 For once Otago have enjoyed "the rub of the green" in the New Zealand Football Championship.
That was how Otago coach Terry Phelan summed up his team's 2-0 away win over a Waikato FC team that finished with nine men at Links Ave in Mt Maunganui today.
It was just Otago's second win of the season, and whoops of delight could be heard from their changing room.
"It feels really good to get three points," Phelan said. "We got two goals out of nothing, and while we are not the most skilful team in the world, we have worked really really hard and after weeks of being unlucky it was great to get the rub of the green.
"We are getting stronger as the season goes on.
"We left home at 7am and it's been a job well done by the lads. I am delighted, because in Otago we have to rebuild every season. "
 The result shattered Waikato FC's hopes of closing the gap on fourth-placed Hawke's Bay, but they only have themselves to blame after looking the stronger team in the opening 30 minutes..
Otago took the lead very much against the run of play in the 41st minute, breaking down the left. After the ball bounced off a couple of players it fell to John Lang, unmarked in front of goal, and he stroked it intothe net, giving Dan Robinson no chance.
However there was more than a hint of offside about the goal, so much so that referee Stephen Fletcher felt the need to talk with his assistant, though let the goal stand.
Just three minutes into the second half the game drifted further away from Waikato when debutant dale beattie was sent off after injuring Nick Dale in a rugged tackle. After consulting his assistant, Fletcher reached straight for his red card.
Beattie had started brightly, but his fitness waned and he could have few complaints about the send-off, though the waikato camp were frustrated by the number of fouls on them not picked up. Worst was Aaron Scott being taken out of play in the move that brought Otago's opening goal.
 For all that, Waikato still looked capable of salvaging a draw until two costly mistakes by centreback Jeff Sole.
In the 60th minute the veteran misjudged a long throw and Otago's Andy Coburn darted in to head the ball home, with Robinson stranded after advancing off his line.
"That's the thing about Andy," Phelan said. "he'll stick his head in anywhere."
Two minutes later Sole was sent off after fouling Aaron Burgess as last man.
"I only had two more weeks left to play anyway," said Sole, who will now concentrate on winter commitments.
Waikato continued to force the play but Otago defended doggedly. Curiously, with nine men Waikato showed more urgency than they did with 11.
Waikato coach Roger Wilkinson said his gamble in starting with two new signings had not paid off.
"We didn't do enough in the first half," he said. "We didn't get a shot on goal and then let in a silly goal, even if there was off-the-ball stuff going on that was not picked up."
Wilkinson acknowledged both send-offs were justified.
The send-offs give Waikato a mountain to climb next week, away to Manawatu, with three lads with Olympic commitments and three facing suspension in Beattie, Sole and David Samson, who picked up his fourth booking.
Sole later said his dismissal signalled the end of his involvement in the summer league. |