NZFC: Bay show character

Craig Stephen in Wellington | 8th February 2010

You'd have thought someone would know the identity of the little man wearing Hawke's Bay United colours who was the hero for the Park Island-based side yesterday.

After scoring what proved to be Bay's winning goal against Team Wellington, the Newtown Park announcer had to correct the match programme by clarifying that it was George Barbarouses (pictured) and not, as listed, Fergus Neil who was wearing the No 17 shirt.

Barbarouses was once a regular for Team Wellington and his younger brother Costa is in the mix at the Wellington Phoenix.

He's a familiar name in football circles in the capital.

The strike was George Barbarouses' first for the club and the 1-0 victory moved Hawke's Bay United off the bottom into sixth place and keeps their NZFC play-off hopes alive - slim as they are.

Bay coach Matt Chandler told SportToday afterwards there may be a gulf in class between the two sides but the crucial difference between them was desire.

"They're a better team than us but we wanted the victory more than they did.

"It's been a season of ifs, buts and maybes but today we really showed our character. I changed a few things around for the second half and that made all the difference," said the coach.

Chandler was without defensive stalwart Chris Greatholder due to a knee injury and called on Phil Clarke and Sam Jacob, both of whom have had limited starts this season. "They were both excellent. Richard Gillespie made a couple of crucial saves and there were several other good performances," he said.

Gillespie did indeed make a telling contribution and his brilliant reaction save from Greg Draper's header on the hour mark effectively ensured Bay had all three points.

 The Wellington striker was only two to three metres from Gillespie when he crisply hit the ball and the keeper's save owed a lot to sharp reflexes.

Bay needed to raise their game for the second half. The opening 45 minutes was like a snooker frame where neither protagonist has the confidence to do much other than rely on safety play.

Within 15 minutes of the restart it seemed like those snooker professionals had started making centuries.

There was the goal, of course, as well as some tough tackles, a yellow card for either side and the volume of ideological discussion among the players had audibly increased.

After Barbarouses' strike, scored from close-range after a near-comical kickabout in the penalty box, Team Wellington made immediate changes bringing on experienced duo Michael Fifii and Bryan Little and taking off two kids, who looked effective enough.

But Bay were a changed side from recent poor performances and proved themselves equal to any Wellington attack, and offered their own forays forward in return, Andrew Abba coming close late on.

 The Solomon Islands striker received treatment after clashing with the goalkeeper during his leap and was substituted soon after.

There was a bizarre booking late on for Leon Birnie, for shooting after the whistle went for offside. The time between the whistle and the kick was minimal and it appeared the referee overreacted.