Auckland, Waitakere hurtle toward derby day collision
Thursday, January 28, 2010
- The fiercest rivalry in the NZFC will be renewed at Fred Taylor Park this Saturday as old foes Waitakere United host unbeaten Auckland City in a top of the table derby clash. Waitakere were edged 2-1 at Kiwitea Street in Week 5 and will be desperate for a win that will hand them a psychological boost as the season enters a crucial juncture. Auckland City – level on points with Waitakere but with two games in hand – can afford a slip-up but will be in no mood to lose the momentum they have built up since the start of the season.
- YoungHeart Manawatu returns to Memorial Park hoping for a return to winning ways after three consecutive losses. Manawatu is boosted by the return of Colin Falvey but will be without Scott Robson, who celebrated his 50th NZFC career appearance against Team Wellington two weeks ago. Ironically, Manawatu face a Waikato FC side buoyed by its first win in six matches, making the visitors the form team. The signing of former All White Jeff Campbell sees the Waikato squad with a spring in its step and they could yet have a say in the shape of the top four play-off berths.
- Third placed Otago United are on a high after last week’s 1-0 win over Hawke’s Bay United but will be cautious of a Team Wellington that was on a roll up until their loss to Auckland City on Sunday. The eye-catching form of Greg Draper could hand Wellington an edge with the former Phoenix front man rattling in six goals in the last three NZFC games. Victory for Otago - and wins for Canterbury and Waikato - could see Malcolm Fleming’s side consolidate their place in the play-offs and open up a sizeable gap between themselves and the also-rans. Dave Shaw and Harley Rodeka are on standby for Otago as the home side sweat on the fitness of Dan Ede and Nathan Knox.
- Canterbury got a rude shock in Ngaruawahia last week and will be gunning for a quick return to form when they visit Hawke’s Bay United, Both teams meet off the back of disappointing results with the home side desperate to hang onto their flickering play-off hopes. Jonathon Taylor returns from suspension to help boost Bay’s fortunes while the experienced Gareth Rowe – a former Hawke’s Bay favourite – misses out on an emotional homecoming after being omitted from the squad. Defeat for seventh placed Hawke’s Bay could cut them adrift from play-off contention while a Canterbury win will keep them firmly in the race for a top four slot.
- The Lion Foundation Men’s National Youth League continues with last season’s finalists Waitakere United and Auckland City facing off at Fred Taylor Park at 5pm. Fans will be eager to witness a repeat of the goal fest served up at Trust Stadium last March when Auckland lifted the title with a 6-4 extra time victory. Hawke’s Bay United host Auckland-Manukau at Park Island on Sunday at 11.00am with the home side facing an opponent fresh from an opening day 3-1 win over Waikato FC. Waikato FC receives the bye for round two.
Waitakere United v Auckland City
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai
Saturday 30 January, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Kevin Stoltenkamp
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Hendrik Hintz
Assistant Referee 2: Hossam Khaled
Fourth Official: Mirko Benischke
Head to head: Played 17, Waitakere 5 wins, Auckland 10 wins, two draws.
Last result: Auckland City 2 (Ivan Vicelich, Grant Young), Waitakere United 1 (Jason Rowley) – Week 5
Waitakere United (WDWLW)
The players: Roy Krishna and Benjamin Totori return from suspension. Dimas da Silva, Luke Adams and Jason Hicks are withdrawn. If selected, Neil Sykes will make his 91st NZFC career appearance. If selected, Benjamin Totori will make his 75th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Waitakere United’s last regular season NZFC home defeat to Auckland City was a 2-1 loss in the 2005-06 season. Waitakere are unbeaten in their last four regular season home encounters with the visitors.
Squad List: 1- Danny Robinson (GK), 2- Jason Rowley, 3- Aaron Scott, 4- Tim Myers, 7- Martin Bullock, 8- Brent Fisher, 10- Allan Pearce, 11- Neil Sykes, 12- Roy Krishna, 15- Craig Wylie, 16- Neil Emblen, 17- Jake Butler ©, 18- Zane Sole, 19- Dakota Lucas, 20- Ryan de Vries, 21- Jack Pelter, 22- Liam Little (GK) – two to be omitted.
Auckland City (WWWWW)
The players: Paul Urlovic, Riki van Steeden, Alex Feneridis, Keryn Jordan all injured. Daniel Morgan is drafted into the squad. If selected, Chad Coombes will make his 94th NZFC career appearance. If selected, Grant Young will make his 96th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Auckland City has won just one of its last seven regular season NZFC encounters with Waitakere United.
Squad List: 1- Jacob Spoonley (GK), 3- Ian Hogg, 4- Sam Campbell, 5- Matt Williams, 6- Ki-Hyung Lee, 7- James Pritchett, 8- Chad Coombes, 10- Grant Young, 11- Daniel Koprivcic, 15- Ivan Vicelich, 16- Jason Hayne, 17- Adam McGeorge, 18- Paul Gothard (GK), 20- Greg Uhlmann, 22- Adam Dickinson, 28- Daniel Morgan.
Otago United v Team Wellington
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Saturday 31 January, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Matt Conger
Assistant Referee 1: Brent Best
Assistant Referee 2: Kenny Evans
Fourth Official: Dave Langley
Head to Head: Played 16, Otago 2 wins, Wellington 9 wins, 5 draws
Last result: Team Wellington 0, Otago United 2 (Dan Ede, Dave Dugdale) – Week 5
Otago United (WLWLW)
The players: Otago United will sweat on the fitness of Dan Ede and Nathan Knox with Harley Rodeka and Dave Shaw put on standby. If selected, Ryan Faichnie will make his 45th NZFC career appearance. If selected, Andy Coburn will make his 90th NZFC career appearance. If selected, Robbie Deeley will make his 40th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Otago United has won just one of its last 12 NZFC matches with Team Wellington. The last time Otago United won a home match with Team Wellington was a solitary 2-1 success over five years ago.
Squad List: 1- James Waggett (GK), 2- Mike Abbot, 3- Tristan Prattley, 4- Dave Shaw, 5- Rhys Henderson, 6- Tom Sadd, 7- Robbie Deeley, 8- Stu Kelly, 9- Ryan Faichnie, 10- Dave Dugdale, 11- Andy Coburn, 12- James Reichwin, 13- Brian Brown (GK), 15- Tom Connor, 16- Morgan Day, 17- Tim Horner, 18- Nathan Knox, 21- Harley Rodeka – two to be omitted.
Team Wellington (LWWWL)
The players: If selected, Chris Davies will make his 35th NZFC career appearance. If selected, Bryan Little will make his 87th NZFC career appearance. Andy Barron will reach his 60th NZFC career appearance, Chris Bale his 47th NZFC career appearance and James Bannatyne his 48th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Team Wellington has won 5, drawn 1 and lost 1 in their seven NZFC visits to Dunedin. Wellington has scored one 5-1 (2006-07) and two 5-0 victories (2004-05 and 2007-08) in their past visits south.
Squad list: 1- James Bannatyne (GK), 2- Adam Birch, 3- Jamie Duncan, 4- Chris Bale, 5- Michael Winsauer, 6- Chris Davies, 7- Cole Peverley, 9- Greg Draper, 12- Bryan Little, 17- Garry McDermott, 18- Trent Watson, 20- Richard McLay, 22- Michael Fifii, 23- James McPeake (GK), 25- Dan Keat, 26- Roddy Brown.
YoungHeart Manawatu v Waikato FC
Memorial Park, Palmerston North
Sunday 31 January, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Chris Kerr
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Whitehead
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Linney
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Waugh
Head to Head: Played 15, Manawatu 9 wins, Waikato 5 wins and 1 draw
Last result: Waikato FC 1 (Maurie Wasi), YoungHeart Manawatu 2 (Campbell Banks, Seule Soromon) – Week 5
YoungHeart Manawatu (DWLLL)
The players: Scott Robson, Brook Tozer and Desmond Fa’aiuaso are out. Colin Falvey returns from suspension. Caleb Duncan is also drafted into the squad. If selected, Ross Nicholson will make his 92nd NZFC career appearance. If selected, Colin Falvey will make his 20th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Manawatu has a played 7, won 4, drawn 0 and lost 3 NZFC home record versus the visitors this weekend.
Squad List: 1- Ross Nicholson (GK), 2- Nobuyoshi Ishi, 3- Matt Smith, 4- Colin Falvey, 6- Matt Kennedy, 8- Nathan Cooksley, 9- Seule Soromon, 10- Adam Cowan ©, 14- Marco Paracchini, 15- Caleb Duncan, 16- Raffaele de Gregorio, 19- Matt Borren (GK), 20- Jimmy Haidakis, 21- Cory Chettleburgh, 22- Daniel Benson, 23- Campbell Banks.
Waikato FC (LLLLW)
The players: Jason Chewins has recovered from illness while David Samson and Dan Peat return to the squad after suspension. Skipper Shaun van Rooyen is suspended after he was sent off during the win over Canterbury United last week. Adam Wallis and Liam Phillips are omitted from the squad.
The vital statistics: Waikato FC’s last win over Manawatu in Palmerston North was a 1-0 victory in the 2007-08 season thanks to a Michael Gwyther goal.
Squad list: 1- Alex Carr (GK), 2- Che Bunce, 3- Richard Beard, 4- Charlie Hoyle, 6- Jason Chewins, 8- David Samson, 10- Mike Gwyther, 14- Dan Peat, 16- Paul Stewart, 17- Mark Jones, 19- Jeff Campbell, 23- Alex Barlow, 24- Maurie Wasi, 26- Scott Robinson (GK).
Hawke’s Bay United v Canterbury United Dragons
Park Island, Napier
Sunday 31 January, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Antony Riley
Assistant Referee 1: C-D Burrows
Assistant Referee 2: Gareth Sheehan
Fourth Official: Alan Pedley
Head to Head: Played 15, Hawke’s Bay 6 wins, Canterbury 8 wins, 1 draw
Last result: Canterbury United 1 (Tom Lancaster), Hawke’s Bay United 1 (Joachim Rande) – Week 5
Hawke’s Bay United (LDLWL)
The players: Chris Greatholder will make his 30th NZFC career appearance, if selected. Jonathon Taylor returns from suspension. Willie Stanger is removed from the squad. Bill Robertson is out for the rest of the season with a fractured leg and dislocated ankle).
The vital statistics: Hawke’s Bay hold a three wins, four losses, NZFC home record versus Canterbury United. The last time the two teams met at Park Island, the visitors prevailed 2-1 (2008-09 season).
Squad list: 1- Shaun Peta (GK), 2- Sam Halligan, 3- Phil Clarke, 4- Chris Greatholder, 6- Jonathon Taylor, 7- Matt Hastings, 8- Leon Birnie, 10- Joachim Rande, 11- Andrew Abba, 12- Sam Jacob, 16- Marama Thompson, 17- George Barbarouses, 18- Andrew Bevin, 21- Stuart Ferguson, 23- Richard Gillespie (GK), 24- Fergus Neil.
Canterbury United Dragons (DWLWL)
The players: Gareth Rowe is omitted and Nick Wortelboer is drafted in as a replacement. If selected, Dan Terris will make his 85th NZFC career appearance. Andy Pitman will make his 64th NZFC career appearance and Glen Collins his 68th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Canterbury won all three of its NZFC matches with Hawke’s Bay in the 2005-06 season which included two victories at Park Island. In 2007-08 season, Canterbury lost all three of its NZFC matches with the same opponent.
Squad list: 1- Jordan Buchanan (GK), 2- Dan Terris, 3- Jeremy Wild, 5- Matt Boyd, 6- Andy Pitman, 7- Aaron Clapham, 9- Russell Kamo, 11- Tom Lancaster, 12- Nick Wortelboer, 15- Paul Dirou, 16- Daniel Burns, 17- Glen Collins, 18- Tom Batty (GK), 19- Darren Overton, 23- Jordan Swaney, 24- Sam Miles.
Facts and Figures
Standings
Name | P | W | D | L | For | Ag | GD | Pts |
Auckland City | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 19 |
Waitakere United | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 19 |
Otago United | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 13 |
Team Wellington | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 12 |
Canterbury United | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
YoungHeart Manawatu | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 10 |
Hawke’s Bay United | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
Waikato FC | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 6 |
Golden Boot Leaders
7- Seule SOROMON (YoungHeart Manawatu)
6- Leon BIRNIE (Hawke’s Bay United)
6- Greg DRAPER (Team Wellington)
5- Brent FISHER (Waitakere United)
5- Grant YOUNG (Auckland City)
3- Andrew ABBA (Hawke’s Bay United)
3- Dan PEAT (Waikato FC)
3- Dan EDE (Otago United)
3- Matt WILLIAMS (Auckland City)
3- Tom LANCASTER (Canterbury United)
3- Russell KAMO (Canterbury United)
Visit www.nzfc.co.nz for full previews, reviews and live in-game updates from all NZFC matches.
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