Wanganui in fine touch to keep playoff hopes alive | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Pending the side making the playoffs for a Central League berth, the supporters at Wembley Park were able to watch Wanganui United finish off their regular football season at home with a 2-1 victory over Redsox Manawatu.

Chris Annabell and Daniel Benson scored for the home side, and another Wanganui player, Jerram Tuck bagged a goal for the visitors.

A pretty happy coach, Kenny Halliday, was pleased his side got the job done, with the result bringing the side level once again at the head of the table heading into what is the decisive game of the season next week.

The top two Uniteds, Wanganui and Maycenvale take each other on at Akina Park in the Hawke's Bay.

"Mission accomplished and a result that will give the team confidence going into the top of the table clash next week against Maycenvale," Halliday said.

"We took what many people would say is a gamble with the team selection but we were confident that it would be a game of player attrition with the weather and pitch conditions being heavy.

"The game started with our very impressive and energetic schoolboys in the starting team and some quality players on the bench with Daniel Benson, Jack Judd-Nuttall, Fedor Luib and Ben Toyne taking very unfamiliar roles.

"The plan was to run Redsox around first half with the very capable young guns and then bring on impact players in the second half to finish the game off. The first half ended 0-0 and we could arguably say that Redsox would be going into the changing room feeling confident. We were on track, changed our formation in favour of our strength and on came Ben Toyne and Fedor Luib to turn the game in our favour."

The first goal came from a ball won in the middle of the park, it was played into Luib who beat a defender and crossed the ball down the "valley of death" between goalkeeper and defensive line, Chris Annabell got a touch and sent it goalbound, the keeper got fingertips to it and there was a debate in the changing room about whether Zane Robinson made sure with a touch on the line.

The visitors' goal came from a goalmouth scramble that popped out to Jerram Tuck on the edge of the penalty box, who struck it well through the maze of players to get an equaliser.

But Wanganui dominated the whole of the second half and the second goal came with some great passing and movement down the right flank between Adam Miller, Zane Robinson and the resulting cross into the box from Ben Toyne. It was inevitable who was ghosting into the box to get on the end of it - Daniel Benson picked his run well and timed it to perfection.

Player of the day went to Brendan Kerr.

Matthew McMurray produced tireless running in attack and defence, he ran himself into the ground for the team, and is a great asset for the future.

Adam Miller gave the team some great shape down the right, overlapped to create problems and when put into right back did a fantastic job.

Should the Wanganui side win next week and see off what should be a regulation outing the week following against struggling Napier City Rovers at Park Island, then they set up a home and away play-off against the top finishing Wellington Capital Premier side to earn the right to promotion.

Fingers are crossed that the side hasn't been seen here for the last time in 2010.