2008/09 NZFC – ROUND FOUR PREVIEW

AUCKLAND – Waitakere United are breathing heavily down the neck of NZFC shock frontrunners Manawatu after a convinving 2-1 win over Auckland City at Kiwitea street yesterday.

Goals to Allan Pearce and Daniel Koprivcic sealed the result for the O-league champions who conceeded a late 89th minute goal from Matt Williams. 

Waitakere now host Canterbury in their last competitive hit-out before travelling to Japan (via China) to play Adelaide United at the FIFA Club World Cup. 

Manawatu face Central region neighbours Hawke’s Bay United looking to hold on to their top-four spot.

Round Four Highlights

– The last two games between Auckland and Wellington were five and seven goal thrillers respectively. Wellington made the Grand Final at Auckland’s expense with a 4-3 extra time preliminary final win at Kiwitea St, but have never beaten City in the capital. A second win on the trot for Stu Jacobs men would confirm that news of their demise was greatly exaggerated. 

–  With almost identical records so far in the season, a second win for either fifth-placed Waikato FC or sixth-placed Otago United in Ngaruawahia would propel them even more into semi-final contention, and with early signs pointing to a close playoff race, neither team can afford to give up ground.

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YoungHeart Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay United

Referee: Jamie Cross (Wellington)

Head to Head: Played 12: Manawatu 7 wins, Hawke’s Bay 3 wins, 2 draws.

YoungHeart Manawatu (WWW)

The players: Korean striker Park Sung-Bae returns from injury replacing Brook Tozer. Jason Hayne leads the golden boot race with five goals. He has equalled hi best-ever season haul of five goals scored in 20 games for Hawke’s Bay United in 2005-06.

The vital statistics: YoungHeart are already more than halfway to their points total (17) last season.

Squad list: 1-Chris Marsh (GK), 2-Adam Cowan, 3-Pablo Yackson, 4-Jan Weissenfeldt, 6-Matt Kennedy, 7-Jason Hayne, 8-Nathan Cooksley, 9-Gusatvo Saralegui, 10-Leo Shin, 12-Sung-Bae Park, 11-Scott Robson, 16-Raf de Gregorio, 18-Finlay Milne, 19-Andrew Bailey (GK), 20-Gonzalo Nieres, 22-Cory Chettleburgh.

Contact: Bob Sova (Head coach) 021 606 652

Hawke’s Bay United (WL)

The players: Former All Whites Che Bunce returns, while Jonathan Gould is sweating over the knee injury to striker Daniel Kirkup. Defender Campbell Parkin bracketed to come into the squad if Kirkup loses his race to be fit.

The vital statistics: Seven of Hawke’s Bay 11 points against Manawatu were won last season (1 draw, 2 wins).

Squad List: 1-Mitch O’Brien (GK), 2-Chris Davies, 3-Alex Barlow, 4-Greig Henslee, 6-Che Bunce, 7-Cole Peverley, 8-Chris McIvor, 9-Daniel Kirkup, 10-Seule Soromon, 11-Graham Fyfe, 12-James Oxtoby, 13-Leon Birnie, 17-David Gearey, 19-Andrew Abba, 20-Andrew Bevin, 23-Shaun Peta (GK)

Contact: Jonathan Gould (Football Manager) 021 734 919

Waitakere United v Canterbury United

Referee: Nick Waldron (Auckland)

Head to Head: Played 12, Waitakere 6 wins, Canterbury 4 wins, 2 draws.

Waitakere United (W)

The players:

The vital statistics: Waitakere set a record for goals scored in a single NZFC match with a 9-1 win in Canterbury in Round 9 last season. Waitakere can field six players who scored against Canterbury last season.

Squad list: TBA

Contact: Chris Milicich (Football Manager) 021 222 6959

Canterbury United Dragons (LLL)

The players: James Reichwein misses out from last week as Korouch Monsef names just 15 to travel to Auckland. Goalkeeper Adam Highfield misses out again as Canterbury rotates their three keepers.  Influential Scottish midfielder Stu Kelly has been released by the club and is free to sign for another franchise.

The vital statistics: Canterbury’s three losses have all been by a one-goal margin

Squad list: 2-Dan Terris, 3-Matt Boyd, 4-Bill Robertson (Captain), 5-Andy Pitman, 7-Ryan Faichnie, 8-Garry McDermott, 9-Tom Lancaster, 10-Jamie Smith, 11-Gareth Turnbull, 12-Michael Fifii, 18-Michael O’Keeffe (GK), 19-Darren Overton, 20-Hamish Chang, 21-Ben Harris, 22-Chris Sinclair (GK).

Contact: Korouch Monsef (Head coach) 021 240 4463

Team Wellington v Auckland City

Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)

Head to Head: Played 13, Wellington 1 win, Auckland 11 wins, 1 draw

Team Wellington (LLW)

The players: Craig Alderdice comes back into a squad otherwise unchanged by  Stu Jacobs. Brian Little has returned to Wellington after two seasons with Auckland and now lines up against his old club. Steve Gulley serves the second match of a two-game suspension, while Sam Peters (knee), Jamie Farrington (ankle), Andy Barron (broken arm) and Jeremy Brockie (stress fracture) are all on the injury list.

The vital statistics: Team Wellington’s first ever win over Auckland came at the best possible time – in last year’s preliminary final , a 4-3 extra time thriller in Auckland.

Squad list: 1-Phil Imray (GK), 5-Michael Eagar, 7-Sam Blackburn, 8-Peter Howe, 9-Brian Little, 10-Luis Corrales, 13-Karl Whalen, 14-Sam Jenkins, 16-Pedro Garcia, 18-Peter Halstead, 19-Craig Alderdice, 21-Ross McKenzie, 22-Adam Birch, 23-Tim Schaeffers, 24-Jake Gleeson (GK), 25-Paul Whitmarsh.

Contact: Stu Jacobs (Head coach) 021 724 944

Auckland City (WW)

The players:

The vital statistics: Auckland have never lost in Wellington, and the only points they have dropped in six visits were in last season’s 1-1 draw in round 7 at Newtown Park.

Squad List: TBA

Contact/s: Colin Tuaa (Head Coach) 021 734 380

Waikato FC v Otago United

Referee: Mike Hester (Auckland)

Head to Head (NZFC only): Played 12, Waikato 3 wins, Otago 5 wins, 4 draws

Waikato FC (LLW)

The players: Craig Wylie misses this game through suspension but Waikato have a fit-again Michael Mayne back as compensation. Rhys Ruka who did not make a reduced travelling party last week, is also in the mix. Waikato have not named a replacement goalkeeper in their matchday squad.

The vital statistics: Waikato did not achieve back-to-back victories last season but have the chance this week.

Squad List: 1-Jason Mann (GK), 2-Joel Mathews, 3-Ben Hunt, 4-Graham Pearce, 7-Joe Simpkins, 8-Paul Stewart, 9-Marco Rojas, 10-Stu Hogg, 11-Steven Holloway, 13-Shaun Van Rooyen, 15-Rhys Ruka, 16-Sam Margetts, 18-Nick Robson, 21-Jon Stables, 24-Michael Mayne, 25-Nathan Strom

Contact: Dave Edmondson (Head Coach) 027 333 4102

Otago United (LWL)

The players: John Chisholm – a late addition last week – misses the trip due to personal commitments while  Blair Scoullar’s knee injury still keeps him sidelined.

The vital statistics: Otago have won more points (19) against Waikato than against any other team.

Squad List: 1-Liam Little (GK), 2-Rys Henderso
n, 3-Tristan Prattley, 4-Barry Gardiner, 5-Colin Falvey (Captain), 6-Michael Smith, 7-Robbie Deeley, 9-Tom Jackson, 10-David Dugdale, 11-Andy Coburn, 12-Aaron Burgess, 13-Callum Flaws (GK), 14-Sean Brand, 17-Tim Horner, 18-Tom Connor.

Contact/s: Terry Phelan (Head Coach) – 027 230 0095

NZFC Standings: