Aimee Ashworth scored the first of Football Whanganui's goals as they beat Port Hill United 2-0 at Wembley Park on Sunday. Photo/ Bevan Conley
Aimee Ashworth scored the first of Football Whanganui's goals as they beat Port Hill United 2-0 at Wembley Park on Sunday. Photo/ Bevan Conley
A win.
Fourteen games into their debut GR Engineering Women's Federation League season, Football Whanganui have finally emerged from a game the victors.
The elation was evident at the final whistle with Whanganui having survived several heart-in-mouth moments on their way to beating Port Hill United 2-0 at Wembley Parkon Sunday.
"It's massive for them,' coach Symon King said.
"They've worked so hard all the way through the season and we've been so close so many times and we've finally got the three points we've deserved."
The composite Whanganui side had only managed one draw all season but had been putting on improved performances of late.
"I'm delighted. The training has finally paid off and we saw that today. It was fantastic," King said.
Goals to Aimee Ashworth and Storm Elkenhans bookended an entertaining game while goalkeeper Megan O'Connor almost single handedly kept Whanganui's lead intact with the best performance of the match.
O'Connor made several diving saves and was quick to anticipate and shut down danger. When she was caught short she was backed up by committed defending.
And on three occasions the post acted as the last line of defence for Whanganui.
Ashworth's goal in the 12th minute following an early period of dominance from Whanganui.
Kelly Jones found clear space to have a shot with Ashworth quickly up in support to follow up and find the back of the net.
The impressive Jones went on to create several more chances in the first spell for no reward while Port Hill had as many of their own through Samantha Anderson.
Football Whanganui forward Kelly Jones created havoc for Port Hill defenders in the first half. Photo/ Bevan Conley
With Port Hill shifting up a gear in the final 10 minutes and Whanganui riding their luck at times the home side desperately needed a buffer to calm the nerves.
It didn't come till the 89th minute when Elkenhans picked out the left hand corner from outside the box to secure Whanganui's first victory.
"The last four games we've been targeting really, and we've been getting closer and closer," King said.
"Last week we were disappointed in the 92nd minute. This week we didn't want to concede but we needed to score and we got that with an early goal."
King said O'Connor's performance by far earned her player of the match and he was also impressed with Dana McClelland down the wing.
"I don't think they could buy a goal today. You see games like that where it could've been 3-3 because there were just so many chances they had.
"I just don't know how they didn't score.
"But fair play to us, we'll take that, a bit of luck on our side."
King said a win had been a long time coming and was not unexpected at this point.
"We've been playing some good football recently and it's just started to click.
"We're a new team and it's the first time most of these players have been coached twice a week properly in their careers and it's just starting to come together."
