Wellington Phoenix ensured they will end Round 16 at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League standings with a 2-0 victory over Western United.
High-flying Wellington could not be stopped at Sky Stadium, where the league leaders made it seven matches unbeaten thanks to a Nicholas Pennington strike and a James Donachie own goal on Saturday.
Pennington broke the deadlock in the third minute, then provided the header that debutant Donachie deflected into his own net in the 47th minute as the Phoenix stayed top, while lowly Western were left eight points adrift at the foot of the table.
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After the match, Sky Sport NZ analyst and former Phoenix goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley said: “There is only one side that can really challenge this Wellington Phoenix team, that can knock them off their stride, that’s themselves.
“It’s a young team, they don’t have the depth and they don’t have the experience of going into this part of the season with the challenges and expectations of being top of the table. It’s really up to them.”
There was further game time for some of Wellington’s academy graduates on Saturday.
Fin Conchie, 20, came off the bench in the second half, while 19-year-old Isaac Robert Hughes was also introduced against Western.
“I feel as though anyone that deserves getting a shirt, should be able to contribute otherwise we’re doing something wrong,” Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano told Sky Sport NZ.
“I feel these boys have had a good platform through the academy. I haven’t over-exposed them I don’t think and put them in situations where I feel as though I could put them at risk of form or confidence which is a very, very big thing with young kids.
“Even players like Fin Conchie, a little bit more time today. It’s been a little bit more incremental in getting him to understand what’s required when he comes on.
“It’s also the other boys. Like Finn Surman has taken three years to get to this point. If you look at Lukas Kelly-Heald too, his learning has been accelerated.
“It’s more about making sure they understand what’s required, getting mentally ready which is a hard thing. All these boys are talented, it’s more about the opportunity than anything else.”
There was plenty of drama even before a ball was kicked in Wellington.
Kick-off was delayed 15 minutes after Western United only brought their home kit for the trip across the ditch and it clashed with Wellington’s dark jersey, which they had elected to play in. It meant the Phoenix kitman had to make a 30km dash to the club’s training base to get the home kit.
When the match got underway, the ‘Nix made a fast start thanks to Pennington, who brought the deadlock after just three minutes.
Western – who had Donachie making his long-awaited debut in the heart of defence in the absence of Ben Garuccio, Tomoki Imai and Connor O’Toole – were pulled apart as Kosta Barbarouses’ ball across the box found Bozhidar Kraev and he played it back inside to Pennington to tap home.
As the half wore on, Western started to get on the ball more and they asked some questions of Wellington’s defence.
Daniel Penha rattled the crossbar with a wicked free-kick as the Brazilian and the visitors came within a whisker of equalising.
At the other end, Kraev came within inches of making it 2-0 for the ‘Nix after a neat one-two with Barbarouses prior to half-time, however, his shot flashed just wide of the back post.
For all of Western’s good work to try to get back into the contest, they came unstuck within two minutes of the second half restarting following Donachie’s own goal.
A delightful cross from Tim Payne found Pennington and his header was diverted into the back of the net by Western’s debutant.
Western refused to surrender and continued to push numbers forward, while young full-back Charbel Shamoon came on for his debut.
But Wellington were never truly troubled in the second half as they made it nine wins in their past 12 A-Leagues matches against John Aloisi’s side.
