2008/09 NZFC – ROUND FIVE PREVIEW

The two Auckland sides return to the NZFC this week after off-shore commitments have kept them both out of domestic action.

Waitakere United will be bidding to return to winning ways at home to current league leaders YoungHeart Manawatu after they were narrowly defeated by Adelaide United in Japan.

YoungHeart will be looking to return to their early season form that’s taken them to the top spot after they’ve lost their last two games.

Auckland City fared better on their travels – an O-League victory against Port Vila – but won’t be taking a resurgent Canterbury United lightly after the south islander’s improvement in form has seen them take points off three of last year’s top four.

Canterbury could move into contention for a play-off spot themselves if they win and other results go their way.

Team Wellington will be hoping for a big improvement from last week’s performance after they struggled to get a point at home to Otago United.

They missed out on a chance to go top so they’ll be eager to make amends on the last weekend before the Christmas break. Waikato will be itching to return to action following a week off, after winning the last three games on the trot.

In Dunedin, Otago will be looking to move off the bottom of the table after a disappointing last gasp goal cost them maximum points in Wellington last week.

Hawke’s Bay on the other hand, will be looking towards the top of the table knowing that a win would put them in back in touch with the leaders. Their form will be concerning for their fans though after losing in their last two outings.

Please note: The New Zealand Football Championship plans to mark the passing of Team Wellington General Manager David Farrington with a minute’s silence before the start of Round 7 matches on Sunday. Dave died on Wednesday morning after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Visit www.nzfc.co.nz for full coverage

Otago United v Hawke’s Bay United

Sunnyvale, Dunedin

Head to head: Played 12, Hawke’s Bay 6 wins, Otago 3 wins, 3 draws.

Otago United (LWLLD)

The players: Blair Scoullar is still out with a knee problem and Aaron Burgess also drops out of the squad. Seamus Ryder and Morgan Day come into contention for a starting place.

The vital statistics: Otago have only beaten Hawke’s Bay once in the last five meetings between the two sides.

Squad list: 1-Liam Little (GK), 2-Rhys Henderson, 3-Tristan Prattley, 4-Barry Gardiner, 5-Colin Falvey, 6-Mike Smith, 9-Tom Jackson, 10-David Dugdale, 11-Andy Coburn,13-Callum Flaws (GK), 14-Sean Brand, 15-Morgan Day, 18-Tom Connor, 17-Tim Horner, 19- Seamus Ryder, 20-Stuart Kelly, 21-John Chisholm.

Contact: Terry Phelan (Head Coach) 027 230 0095

Hawke’s Bay United (WLWLL)

The players: Hawke’s Bay coach Jonathan Gould is still away with the NZ U-20s in Tahiti so assistant Matt Chandler takes charge for his second match. Fullback Alex Barlow is also still on national duty.

The vital statistics: Otago’s three NZFC wins over Hawke’s Bay have all been at Park Island.

Squad List: 1-Mitch O’Brien (GK), 2-Chris Davies, 4-Greig Henslee, 5-Campbell Parkin, 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, 221-Woo-Jae Kim, 3-Shaun Peta (GK)

Contact: Matt Chandler (Assistant coach) 021 734 367

Waikato FC v Team Wellington

Centennial Park, Ngaurawahia

Head to Head: Played 12: Waikato 2 wins, Wellington 7 wins, 3 draws.

Waikato FC (LLWWW)

The players: Paul Stewart comes into the squad. Nick Keown-Robson’s away on NZ U-20s duty whilst Steven Holloway is still absent with a hamstring strain.

The vital statistics: Waikato’s winning streak is their best since season 2004/05.

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, 13-Shaun Van Rooyen, 14-Craig Wylie, 15-Rhys Ruka, 16-Sam Margetts, 19-Greg Walters, 21-Jon Stables, 23-Stu Watene 24-Michael Mayne, 25-Nathan Strom.

Contact: Dave Edmondson (Head Coach) 027 333 4102

Team Wellington (LWWDD)

The players: Wellington still have several absentees on Junior All Whites duty: Sam Blackburn, Jake Gleeson, Mike Pickering and Michael Eagar while coach Stu Jacobs is also with them in Tahiti.

The vital statistics: Wellington haven’t lost in their last seven games with Waikato.

Squad list: 1-Phil Imray (GK), 3-Steve Gulley, 8-Peter Howe, 9-Ross McKenzie, 10-Luis Corrales, 11-Brian Little, 13-Karl Whalen, 14-Sam Jenkins, 15-Allen Chote, 16-Pedro Garcias, 18-Peter Halstead, 19-Craig Alderdice, 21-Tim Schaeffers, 22-Adam Birch (Captain), 24-James McPeake (GK), 25-Paul Whitmarsh.

Contact: Charlie Howe (Assistant coach) 027 232 6038

Canterbury United v Auckland City

English Park, Christchurch

Head to Head: Played 12: Canterbury 3 wins, Auckland 9 wins, 2 draws.

Canterbury United Dragons (LLDDW)

The players: The squad is at full strength this week with no injuries or suspensions, Hamish Chang’s inclusion is the only change.

The vital statistics: Canterbury have taken points from three of last year’s top four teams and are unbeaten in three matches.

Squad list: 1-Michael O’Keeffe (GK), 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, 15-James Reichwein, 16-Nick Wortelboer, 19-Darren Overton, 20-Hamish Chang, 22-Chris Sinclair (GK).

Contact: Korouch Monsef (Head coach) 021 240 4463

Auckland City (WWLLW)

The players: Wholesale changes this week, in come James Pritchett, Alex Feneridis, Keryn Jordan, Riki van Steeden and Javier Roca Mateo. Former Espanyol defender Mateo makes his NZFC debut after being stretchered off in Auckland’s first O-League game of the season and sitting out the first start of the domestic campaign. Sam Campbell, Milos Nikolic and Jonathan Raj are all on NZ U-20’s duty in Tahiti. Grant Young is carrying some niggles from the O-League game and George Suri is also out of the squad. Caretaker coach Paul Posa makes his NZFC debut after guiding the team to an O-League victory in his first game in charge of the club.

The vital statistics: Auckland City beat Canterbury three times last season scoring nine goals and conceding only two.

Squad List: 1-Ross Nicholson (GK), 3-Matt Friel, 5-Matt Williams, 6-Ki-Hyung Lee, 7-James Pritchett, 8-Chad Coombes, 9-Paul Urlovic, 12-Jacob Spoonley (GK), 13-Alex Feneridis, 14-Keryn Jordan, 15-Ivan Vicelich (Captain), 19-Salesh Kumar, 20-Greg Uhlmann, 21-Riki van Steeden, 22- Javier Roca Mateo, 23-Liam Mulrooney.

< p>Contact: Paul Posa (Coach) 021 616929

Waitakere United v YoungHeart Manawatu

Douglas Field, Henderson

Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)

Waitakere United (WWD)

The players: Several changes from the last game three weeks ago: Hone Fowler, Kayne Vincent, Jason Rowley and Neil Sykes all come into the squad. Injuries during their off-shore games mean the following current or former All Whites miss out: Danny Hay (calf 4 weeks), Allan Pearce (ankle 8 weeks), and Jonathan Perry (knee 2 weeks). International commitments mean Ash Solly, Ian Hogg and Jacob Mathews are all unavailable for the YoungHeart visit.

The vital statistics: Allan Pearce has scored in all three NZFC matches so far this season. Waitakere only lost two games last season and one was to Manawatu.

Squad list: 1-Richard Gillespie (GK), 3-Aaron Scott, 6-Hone Fowler, 7-Daniel Ellensohn, 8-Paul Seaman, 9-Benjamin Totori, 11-Neil Sykes, 12-Roy Krishna, 13-Daniel Koprivcic, 14-Jeff Campbell, 15-Christopher Bale, 16-Neil Emblen, 17-Jake Butler, 20-Jason Rowley, 21-Kayne Vincent, 22-Danny Robinson (GK)

Contact: Chris Milicich (Football Manager) 021 222 6959

YoungHeart Manawatu (WWWLL)

The players: There are no changes to the squad that lost to Waikato in their last game, although Gonzalo Nirese faces a fitness test with Brook Tozer or Isaac Duker in contention to come into the squad if the Uruguayan marksman sits out.

The vital statistics: Adam Cowan is would go top of the all-time NZFC appearances list if he plays on Sunday. He’s currently level with Auckland’s Grant Young on 85 appearances.

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, 11-Scott Robson, 12-Sung-Bae Park, 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

Facts and Figures

Standings