Team Wellington came away with the points but Southern United fired its best shot against one of the high fliers of the premiership.
Team Wellington beat Southern United 3-1 at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill yesterday, all the goals scored in the first half.
Wellington has scored 40 goals in the premiership so far — making it the top scorer in the league — while Southern United had only scored 15, so the match was always going to be a test for the Southern United defence.
However, United’s attack did its best and it hit the woodwork twice along with the goal by Eric Molloy, which came just under 10 minutes before the break.
At this level, though, it is about converting chances and in the end it is only the scoreboard which matters. Team Wellington has that priceless ability and that won itthe game.
Wellington was 3-0 up in under half an hour, two of the goals coming from former Dunedin players.
In virtually the first attack on goal by the visiting side, striker Tom Jackson was pushed over in the box and a penalty was awarded. The former Caversham striker dusted himself off and put the ball past young goalkeeper Josh Djikstra to give his side the early lead.
That was doubled within a couple of minutes when Wellington striker Ben Harris came forward, found himself alone on the end of a cross and tucked the ball past Djikstra.
Former Kaikorai Valley College pupil Joel Stevens then raced free and got to the ball just ahead of Djikstra and put it in the back of the net.
It looked all over for Southern, three goals down.
But Team Wellington leaks goals as well as scoring them and the home team put some real pressure on the capital side.
Molloy made a mazy 30m run before putting the ball past Team Wellington goalkeeper Scott Basalaj after 38 minutes.
That gave Southern United some confidence and striker Danny Furlong went close twice in two minutes at the end of the first half.
In the second half, both teams has chances and Furlong again went within a sniff of a goal, hitting the woodwork from a free kick.
But Southern could not get another goal and Team Wellington came away with the points.
The side will have a rare midweek fixture on Wednesday, heading to Auckland to take on Auckland City.
National league
The scores
Team Wellington 3
Tom Jackson pen 12, Ben Harris 14, Joel Stevens 24
Southern United 1
Eric Molloy 38
Halftime: 3-1
