Melbourne Heart edged Wellington Phoenix 1-0 in an uninspiring Hyundai A-League encounter at Morwell's LaTrobe City Stadium on 4 December, with just 2,951 fans taking the chance to witness top-flight football in rural Victoria. On the evidence of this match, they won't be travelling too often to see much more - this was dire fare, with very few moments of note occurring over the course of the ninety minutes. Wellington enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, with Paul Ifill's volley on the turn bringing the best out of Clint Bolton just four minutes into the contest. Seven minutes later, the goalkeeper smothered a Chris Greenacre shot on the turn, with both openings having been engineered by Leo Bertos. Melbourne responded in the nineteenth minute through the persistence of Mate Dugandzic, who closed down a Ben Sigmund clearance then pursued the ball before crossing to the far post, where Rutger Worm employed excellent technique to unleash a volley across goal. Tony Warner was at full stretch to tip the effort round the post. Another twenty minutes elapsed before either goal was truly threatened again, but after Worm had directed a header at Warner from a Dugandzic free-kick, the duo combined again four minutes before the interval, this time to devastating effect. A quickly taken free-kick from within the centre circle saw Matt Thompson slip the ball into Worm's stride as he penetrated the penalty area. The Dutchman slammed a shot against the crossbar, but Dugandzic was following in and steered the ball into the roof of the net. Thompson spurned a glorious chance to double Melbourne's lead two minutes into the second half. Slipped through by Eli Babalj, he deftly steered the ball beyond the advancing figure of Warner, only for the post to come to Wellington's rescue. The let-off sparked a bit of a revival by the visitors, with Vince Lia lashing a twenty-five yarder past the post soon after. But it was a couple of substitutions by Wellington coach Ricki Herbert which added some much-needed vim and vigour to the visitors' display, Mirjan Pavlovic and Dani Sanchez both making an impact upon their introduction to the fray around the hour mark. The latter was the more effective of the two. Teaming up with Bertos in the 67th minute, Sanchez got to the byline and delivered a low cross which Adrian Madaschi directed rather fortuitously

against his own crossbar. Five minutes later, Sanchez lined up a free-kick on the edge of the area, Ifill having been felled by Madaschi, who picked up the game's only booking for his troubles. The Spaniard's effort curled round and over the wall, and deserved better fate than to rattle the post. In between times, Melbourne substitute Jason Hoffman had gone close to securing the points for the home team, but poked the ball narrowly past the post after being played in by Thompson. The newcomer also featured in Melbourne's next two attacks. Worm's fine ball down the left was deftly turned inside by Fred to Hoffman fifteen minutes from time, and he steered the ball into the stride of Dugandzic, who brought the best out of Warner at his near post. Five minutes later, Hoffman loomed up on the left and linked with fullback Aziz Behich before darting towards the near post in anticipation of a cross. Wellington's defence didn't pick up his run until it was too late, and they were relieved to see Hoffman's unchallenged header career over the near post. Wellington came again, their desperation for at least a share of the spoils increasing by the minute. Seven minutes from time, Bertos played in Pavlovic on the left, and he got to the by-line before looking to set up Tim Brown, only for Madaschi to intervene once more. Four minutes later, Sanchez pounced on a mistake by Madaschi, who was relieved to see Brendan Hamill covering his fellow central defender's blemish by blocking the shot to safety. And in stoppage time, Sanchez was in on the left once more, dashing past Jonathan Germano before setting up Pavlovic for a shot which he directed straight at Bolton, whose clean sheet ensured Melbourne would climb into the top half of the table at the expense of a Wellington side which, like so many teams in this competition, continues to struggle for consistency. Melbourne:     Bolton; Marrone, Hamill, Madaschi (booked, 71) (Good, 88), Behich; Fred, Germano, Thompson; Dugandzic, Babalj (Hoffman, 65), Worm (Maycon, 81) Wellington:     Warner; Muscat, Sigmund, Durante, Lochhead; Ward (Pavlovic, 59), Brown, Lia, Bertos; Greenacre (Sanchez, 65), Ifill Referee:     Ben Williams