Wellington Phoenix striker Jeremy Brockie got a real confidence booster as his team beat Upper Hutt City 4-0 in a pre-season friendly at Maidstone Park on Tuesday night.
All the goals came in the first half with Brockie scoring twice and providing the assists for Tyler Boyd and Alex Rufer to score the other two.
Last season was difficult for Brockie when the goals dried up after he had been runner-up in the Golden Boot race the previous campaign, but he is looking more like his old self in pre-season.
Against a brave Upper Hutt side, and in front of a bumper crowd that braved the bitterly cold conditions, Brockie was full of energy for 60 minutes before coach Ernie Merrick rang wholesale changes.
Many of the youngsters that train regularly with the Phoenix senior squad took the field, and while failing to add to the halftime score, they played some nice stuff culminating in applause for their last passage of play.
Brockie opened the scoring in the ninth minute and turned provider in the 30th minute with a superb low cross from the right that Boyd turned into the net.
Seven minutes later Brockie repeated the effort from the left flank and this time it was Rufer who blasted the ball into the net.
Right on halftime fullback Manny Muscat raced down the right flank and sent in a firm low cross for Brockie to complete the scoring.
Assistant coach Chris Greenacre described the crowd as “fantastic”.
“It was good to get up here and let the young fans see the first team players in action,” Greenacre said.
“Brockie was exceptional tonight with his goals and overall good play. He is a good pro.
“Strikers are judged on the goals they score and thrive on scoring.”
Greenacre was also pleased with the passing game the Phoenix produced.
“We shifted the ball well which is what we were looking for them to do.
“They have been doing it in training and tonight we transferred it into a match situation.”
