Paper has it wrong?

Defensive lapses and a failed penalty appeal sent the Wellington Phoenix crashing out of A-League Pre-Season Cup top-four contention but Canterbury football officials want to bring the new club back to Christchurch.

Coach Ricki Herbert felt the Phoenix "got a lot of ball" in the second spell "and the scoreline wasn't really a reflection" of the run of the play in the 2-1 loss at QEII Stadium last night.

"I think we're showing that the side is going to be very competitive this year. You'd be disappointed if people didn't leave thinking they'd seen a decent football match."

Dithering by the Phoenix rearguard presented soft goals to Simon Lynch in the 40th minute and Sasa Ognenovski in the 48th � a minute after defender Steven Old had bundled in the Phoenix's equaliser.

Mainland Football chief executive Mike Coggan was pleased to draw 4081 fans for a Friday night pre-season game � and wants another here.

"We think we've played a part in making the event a success, and we'd like to talk to them about bringing a regular A-League match here. Adelaide is Christchurch's sister city so it'd be nice to think that could become a regular game here."

A Canterbury crowd embraced the Wellingtonians so willingly that referee Michael Hester drew a chorus of jeers when he failed to award the Phoenix a penalty after a blatant nudge in the back on All Whites striker Shane Smeltz in the 66th minute.

Herbert said the push "seemed relatively clear" and he felt a spotkick should have been awarded.

But Queensland's Brazilian import Reinaldo missed a sitter soon after in a lively second half which saw more ball movement than the first.

Herbert felt the Phoenix "got a lot of the ball" in the second spell "and the score-line wasn't really a reflection" of the run of the play.

"I think we're showing the side is going to be very competitive this year. You'd be disappointed if people didn't leave thinking they'd seen a decent football match."

Frank Farina's Roar now moves up to five points in Group B after two draws and last night's win.

The Central Coast Mariners, who play Sydney FC today, already have four points to the Phoenix's three after its 3-0 win over Sydney last week.

The Phoenix is in third place and could still get a play-off with the third-placed Group A side.

The first Queensland goal came against the run of play after a period of Phoenix dominance.

The Wellingtonians paid the price when centreback Karl Dodd was dispossessed trying to take the ball around a Roar rival.

Diminutive Queensland midfielder Matthew McKay nipped in and scooted upfield with the Phoenix cover desperately backtracking.

He put Lynch into the clear and the former Scottish premier division striker expertly placed his shot beyond Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss.

Lynch also hit the outside upright with a first-time shot two minutes later.

But the Phoenix had seemed more likely to score for most of the first half.

With skipper Ross Aloisi anchoring the midfield and Daniel and Michael Ferrante looking handy, Wellington threaded some neat passes through to All Whites strikers Smeltz and Vaughan Coveny.

A well-worked set move in the 22nd minute had the crowd buzzing, but Aloisi blazed the final shot over the bar.

Old's goal came after Queensland failed to clear a Daniel freekick in the 46th minute.

But two minutes later a Mitchell Nichols shot hit the bar for the Roar and Ognenovski scrambled in a toe-poke past the ball-watching defence