers therefore finally moved a point ahead of City in the Premiership standings with around four matches remaining, getting revenge for their 1-0 loss at Wembley Park in May.
Francis said the home side had been anticipating the rematch for as long as his side had, as they changed their shape and systems with City in mind a couple of weeks ago, even testing it out in their previous games.
"They played better than us, can't take that away from them.
"They were more organised than us. They controlled the game really well, they moved us, broke up our lines.
"We did our best on the day, but not good enough."
Hokowhitu led 2-0 entering the second half, until City pulled one back through Zane Robinson nailing a left foot strike from outside the box that left the home keeper stunned.
However, City could not follow up on their remaining chances, and a moment's lack defence let Hokowhitu slam home their third goal, and from their City were chasing the game with no hope of catching up.
Mark Manson got a double for the home side and Than Oo got the another score. Francis said while the home coach and supporters were complimentary of City's efforts in a quality game, he knew they still could have done better.
Veteran goalkeeper Glenn Graham again gave an excellent effort, or else City could have been looking at a 7-1 scoreline.
Francis said Adrian Naagu played out of his skin at centre, while both Jack Jonas and Marcus Jones came on at different times and were very strong, getting one MVP point each.
With a goal differential still slightly better than Hokowhitu's, City will now have to treat their last matches as sudden death while hoping the leaders, who have a tougher road home, will slip up once along the way.
"We just win our remaining four and hope someone takes a point off them," said Francis.
"They were clear before, twice, [then] they lost to Athletic Reserves and drew with Red Sox."
Eli Fleming tries to get the ball away from the Hokowhitu attacker.
Further along at a windy Guthrie Park, there was little sparkling play as Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic lost their Lotto Federation League matchup to leaders AFC Havelock North 3-1 in an unruly 90 minutes.
Havelock scored through Jackson Ralph, Ben Foxall and Bjorn Christensen, before Athletic pulled one back in the final five minutes after Logan Hughes beat the meelee in front of goal to score, with Athletic taking two goes at it before the officials ruled Hughes' first attempt had crossed the goal line.
But beyond that, Havelock's Tyler Anstis and Stefan Kitching-Nicholson picked up yellow cards as Havelock decided to be tough and physical.
"It's a long way to go and come back with no points," said Athletic coach Jason King.
"The ref let a lot go, which had an impact on the game.
"The coaches were both saying, 'it was a great fight and every now and then a football game broke out'.
"It was a horrid game of football. But in say that, you have to play to all the conditions - weather and otherwise."
Deflated by the defeat, made worse by all the negative play preventing from having a chance to open up, Athletic are now consigned to the fact they are fighting for second place for the rest of the season, with Havelock six points clear of second placed New Plymouth Rangers.
They remain two points behind Rangers, who lost in a 2-1 upset to PN Marist. Rangers and Havelock meet this weekend with Athletic on the bye, and then the Taranaki team comes back to Wembley Park for something of a decider between the two rivals, who are 1-1 from their League matches this season.
"There's probably a lot of people who really didn't think we'd be in this position anyway," said King.
"Now we want to prove we deserve it."
Things weren't much better for their clubmates GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves, who were beaten 2-1 at Wembley Park after a late comeback by fourth-placed RSM Rovers.
Reserves had the lead after a goal by Sergio Serra, however Rovers hit back with a double to Brynn Cleaver to snatch the game.
