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03Dec21
Wellington Mark Debut With Well-Earned Draw
by Jeremy Ruane
Wellington Phoenix marked their Liberty A-League debut on 3 December 2021 with a well-earned and thoroughly deserved goalless draw against Western Sydney Wanderers at WIN Stadium, a result which few would have anticipated given the team didn't even exist just three months ago.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolled prior to kick-off to herald the arrival of the new kids on the block, and in some cases, Gemma Lewis' charges are just that - kids! For some members of this squad, it's their first time away from home for an extended period, while for the vast majority, it's a first taste of professional football - coming, ironically, on the weekend when the first-ever interprovincial women's fixture in New Zealand took place a century ago.
Wellington understandably started nervously, Mackenzie Barry coming to the rescue to deny Lizzie Copus-Brown in the second minute after Kate Taylor had been caught in possession by two opponents on the right. But the vice-captain and her team-mates swiftly made amends, winning everything in the air as Wests looked to capitalise on their opponents' uncertainty.
It wasn't long before the newcomers' goal came under threat, Bianca Galic delivering a sumptuous thirteenth minute pass into the stride of Sheridan Gallagher, who evaded a challenge before thundering an eighteen-yarder against the bar.
Sadly for Wests, it was one of the few times they truly threatened, for Wellington were forcing them into a lot of mistakes in possession all over the park, particularly in their defensive third, where Grace Jale was doing a tremendous job as the first line of defence, ably supported by Chloe Knott, working around in behind the team's lone Football Fern.
Their pressing earned a 29th minute corner which Knott landed on the roof of Wests' net, while two minutes later, midfield monster Isabel Gomez - she got through a tremendous amount of work breaking up Wests' raids with timely (and often crunching) tackles - delivered a free-kick onto the head of Grace Wisnewski, who could only direct the ball into the gloves of Sarah Langman.
In between times, Lily Alfeld had produced her first save of note, denying a long-distance effort from Copus-Brown after athletic right back Zoe McMeeken had directed a pass straight to her opponent.
The visitors pressed again soon after, only for Saskia Vosper to produce one of her trademark tackles to deny Wests captain Erica Halloway. The age-grade international with the prodigious long throw-in then unleashed this weapon on Wests in the 41st minute, Jale guiding the ball down to allow Knott to unleash a twenty-yarder which had "top far corner" written all over it until Langman's unwelcome intervention, at least from Wellington's perspective.
That sparked a strong finish to the half from the league newcomers, with Knott, Ava Pritchard and McMeeken combining on the right before the last-mentioned's cross was cleared back to Knott, who invited Jale to let fly with a twenty-five yarder which gave Langman scant cause for concern.
Wellington continued that good form into the second spell, Pritchard spreading play wide to McMeeken in the fiftieth minute. She delivered an early cross which caught out Wests, but not Knott, who flew in to meet it and sent a thumping header from the edge of the penalty area flying past Langman's left-hand upright.
Seconds later, Pritchard was on the charge but got caught in possession, prompting a counter-attack. Halloway was the prime beneficiary, the captain cutting inside before picking out Gallagher, whose near post attempt was turned away by Alfeld.
Vosper latched onto the ball and sent it downfield for Jale to pursue, and she looked in for all money until Langman hurtled out of her penalty area to clear off the former Eastern Suburbs' star's toes.
Jordan Jasnos, an eleventh hour inclusion in the starting eleven after Kelli Brown picked up an injury in training, then won possession for Wellington inside Wests' defensive third, and whipped in a cross which Pritchard just failed to get on the end of.
That 56th minute opening was followed two minutes later by a great chance for Knott, who forced Clare Hunt into an error which left the playmaker through on goal with just Langman to beat.
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With a chip of the 'keeper on, however, Knott fluffed her lines and fluffed her chance, dragging her early-taken shot well wide of the target. Had she shown the level of composure she normally displays in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League, she would surely have written herself into A-League history.
Instead, the score remained 0-0, but Wellington kept on coming. McMeeken's throw-in on the hour prompted a steepling lob to the far post by Pritchard, one which Wisnewski headed past the upright.
Two minutes later, Gomez hoisted a free-kick into the zone which Jale, making her last contribution to proceedings before departing the fray, flicked on. Jasnos latched onto it, but the visitors were able to clear their lines.
Jale's replacement was scholarship recruit Alyssa Whinham, who made a fine impression to the contest. In the 68th minute, she worked a one-two with McMeeken before threading a pass through for Knott to latch onto, something she would have accomplished had Hunt not intervened in timely fashion.
Wests were clearly getting frustrated at playing second fiddle to the league debutants, but Jale's departure left Wellington without their attacking focal point. That played into the visitors' hands, and after Alfeld had raced out of her area to clear off Halloway's toes, to which the home team responded via a long-range Gomez which troubled Langman little, it was Wests who held the upper hand for the rest of the contest.
Concerted pressure was countered by scrambling defence, in which Taylor was imperious. Eyebrows were doubtless raised about the eighteen-year-old's appointment as vice-captain, but hers was a performance mature beyond her years - doubts quelled. End of.
Behind Taylor, her captain was in a "Thou shalt not pass" mood, particularly in regard to the visitors' attempts to snatch a late winner. Alfeld smothered a Copus-Brown free-kick in the 79th minute, then timed her movement off her line to perfection to cut out a cross from the same player, substitute Teigan Collister its intended target.
In between these attempts, a by now rare Wellington attack materialised, Knott its architect, Wisnewski its executioner - a first time effort, straight at Langman. Otherwise, the tiring home team - Wollongong is their base whilst in West Island - was hanging on, time their enemy, but with each passing second, their friend.
Three minutes from time, hearts were in mouths as the desperation of Barry and Taylor to clear the danger saw them get in each other's way. Halloway latched onto the loose ball and let fly from the edge of the area, the ball skimming the crossbar, much to her chagrin.
With time running out, and a clearance going out of play in front of her, Wests' coach, Catherine Cannuli, controlled the sphere in an attempt to speed up play. But her eagerness cost her a booking for encroachment - the ball hadn't fully gone over the line when the former Matilda showed all watching that she hadn't lost her touch in retirement.
That incident summed up Wests' night, for she and her team had spurned a great chance to collect full points from the opening round of action, much to the delight of the Wellington Phoenix players, who fully deserved their hard-earned point from this scoreless spectacle, one in which they weren't disgraced, from which they will take great belief and confidence, and about which they can justifiably be well proud of their efforts.
Yes, they will face much tougher tests - the two Melbourne contenders, Sydney FC and an away trip to Canberra United instantly spring to mind - but coach Gemma Lewis should be well pleased with the efforts of her young charges on debut, given the negative aspects of their display were far outweighed by its plus points.
Wellington: Alfeld; McMeeken, Barry, Taylor, Vosper; Knott, Gomez, Wisnewski; Pritchard (Walker, 88), Jale (Whinham, 63), Jasnos (Martin, 71)
West. Syd.: Langman; Allen (booked, 31), Cooper (booked, 9), Hunt, Matos; Galic (Galea, 86), Copus-Brown, Price; Halloway, Gallagher (Henry, 75), Habuda (Collister, 57)
Referee: Casey Reibert
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