Phoenix win first hit out
Wellington Phoenix had their first hit out of the 2011-12 season against Central League high flyers Miramar on Wednesday night, winning 2-0 on Te Whaea’s artificial surface.
Both sides were missing first-choice players with only Manny Muscat, Daniel, Andrew Durante, Mirjan Pavlovic, Ben Sigmund, Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis starting for the Phoenix.
All of those, apart from Daniel, Muscat and Pavlovic, were withdrawn at halftime or just after to allow triallists an opportunity to show their worth, though Downey did return to the fray after Pavlovic was forced off with an ankle injury.
Coach Ricki Herbert was keen to have a first look at two central defenders – Australian teenager Bryan Bran (Victoria Premier League side Oakleigh Cannons) and Englishman Sean Kelly – who had only had one training session after arriving in Wellington on Monday evening.
Both aquitted themselves well and will probably get another chance to impress when the Phoenix take on Western Suburbs next week.
“It was good to have an opportunity to look at so many new lads in a game situation,” Herbert said.
“Now we will see how they go in training. There are some interesting players trying out for us this season.”
Other triallists taking part included former Gold Coast and Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Jess Vansttrattan, who was sidelined most of last season with a knee injury, Australian-based Nigerian Saka, former Mariners midfielder Nicky Travis and young Australian fullback Nick Tsattalios.
Spaniard Danny Sanchez, who has played in Spain’s second division and has just been released by Scottish Premier League club Inverness Thistle, had the thankless task of lining up less than two hours after stepping off a plane.
Sanchez showed some nice touches and was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet after having two gilt-edged chances.
The Phoenix goals were scored by Mirjan Pavlovic, who also hit the crossbar with a header from a lovely Downey cross, and Daniel who had earlier had a penalty kick saved by Miramar keeper Phil Imray.