Southern' woes had continued, with several players unavailable, but Wanderers also had four players on trials with professional clubs in the United Kingdom, so it was perhaps a fair go.
A strong, cool wind helped hem Southern in its own half in the first spell, but there were sterling performances all round, and in central defence, Matt Joy and Andrew Ridden were resolute and inspirational.
Typically striker Tom Jackson kept the opposition honest with driving runs, and had a battling contest with new All White Sam Brotherton, who had power and class in the central Wanderers defence.
Wanderers showed possibly too much patience in its first half build ups with short passes to and fro, when earlier release might have hurt the local side.
Clearly, it was coach Mike Fridge's tactic to keep a clean sheet, and with keeper Tom Batty in good form, and the central duo looking strong, Southern even managed to launch a few wide attacks, and as portent of things to come, Jackson's long throws were effective despite the head wind.
In the wind assisted second half Southern applied more pressure, and George Milne, Morgan Day and Tom Connor set up good attacking possession, while the class of Chilean Eder Franchini Pasten probed telling passes forward.
Both sides earned attacking possession that might have produced goals, except for good goalkeeping and the vagaries of the gusting wind affecting shooting technique. Eventually, midway in the second half, referee John Rowbury made the critical decision to punish Wanderers centreback Adam Mitchell for an infringement in the penalty area, and the team captain was red carded.
Jackson showed no nerves to lace in his ninth goal of the season with a powerful spot kick that left Wanderers keeper Zac Speedy clawing fresh air.
Then, Jackson was smothered by celebrating team mates as he ran to celebrate in front of one of the season's better crowds. Possibly only coach Fridge remained cool as he looked at his watch for the first time, anticipating a predictable onslaught from the shadow under 20 New Zealand side.
And the onslaught arrived, despite Wanderers having just 10 men, while Southern showed the erratic patterns of play that have hallmarked this season. To be a Southern supporter requires nerves of steel, and the ability to watch games between spread out fingers, as Fridge's side alternated quality with chaos.
Some scintillating attacks were followed by last ditch defending, as play ranged from end to end, and half a dozen goals went begging. Jackson was pulled back to deeper position, as his younger brother Lewis was brought on, and Taylor McCormack also entered the fray.
The spectators certainly got their money's worth, as for once Tom released his brother with a sharp quick throw, and Lewis Jackson raced through a ragged defence only to be stopped by a brave save from keeper Speedy.
Wanderers brought on local lad Ben Kiore and hit back with some silky passing that produced a super left wing cross, but Noah Billingsley uncharacteristically produced an air shot in front of the open Southern goal. Wanderers coach Darren Bazeley said: ''It's the first game for some time that we have not scored, and while I reckon that we dominated possession, we just could not score.''
Fridge's wide smile made it difficult to speak, but he managed to praise the first half defensive effort ''that was the key to our winning''. ''There were some really good performances out there, and yet we have played as well in half a dozen other games, and came away with nothing,'' he said.
''So we will settle for a well deserved win, three points plus a welcome clean sheet without conceding a goal, and the lads are already looking forward to next week's final ASB Premiership away match against WaiBOP next Saturday.''
ASB Premiership
The scores
Southern United 1
Tom Jackson 65
Wanderers SC 0
Halftime: 0-0
