Wellington Phoenix U-20 bounced back to winning ways after a second-half brace from Ruairi Cahill-Fleury and goals from Max Mata and Alex Rufer secured a 4-0 victory over Hamilton Wanderers at FMG Stadium on Saturday.
Cahill-Fleury broke the deadlock after Logan Rogerson delivered a perfect ball across goal early into the second period.
Phoenix doubled their lead just past the 70-minute mark as Cahill-Fleury struck a superb volley.
Wellington completed the treble after top scorer Max Mata slotted his sixth goal of the season just before the final whistle.
Phoenix extended their lead late in injury time when Alex Rufer converted from the penalty spot to make it four.
Just after the half hour mark, Hamilton local Rogerson appeared to have a chance to open the scoring when he was slipped through by Ben Litfin, but the flag went up as the winger had only the goalkeeper to beat.
Not long after Sarpreet Singh fired a shot from outside the box that went just wide of the post. Approaching half-time Phoenix U-20 had another chance to go in front as Rogerson played the ball across goal for McGarry who went within a whisker of steering it towards goal.
Moments later McGarry again was in the protagonist as he curled a wicked free kick that was expertly saved by Oliver Matthew.
Hamitlon Wanderers started the second half brightly with a powerful strike from Raymond Guenemba which was well saved by Lewis Hamilton.
Phoenix responded well as Rogerson bombed down the right curling a perfect cross in for Ruairi Cahill-Fleury who failed to connect.
Only a few minutes later, Rogerson combined again with Cahilll-Fleury who this time made no mistake and expertly hit the target to give Phoenix a well deserved 1-0 lead.
Phoenix started to dominate the game and it wasn’t long before they doubled their lead with a perfectly timed volley from Cahill-Fleury.
Max Mata made it 3-0 just one minute after coming on after Jack-Henry Sinclair found him in space with a neat cross.
Phoenix were awarded a penalty in the 92nd miute which Alex Rufer hit perfectly to give Phoenix a well deserved 4-0 victory.
