Wellington Phoenix striker Paul Ifill capped a marvellous individual performance with two late goals as he led the Kiwi team to a 3-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners at Westpac Stadium on 12 February, a result which was sufficient to confirm a maiden Hyundai A-League semi-final on home turf for the fourth place-getters in nine days' time. Wellington dominated from the outset, and proceeded to do so for virtually the entire first half - it took Central Coast until six minutes before half-time just to get the ball into their opponents' penalty area, soon after which Matt Simon fired their first shot wide of Liam Reddy's left-hand post. That contrasted starkly with the home team's efforts, as they dominated possession and constantly probed and prodded the visitors' defence in search of an opening, the first of which was found in the fourteenth minute. And what reward it gave! Manny Muscat and Vince Lia combined on the right with a one-two, the latter's return pass sending his midfield partner scurrying to the edge of the penalty area, from where he flighted a cross to the near post. Arriving on cue was Tim Brown, who soared skywards to guide a header across the diving figure of Danny Vukovic into the top far corner of the net - 1-0 Wellington, much to the delight of the healthy 14,327-strong crowd present at a rain-soaked Westpac Stadium … it wouldn't be Wellington without inclement weather! Within ninety seconds, Brown should have been instrumental in doubling Wellington's advantage. Catching a Central Coast defender in possession just outside the centre circle, the scorer surged forward with Chris Greenacre in support with yards aplenty to enjoy, given there was just one visiting defender between him, Brown and Vukovic. Instead of presenting the striker with a goal on a plate, however, Brown went for glory himself, and promptly spurned a glorious chance to all but secure fourth place for his side. Wellington continued to press, Ifill's incisive ball through the inside left channel rewarding Leo Bertos' darting run in off the right flank. The recalled winger rounded the stranded figure of Vukovic before pulling the ball back into the path of Brown, but before the midfielder could strike, Andrew Clark, whose final game this was, stepped in to avert the danger. Ifill then lashed a twenty-yarder a yard wide after turning superbly to beat a defender on receipt of a 25th minute pass from Tony Lochhead, the striker's shot taking a deflection and prompting a Bertos corner, which Vukovic punched out to Ifill, whose twenty-yard drive was blocked by all-comers in a crowded goalmouth. Another Bertos corner soon after was headed over the bar by Andrew Durante as the home team continued their dominance against opponents who seemed quite content to make up the numbers in what, to them, was a season-ending fixture. Not surprisingly, Central Coast copped a right royal tongue-lashing from coach Lawrie McKinna during the half-time interval, and emerged from the dressing rooms a far more enthusiastic unit, an attitude they carried into the second half. Leading from the front was Simon, whose dipping fifteen yard volley narrowly cleared Reddy's crossbar in the 48th minute, while the 'keeper saved the striker's deft volleyed lob seconds later, a most delicate finish which deserved better fate given the technical excellence it demanded. Technical excellence is something which Ifill has in spades, and he produced some wonderful instances of dribbling, close control and deft footwork throughout the second spell which left Mariners players dizzy, while earning "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd, Wellington's biggest at the ground this year - free admission for kids clearly works! Just two minutes into the second spell, he was denied a penalty after one such cameo saw him evade four challenges, while a three-man right wing slalom run ten minutes later was preceded by another enterprising raid which prompted Vukovic to save twice from Ifill in a fifteen-second spell, the 'keeper parrying the striker's initial shot before saving at his feet as he danced his way through the Central Coast defence. Soon after this double save, the visitors had claims for what appeared to be a stonewall penalty waved away by referee Chris Beath, who had a poor game. Lochhead tripped Brady Smith inside the penalty area, and the flag of assistant referee Brent Best instantly went up, then just as quickly came down as Smith got to his feet and reached the loose ball

first. Central Coast were furious at this 54th minute slight, but this was mild compared to their reaction to the game's decisive moment, prior to which they were enjoying their fair share of the play, something which their dismal first half showing never hinted at. In the 65th minute, Clark went on a left flank raid which was eagerly supported by Matthew Lewis, whose willing running created an overlapping opportunity which his veteran team-mate exploited to the fullest. Clark's pass allowed Lewis to whip in a vicious cross which arced away as it zoomed towards the near post - a goalkeeper's nightmare delivery. So, too, on this occasion, for Central Coast's incoming attackers, both of whom arrived too late to do the ball justice. It was too far in front of Simon, who took the far post option, to make anything of either. After Greenacre had been tackled in the process of shooting by Brad Porter, after the striker had been released by Lia's precise pass, Reddy's gloves were stung by a sizzling twenty-five yarder from Matthew Crowell, who was Trojan-like throughout both halves for the visitors, who were apoplectic after events in the 79th minute decided the contest. Central Coast were awarded a free-kick half-way inside Wellington's half, and a split-second after it was taken, referee Beath, who had moved away from the location to get a better vantage point from which to see developments, blew his whistle for the kick to be taken - he was unaware it already had been. The visiting players stopped, unlike Wellington substitute Daniel, who promptly powered away down the left flank with angry Mariners players in hot pursuit. The newcomer, who had entered the fray just two minutes prior, crossed to the far post, where another substitute, Adrian Caceres, was lurking with intent. He headed the ball down to Greenacre, whose volley was blocked by Nigel Boogaard. The rebound fell perfectly into the stride of Ifill, and he tucked the ball home to the roars of Wellington's supporters. As they bellowed, the Central Coast players, to a man, converged on referee Beath, fair seething with rage at his actions at the free-kick which led to the goal, the visitors having stopped in response to his whistle. The official merely smiled, waved the protests away, then booked Simon for failing to comply with his request … unbelievable officiating!! Central Coast were still incandescent when the referee awarded Wellington a free-kick on the left within thirty seconds of the resumption. Daniel's quick-thinking saw him lob the ball over the wall, and who should be charging into the space behind but Ifill, who side-stepped a challenge then smashed the ball across Vukovic into the far corner of the net - a cracking goal to make it 3-0, and confirm beyond any doubt Wellington's home play-off. All that remained now was for Ifill to attempt to become the first Wellington Phoenix player this season to score a hat-trick. How he tried, denied by the legs of Vukovic in stoppage time after Daniel's precise through ball. Then, after Brown had seen his goal-bound header blocked upon being picked out by Daniel's corner to the far post, the game's two-goal marksman produced his piece de resistance, a dazzling display of close control which saw him wriggle through three challengers in a ten-yard area, the last of whom, Clark, was beaten not once but twice by Ifill, who left the retiring fullback facing completely the wrong way … brilliant skill! So, too, the delivery to the far post, inch-perfect for Caceres, a goal a must to reward such enterprise. Alas for Ifill, the substitute's finish was awful - high, wide and anything but handsome, and with the goal at his mercy to boot. It mattered not, however, Wellington having done more than enough to clinch the fourth-placed finish they coveted, and a match against either Perth Glory or Newcastle Jets in which they will seek to extend their unbeaten run at Westpac Stadium to a league record eighteen matches. Wellington:     Reddy; Hearfield (booked, 82), McKain, Durante, Lochhead; Brown, Muscat (Caceres, 67), Lia (booked, 68); Ifill, Greenacre (Dadi, 83), Bertos (Daniel, 77) Central Coast:     Vukovic; Huke (Macallister, 58), Wilkinson, Boogaard, Clark (booked, 83); Smith, Crowell, Porter, Lewis (Ibini-Isei, 67); Nikas (Fitzgerald, 69), Simon (booked, 75) Referee:     Chris Beath