Ella Wiebe scored two goals on Sunday to break the 40-mark for the season. PHOTO/FILE
The Wanganui Athletic Women are going to the show in 2014.
Playing on astroturf for the first time proved no problem for the team on their trip to Petone's Memorial Park. They beat Stop Out 3-2 on Sunday to reach their goal of entry into the 2014 Central League on a 5-2 goal aggregate for the home and away series.
Knowing the value of an away goal, Athletic dominated possession and created more chances than they could capitalise on, but former Football Fern Ella Wiebe stepped up to the plate scoring twice in the second stanza and earning a penalty to open the scoring in the first half.
Wiebe finished her year with a phenomenal 41 goals.
Delighted coach Dave Downes said they shut Stop Out down defensively, with Sheena Kahl having a great game at the back, although she was pinged twice by the ref to give the Wellington side their scoring chances.
"They actually got two penalties, believe it or not it was the only way they were going to score," Downes said.
"It probably flattered them a bit. The better team definitely won on the day, well and truly."
Downes said he disputed both decisions against Kahl, one for a hand ball and the other for a dangerous tackle, but Stop Out got the calls in their favour and went to the penalty spot.
Veteran goal-keeper Tina Kopelic went the right way both times but was unable to parry away from the net.
Nonetheless, the goal aggregate meant their Central League ticket was already punched long before the game's conclusion - the win completing a seven month journey for the new Athletic side. "That was the plan, right from the start of the season," said Downes.
The coach was proud of all 16 players he used during the year, who blitzed undefeated through the Manawatu League, receiving their trophy and winners' medals at training last week.
There were also some disappointments choosing to withdraw from an all-but guaranteed Palmerston North Knockout competition victory was one, their tough 1-0 loss in the Federation Cup final to Taranaki's Moturoa AFC on September 8 the other.
Still, Downes said that heartbreaking play-off game probably helped them against Stop Out.
"We learned we had to make it happen rather than wait for things to happen."
After a back-and-forth opening quarter in Petone, where a couple of Athletic shots went wide of the goal, Wiebe was fouled in the penalty box.
Vanya Hodgkinson slotted the penalty to give Athletic their crucial away goal 10 minutes before halftime.
Stop Out replied with their own penalty just before the break, but Downes was now supremely confident as the home team would have to score at least three more goals turning into the windy conditions.
It became a moot point five minutes after resumption when Wiebe struck a beauty to make it 2-1.
"A couple of touches and she just buried it," said Downes.
Grace Alifi then beat a couple of defenders on the right side of the field and fed Wiebe who beat the keeper for 3-1.
Stop Out would get their second penalty late in the piece but by then Athletic were rolling on the subs to relieve some tired players with sore legs and 'pitch burns' from the turf.
Looking forward to 2014, Downes said plans will have to be made to retain the core of the team.
A number of players like Alifi are looking at university, although that may mean they are still available due to being close-by in Palmerston North.
Downes said injury and unavailablity kept four other potential squad members away this season, while he will also "do some advertising" to try and recruit more talent. "It's no good just going up, we have to get quicker and sharper," he said.
Given a couple of the Athletic team are also physical education students, they will meet in a month to sort out a summer training programme, before preparations begin again in February.
Downes wanted to thank the club and the sports bar sponsors who helped the team with uniforms this year.