Team Wellington's big man makes huge impact

Substitute Peter Halstead, a tall, lanky and rather unfashionable striker who boasts his own fan club, provided two bits of magic to inspire Team Wellington to a historic NZFC preliminary final win against nemesis Auckland City on Saturday.

Halstead, a tactical halftime replacement for All White Daniel Ellensohn, was having a blinder even before he got his name on the scoresheet, initially with an 86th-minute equaliser, which he curled in with his left foot from 20m to take the match into extra time; then with a solo effort 30 minutes later to seal an epic 4-3 victory at Auckland's Kiwitea St.

It was Wellington's first win against Auckland in 13 attempts, and secures them a spot in Sunday's grand final against Waitakere United in Henderson.

"Peter certainly turned out to be a bit of a matchwinner for us on Saturday," a delighted coach Stu Jacobs said of Halstead, whose small fan club is invariably represented at Newtown Park, and the odd away match, with a banner and horn.

"I just thought maybe Peter with his size could provide a better platform for us and if we had to change things and go a bit longer then he also had the ability to get on the end of things, and that's sort of how it panned out."

Halstead entered the fray at halftime, with Wellington deserved 1-0 leaders after veteran Graham Little had given the $8.50 outsiders the lead in the 24th minute.

But Auckland scored twice in three minutes midway through the second half - Jeff Campbell and Chan-Goo Yoon netting - to take the lead, before Halstead sent the match into extra time.

With both teams tiring, Corrales pounced, winning a penalty that Little slammed into the roof of the net to secure his double, before Halstead scored on the break to kill the match off.

City's Greg Uhlmann was immediately sent off for dissent by referee Peter O'Leary, and four minutes later George Suri dragged one back for for the home side in a frantic last stanza, but Wellington held on.

While Little, Halstead and Luis Corrales starred up front, the defence was marshalled superbly by Sean Douglas and Karl Whalen, and the midfield trio of Raf de Gregorio, Darren Cheriton and Wiremu Patrick worked tirelessly.

"We spoke before the Auckland game that everyone goes on about history and us never having beaten them, but we set our own wee piece of history and I think we're well capable of beating Waitakere," Jacobs said.

- © Fairfax NZ News