Wellington Phoenix find their shooting boots to down Newcastle Jets

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Six shots, two goals. Ufuk Talay would take that strike rate every week.

Wellington Phoenix’s coach was delighted with the response he got from his players, particularly his under fire frontmen, after coming away with a much-needed 2-0 victory against Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.

The result snapped a four-game winless run and moved the Phoenix off the bottom of the A-League ladder.

English striker David Ball scored in his first game back from suspension to break the deadlock with a deflected effort in the 22nd minute before young gun Ben Waine fired from long-range in the 53rd to complete a clinical team display.

“I’m very pleased,” coach Ufuk Talay said. “I think the boys showed a lot of character this evening against Newcastle. Confidence can be low at times, especially when you’re not winning games, but I thought the boys were very disciplined.

“We defended well, and I think Newcastle had a lot of ball but not in areas where they could hurt us, so it was a shift in character and most importantly we also got a clean sheet.

“If we have six shots and score two goals then we’re doing a good job, and the luck had to change so the first goal was a good goal from Bally, it took a deflection and went near-post and Waine’s finish was a good finish as well.”

Ball missed the previous two games after picking up a two-game ban following a red card against Central Coast Mariners, but the former Manchester City youth product made an immediate impact on his return.

Played in by captain Ulises Davila, Ball turned and positioned himself towards goal but his shot took a heavy deflection off Jets defender Nigel Boogard and beat goalkeeper Jack Duncan at the near-post.

“I thought he was exceptional today. The amount of work Bally does with the ball and off the ball for the team, it’s always nice for your strikers to score and I’m sure he will grow from that.”

Talay was also pleased to see Waine find the back of the net for just the second time in the A-League after the New Zealand under-20 international struck a first time effort from 25 metres out.

A pass from Clayton Lewis ricocheted off Johnny Koutroumbis and landed fortunately in Waine’s path.

“I’m very pleased for Waineo, I’m sure he’s very ecstatic with the goal that he’s scored. But players only become better by playing games and we’ve given Waineo the opportunity to play with injuries that we’ve had the last three games and I think he’s done a great job for the team.”

Goalkeeper Oli Sail pulled off four crucial saves, including one from a diving Valentino Yuel header early in the second half, to claim a clean sheet and further solidify his starting spot after leaping ahead of Stefan Marinovic.

The game finished on a sour note with Phoenix goalkeeping coach Paul Gothard getting into a verbal stoush with some of the Jets players. He was ushered away by Tim Payne but not before Jets coach Craig Deans tried to intervene.

“I went over because one of their coaches was trying to intimidate our players and I don’t think that’s right,” Deans said. “They should walk off happy they won 2-0.”

Wellington Phoenix 2 (David Ball 22’, Ben Waine 53’) Newcastle Jets 0

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