NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – NZFC PLAYOFF RACE WIDE OPEN

AUCKLAND – Unbeaten Waitakere United begin a busy period in the NZFC which will see them play six matches in 22days starting with a crunch home tie against play-off potentials Hawke’s Bay United. The Bay are one of four teams who are only one point behind them but Waitakere have two games in hand on the chasing pack.

Hawke’s Bay will be keen to keep up the pressure on the sides above them as they sit outside the playoffs on goal difference only. Ian Hogg’s return to Hawke’s Bay has been the major talking point so far during the transfer window. There could be eleventh hour signings before the window closes on Friday.

Waikato FC lost top spot last week but could regain it again – at least for a day- if they can beat Auckland. They will be keen to get back to winning ways after being defeated by one goal at home to Hawke’s Bay.

Auckland, who are back at home for the first time since early December, will be looking to put a halt to the inconsistency that has so far led to an up and down season so far, despite them sitting in second place.

The second South Island derby of the season is a crucial game for both sides, with Otago United wanting to try and get themselves off the foot of the table and Canterbury United not wanting to lose pace with the sides ahead of them. Canterbury will not want to be drawn into a wooden spoon battle, which will be the case if Otago win.

The second derby clash of the round sees Team Wellington take on YoungHeart Manawatu in the capital and the home side will be looking towards getting their season back on track after they’ve failed to win in the last four games. They’ll be desperate to catch up with the sides above who are now four points ahead. YoungHeart on the other hand will be buoyant after last week’s hammering of Canterbury.

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Auckland City v Waikato FC

Referee: Mike Hester (Auckland)

Head to head: Played 13, Auckland 8 wins, Waikato 3 wins, 2 draws.

Round 2 (Nov 16): Waikato 1-3 Auckland

Auckland City (LLWLW)

The players: No changes from last week’s squad.

The vital statistics: Auckland are unbeaten against Waikato in the last seven meetings between the two clubs. Their last defeat to them was during the 2005-06 season when Auckland lost more times than in any other NZFC season.

Squad List: 1-Ross Nicholson (GK), 3-Matt Friel, 4-Sam Campbell, 5-Matt Williams, 6-Ki-Hyung Lee, 8-Chad Coombes, 9-Paul Urlovic, 12-Jacob Spoonley(GK), 14-Keryn Jordan, 15-Ivan Vicelich, 19-Salesh Kumar, 21-Riki van Steeden, 22-Javier Roca Mateo, 23-Liam Mulrooney, 24-Milos Nikolic, 25-Adam McGeorge.

Contact: Paul Posa (Coach) 021 616929

Waikato FC (WWWWL)

The players: New signing, versatile defender Michael Walters (younger brother of goalkeeper Greg) comes into the squad for the first time, whilst Joe Simpkins returns after minor strains. Jon Stables is brought into the squad for defensive cover. Sam Margetts and Paul Stewart miss out.

The vital statistics: Waikato have only ever beaten Auckland by a margin of one goal in the NZFC.

Squad List: 1-Jason Mann(GK), 2-Joel Mathews, 3-Ben Hunt, 4-Graham Pearce, 7-Joe Simpkins, 9-Marco Rojas, 10-Stu Hogg, 11-Steven Holloway, 12-Michael Walters, 13-Shaun Van Rooyen, 14-Craig Wylie, 18-Nik Robson, 19-Greg Walters (GK), 21-Jon Stables, 23-Stu Watene, 24-Michael Mayne, 25-Nathan Strom (1 to be omitted).

Contact: Dave Edmondson (Head Coach) 027 333 4102

Waitakere United v Hawke’s Bay United

Referee: Nick Waldron (Auckland)

Head to Head: Played 12: Waitakere 9 wins, Hawke’s Bay 2 wins, 1 draw.

Waitakere United (WWDWW)

The players: Neil Sykes was named last week but failed a fitness test so he is included this week and should be fit for selection but is still under some doubt. Ash Solly is waiting in line to come into the squad if Sykes fails a fitness test. Danny Hay is still out for another week or two with a calf injury whilst Allan Pearce is expected to be sidelined for another three weeks with an ankle injury.

The vital statistics: Waitakere scored eight unanswered goals against Hawke’s Bay in last year’s championship winning season.

Squad List: 1-Richard Gillespie (GK), 3-Aaron Scott, 4-Tim Myers, 8-Paul Seaman, 9-Benjamin Totori, 11-Neil Sykes/24-Ash Solly, 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), 27-Jacob Mathews.

Contact: Chris Milicich (Football Manager) 021 222 6959

Hawke’s Bay United (WLLWW)

The players: Former All White Che Bunce comes back into contention after suspension ruled him out of the last game, whilst new signing Ian Hogg could come into the squad, subject to clearance. Hogg spent two seasons at Park Island before transferring to Waitakere for the first half of the season. There are no injuries or suspensions so the squad is up to full strength.

The vital statistics: Hawke’s Bay have conceded 26 goals against Waitakere in the 12 times they’ve played, scoring only eight. If they win on Sunday they will equal a club record of three wins on the bounce.

Squad list:1-Mitch O’Brien (GK), 2-Chris Davies, 3-Reiner Bauerfeind/16-Ian Hogg, 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, 21-Woo-Jae Kim.

Contact: Jonathan Gould (Football Manager) 021 734 919

Canterbury United v Otago United

Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)

Head to Head: Played 13: Canterbury 5 wins, Otago 4 wins, 4 draws.

Round 2 (Nov 16): Otago 2-1 Canterbury

Canterbury United Dragons (DDWWL)

The players: Ben Harris and Adam Cowen come into the squad for this week’s derby clash whilst Andy Pitman and Matt Boyd miss out through suspension.

The vital statistics: Competition between the two sides is close- neither side has defeated the other in two consecutive games in a season. Scoring tallies over the 13 matches against one another are close too, with Canterbury having scored 20 to Otago’s 19.

Squad list: 1-Mike O’Keeffe (GK), 2-Dan Terris, 4-Bill Robertson (Captain), 7-Ryan Faichnie, 8-Garry Mcdermott, 9-Tom Lancaster, 10-Jamie Smith, 12-Michael Fifii, 15-James Rechwein, 16-Nick Wortelboer, 17-Adam Cowen, 19-Darren Overton, 20-Hamish Chang, 21-Ben Harris, 22-Chris Sinclair (GK).

Contact: Korouch Monsef (Head coach) 021 240 4463

Otago United (LLDLL)

The players: Blair Scoullar is out of the squad for the South Island derby. Former Canterbury midfielder Stu Kelly faces his old clu
bs for the first time.

The vital statistics: Otago’s biggest win in the NZFC was 5-1 against Canterbury in the 2004-05 season.

Squad list: 1-Liam Little, 3-Tristan Prattley, 4-Barry Gardiner, 5-Colin Falvey (Captain), 6-Mike Smith, 7-Robbie Deeley, 9-Tom Jackson, 10-Dave Dugdale, 11-Andy Coburn, 12-Aaron Burgess, 13-Callum Flaws (GK), 15-Morgan Day, 17-Tim Horner, 18-Tom Connor, 19-Seamus Ryder, 21-Stu Kelly.

Contact: Terry Phelan (Head Coach) 027 230 0095

Team Wellington v YoungHeart Manawatu

Referee: Jamie Cross (Wellington)

Head to Head: Played 13: Wellington 5 wins, Manawatu 5wins, 3 draws.

Round 2 (Nov 15): Manawatu 3-0 Wellington

Team Wellington (WDDLL)

The players: Ross McKenzie is suspended after reaching the four yellow card limit. Pedro Garcias comes into the squad for the game.

The vital statistics: Wellington scored 15 goals and conceded only one against YoungHeart last season (including their record NZFC win of 8-0) in their three victories over their local rivals.

Squad list: 1-James McPeake (GK), 3-Steve Gulley, 5-Michael Eagar, 6-Mike Pickering, 7-Sam Blackburn, 8-Peter Howe, 10-Luis Corrales, 13-Karl Whalen, 14-Sam Jenkins, 16-Pedro Garcias, 18-Peter Halstead, 19-Craig Alderdice, 21-Brian Little, 22-Adam Birch (Captain), 23-Tim Schaeffers, 24-Jake Gleeson (GK), 25-Paul Whitmarsh.

Contact: Stu Jacobs (Head coach) 021 724 944

YoungHeart Manawatu (WWLLW)

The players: Local goalkeeper Matt Boren joins the squad. Ex Wellington player Raff de Gregorio visits Newtown Park for the first time in Manawatu colours.

The vital statistics: The two sides have taken exactly the same amount of points from the games they’ve played against each other since the start of the NZFC.

Squad list: 1-Chris Marsh (GK), 3-Pablo Yackson, 4-Jan Weissenfeldt, 5-Daniel Chavez, 6-Matt Kennedy, 7-Jason Hayne, 8-Nathan Cooksley, 9-Gustavo Saralegui, 11-Scott Robson, 12-Sung-Bae Park, 16-Raff de Gregorio (captain), 17-Isaac Duker, 18-Finlay Milne, 19-Matt Borren (GK), 21-Brook Tozer, 22-Cory Chettleburgh.

Contact: Bob Sova (Head coach) 021 606 652

New Zealand Football Championship 2008/09Standings 14.01.09

Top four teams qualify for NZFC Playoffs 

Golden Boot Leaders

6 – Jason Hayne (Manawatu) 

5 – Luis Corrales (Wellington)

4 – Stu Hogg (Waikato)

4 – Paul Urlovic (Auckland)

4 – Graham Fyfe (Hawke’s Bay)

3 – Allan Pearce (Waitakere) 

3 – Seule Soromon (Hawke’s Bay)

3 – Keryn Jordan (Auckland)

3 – Daniel Koprivcic (Waitakere)