Phoenix win penultimate A-League game

Phoenix women celebrate
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Wellington Phoenix women have kept alive their hopes of avoiding the A-League’s wooden spoon.

The Phoenix have beaten Adelaide United 3-1 in their rescheduled seventh round match in Adelaide to close back to within two points of the Newcastle Jets with one round to play.

Young forward Milly Clegg celebrated her maiden call-up to the Football Ferns by scoring two second-half goals after the sides were level at 1-1 at halftime.

“She’s riding a bit of a high,” Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence said post-game. “It’s been a really good season for her. She’s kept herself grounded…and today she showed what she can offer.

“While she’s young and the Ferns will be a big step up for her, she’s got something that’s different. I’m really excited to see how she gets on.”

If the Nix beat reigning champions Melbourne Victory at Sky Stadium on Saturday afternoon and Newcastle fail to upset high-flying Sydney FC, Wellington will move off the bottom of the ladder.

“I was hoping that it wouldn’t come down to this, but we didn’t do what we needed to do against Newcastle.

“We spoke a lot about bringing it back to our basics, back to our principles, the football we want to be known for and the result will take care of itself, and it did today.

“Really, really pleased with the whole squad and how everyone has reacted since the Newcastle game.

“Victory have won the last two seasons and they’re fighting for their spot in the top four so it’s going to be a pretty big game for both teams.”

Natalie Lawrence made five changes to the XI which started Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Newcastle, with scholarship players Georgia Candy and Charlotte Lancaster handed their first starts. Candy replaced Brianna Edwards in goal, while Lancaster was selected in a new front three alongside Ava Pritchard and Clegg. Claudia Cicco also came into the side at right back.

Injury replacement Emma Main, fullbacks Zoe McMeeken and Saskia Vosper and midfielder Te Reremoana Walker were brought on to the bench with Marisa van der Meer, Paige Satchell, Michaela Robertson and Emma Rolston rested with an eye to the Victory on Saturday.

“To be able to rotate the squad and show the depth of the squad…is also a real highlight.

“It showed the principles of the team, the character of the team and the power of the squad that we could make as many changes as we did and everyone knows their role and everyone is on the same page.

“Now we’ve got a big decision on our hands for the starting XI and 16 to face Melbourne Victory.”