Southern fights back from half time deficit

It's a case of heads I win, as Southern UNited goal scorer Cody Brook (left) engages in an aerial...
It's a case of heads I win, as Southern UNited goal scorer Cody Brook (left) engages in an aerial tussle with Bay United midfielder Josh Signey at Park Island, Napier. Photo: Paul Taylor/Hawke's Bay Today
Southern United lifted itself off the canvas and came back to secure a stunning victory over Hawke’s Bay United in Napier on Saturday afternoon.

The side found itself 2-0 down at the break against the home team and was chasing tails in the first half.

But drawing on some fine team spirit and a never-say-die spirit, the side found some goal-scoring in the second half and ended up coming away with a 4-3 victory.

The win keeps the side right in the playoff hunt and also does major damage to the hopes of Hawke’s Bay United.

Southern United coach Terry Boylan said he was thrilled with the performance of his side.

The team had been on the road since 4am on the day of the game but shrugged it off to record the upset victory.

“It just shows how dynamic this group is and they want the desire and work hard so I can't speak highly enough of these guys because they really want to play," Boylan said.

Boylan agreed his men were getting drawn into the physicality with their opponents in the first half and he could see that from a player's perspective but he expected Southern United to manage it better.

At the break he had reminded them of their goals and re-focusing on what had worked in the previous two games.

"We had to have belief in each other and we often talk about individual characters and what they bring to the team for the dynamics and the collective responded really well today."

"That's three games on the trot for us," he said. "Are we going to get ahead of ourselves and smell ourselves thinking we're above everyone else? No."

The focus, he said, was on Team Wellington next rather than entertain thoughts on playoffs.

Hawke’s Bay United had started well and scored after just four minutes, through Ihaia Delaney. That put Southern United on the back foot and there were some skirmishes in the middle of the park as neither side took a back step.

The home team then went 2-0 when midfielder Sho Goto got his boot to the ball from a melee in the penalty box.

Boylan had reminded his charges of what needed to be done at halftime and not get drawn into a battle in the middle of the park.

Cody Brook got his side on the board straight after hallftime but Goto re-established his side’s two-goal lead on 52 minutes.

Key Southern United striker Garbhan Coughlan then came to the fore. He scored a sharp goal to get it back to 3-2 and then scored the equaliser with a nice piece of work in the box, following a quality ball from Cam McKenzie.

Then just a minute later, Adam Hewson scored the winner as the home side was on its heels.

It was a great comeback from the visiting team and has it firmly in the playoff hunt.

The side is on 19 points and is in a dog fight with Tasman United, Hamilton Wanderers and Eastern Suburbs for fourth place. Team Wellington is next up, at home on March 14.

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