Reserves huge upset

Jordan Candish scored won of the Athletic Reserves two goals in their shock win over Hokowhitu.

GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves have turned giant-killers in the Horizons Premiership after their 2-1 upset of second-placed Hokowhitu FC at Skoglund Park.

While the Reserves had received a confidence boost last weekend with their 9-2 victory over winless Massey Celtic, they had been reinforced for that game by some Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic 1st players as well as having coach Jason King available to supervise due to the Lotto Federation Cup bye.

Few would have predicted the Reserves could have travelled away and reversed their 6-1 hammering by Hokowhitu in the April 1 opening day match.

But that was what they did as Jordan Candish scored his second goal of the season, while Sergio Serra added his first.

Hokowhitu's top goal scorer Phillip King delivered his sixth for the season and his third against the Reserves, but this time it was not enough.

The Reserves' Daniel Timmins received one yellow caution.

It seemed inconceivable that a Hokowhitu team with a 19-point goal differential, who have the second-best defence in the league with only five goals conceded before Saturday, would be troubled by a side who have had 28 goals scored against them.

Yet the Reserves rose to the occasion for their third win of the season and a 3-2-4 record, lifting them to sixth on the table.

It also shows the Premiership the Reserves are a team not be taken lightly, given they have beaten the second-placed side in Hokowhitu and had previously earned a draw with third-placed Breakers RSM Rovers - who just upset the table-topping Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts 3-2.

Reserves have done City a big favour, as both them and Hokowhitu losing on the same weekend keeps the three point table spread between them at the start of this second round of Premiership games.