All eyes on top four as play-off race takes shape
Thursday, February 04, 2010
- Waikato FC have hit the heady heights of seventh place since the signing for former All White Jeff Campbell but the Che Bunce-coached side will have their work cut out when they entertain an unbeaten Auckland City at Centennial Park on Sunday. The defending champions have won seven consecutive NZFC matches against Waikato FC and will be red hot favourites to continue that run unless the home side can pull off a major upset. Waikato FC have won two on the trot and will be confident ahead of a vital fixture for both sides.
- Otago United have defied the critics and mounted a serious NZFC play-off challenge but they will have to be at their best when they visit Waitakere United if they want to push on for second spot. Waitakere have a seven match winning streak at home to Otago and will be anxious to extend that to eight if they want to reel in arch-rivals Auckland City. Otago will be far from a pushover after they established a four point lead over the chasing pack with last week’s impressive 3-1 win over Team Wellington.
- YoungHeart Manawatu made a blistering start to their campaign with a 4-0 win at Team Wellington but that form looks a distant memory after four defeats on the trot that included an astonishing 3-2 loss to Waikato FC last week. Canterbury had a week off after their match with Hawke’s Bay United was washed out and the Dragons will have their eye on a victory that will get their top four aspirations back on track.
- Two away matches, two defeats for fourth placed Team Wellington in recent times mean that a home match with Hawke’s Bay United could be just the tonic to reinvigorate their NZFC campaign, with the home side anxious to regain lost ground on third placed Otago United. It’s a must-win match for bottom placed Hawke’s Bay United if they want to keep their play-off hopes alive. Victory in the capital will at least lift the visitors into seventh place if results go their way.
Visit www.nzfc.co.nz for full coverage
Team Wellington v Hawke’s Bay United
Newtown Park, Wellington
Sunday 7 February, 2010
Kickoff: 2.00pm
Referee: Mirko Benischke
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Whitehead
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Lount
Fourth Official: Jamie Cross
Head to Head: Played 15, Wellington 9 wins, Hawke’s Bay 2 wins, 4 draws
Last result: Hawke’s Bay United 0, Team Wellington 2 (Darren Cheriton, Richard McLay).
Team Wellington (WWWLL)
The players: James McPeake (injured), Bryan Little (injured), Richard McLay (injured), Darren Cheriton and Ben Fredrickson are drafted into the squad. Greg Draper is set for his 25th NZFC career appearance.
The vital statistics: Team Wellington has won five of its past six NZFC encounters at home to the Bay but would rather forget last season’s 5-2 defeat. Wellington’s biggest win in this fixture was a 7-0 effort back in 2007.
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, 15- Darren Cheriton, 17- Garry McDermott, 18- Trent Watson, 19- Andy Barron, 21- Ben Fredrickson, 22- Michael Fifii, 23- Jamie McKay (GK), 25- Dan Keat, 26- Roddy Brown – one to be omitted.
Hawke’s Bay United (LDLWL)
The players: Chris Greatholder faces a late fitness test so Willie Stanger is drafted into the squad as cover.
The vital statistics: Hawke’s Bay United has only beaten Wellington twice previously and on both occasions it was in the capital.
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, 14- Willie Stanger, 16- Marama Thompson, 17- George Barbarouses, 18- Andrew Bevin, 21- Stuart Ferguson, 23- Richard Gillespie (GK), 24- Fergus Neil.
Waikato FC v Auckland City
Centennial Park, Ngaruawahia
Sunday 7 February, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Antony Riley
Assistant Referee 1: Jonathon Price
Assistant Referee 2: Blair McConnell
Fourth Official: Chris Kerr
Head to Head: Played 15, Waikato 3 wins, Auckland 10 wins, 2 draws
Last result: Auckland City 5 (Matt Williams, Ki-Hyung Lee, Daniel Koprivcic, Grant Young, Alex Feneridis), Waikato FC 0.
Waikato FC (LLLWW)
The players: Joe Simpkins will make his 49th NZFC career appearance if selected. Jeff Campbell will make his 47th NZFC career appearance. Shaun van Rooyen returns to the squad after completing his suspension.
The vital statistics: Waikato FC have lost seven consecutive NZFC matches against Auckland City. Waikato FC’s last home win over Auckland City was a 1-0 triumph in 2005-06 courtesy of a 90th minute winner from Jendrich Hahn.
Squad list: 1- Alex Carr (GK), 2- Che Bunce, 3- Richard Beard, 4- Charlie Hoyle, 5- Joe Simpkins, 6- Jason Chewins, 8- David Samson, 10- Mike Gwyther, 13- Shaun van Rooyen, 14- Dan Peat, 16- Paul Stewart, 17- Mark Jones, 19- Jeff Campbell, 23- Alex Barlow, 24- Mauri Wasi, 26- Scott Robinson (GK)
Auckland City (WWWWD)
The players: Grant Young will make his 97th NZFC career appearance if selected. Chad Coombes will make his 95th NZFC career appearance if selected. Keryn Jordan (knee) and Daniel Koprivcic (concussion) are the notable absentees from the squad.
The vital statistics: History favours Auckland City with eight wins in nine NZFC encounters with the host team. Auckland has conceded just one goal to Waikato FC in their last five NZFC showdowns.
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, 9- Paul Urlovic, 10- Grant Young, 15- Ivan Vicelich, 16- Jason Hayne, 17- Adam McGeorge, 18- Paul Gothard (GK), 20- Greg Uhlmann, 22- Adam Dickinson, 28- Daniel Morgan.
Canterbury United v YoungHeart Manawatu
English Park, Christchurch
Sunday 7 February, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh
Assistant Referee 1: Isaac Trevis
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cook
Fourth Official: Darren Sundborn
Head to Head: Played 15, Canterbury 2 wins, Manawatu 10 wins, 3 draws
Last result: YoungHeart Manawatu 0, Canterbury United Dragons 0
Canterbury United Dragons (DWLWL)
The players: Dan Terris will make his 85th NZFC career appearance if selected. The Canterbury squad is unchanged from the one selected for last week’s postponed fixture with Hawke’s Bay United.
The vital statistics: Canterbury United has never beaten Manawatu at home in the NZFC. Canterbury’s only victories in this fixture came away from home in 2005 and 2008. The home team’s best results versus Manawatu were draws (0-0 and 1-1) recorded in 2004-05 season.
Squad List: 1- Jordan Buchanan (GK), 2- Dan Terris, 3- Jeremy Wild, 4- Gareth Rowe, 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.
YoungHeart Manawatu (WLLLL)
The players: Nathan Cooksley, Jimmy Haidakis and Daniel Benson are dropped from the squad and in come Samoa international Desmond Fa’aiuaso and former All White Raffaele de Gregorio. Campbell Banks will make his 30th NZFC career appearance if selected.
The vital statistics: Manawatu has an unbeaten record to protect in Christchurch with five wins and two draws from seven NZFC visits to Dragons homeland.
Squad list: 1- Ross Nicholson (GK), 2- Nobuyishi Ishi, 4- Colin Falvey, 6- Matt Kennedy, 9- Seule Soromon, 10- Adam Cowan, 11- Scott Robson, 12- Michael Crisford, 14- Marco Paracchini, 15- Caleb Duncan, 16- Raffaele de Gregorio, 17- Desmond Fa’aiuaso, 18- Takayuki Omi, 19- Matt Borren (GK), 21- Cory Chettleburgh, 23- Campbell Banks.
Waitakere United v Otago United
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai
Sunday 7 February, 2010
Kickoff: 2pm
Referee: Mike Hester
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Hendrik Hintz
Assistant Referee 2: Anna-Marie Keighley
Fourth Official: Kevin Stoltenkamp
Head to Head: Played 14, Waitakere 11 wins, Otago 1 win, 2 draws
Last result: Otago United 1 (Dave Dugdale), Waitakere United 2 (Benjamin Totori, Brent Fisher)
Waitakere United (WWLWD)
The players: Allan Pearce will make his 80th NZFC career appearance if selected. Pearce has scored 34 NZFC career goals. Neil Sykes will make his 92nd NZFC career appearance if selected. Benjamin Totori is not included in the squad.
The vital statistics: It’s the perfect seven wins from seven NZFC home matches for Waitakere against Otago United. Waitakere United’s biggest NZFC win over Otago United was an 8-0 win in the 2006-07 season.
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, 16- Neil Emblen, 17- Jake Butler, 18- Zane Sole, 19- Dakota Lucas, 20- Ryan de Vries, 21- Jack Pelter, 22- Liam Little (GK).
Otago United (LWLWW)
The players: Andy Coburn and Robbie Deeley are suspended. James Reichwin is left out of the squad. Stu Kelly will make his 80th NZFC career appearance; the Scot has 20 NZFC career goals to his name. Tom Connor will make his 25th NZFC career appearance if selected.
The vital statistics: History is against Otago United yet again with the southerners never achieving anything better than a 2-1 defeat in the 2005-06 season.
Squad List: 1- James Waggett (GK), 2- Mike Abbott, 3- Tristan Prattley, 4- Dave Shaw, 5- Mike Smith, 6- Tom Sadd, 8- Stu Kelly, 9- Ryan Faichnie, 10- Dave Dugdale, 13- Brian Brown (GK), 14- Dan Ede, 15- Tom Connor, 16- Morgan Day, 17- Tim Horner, 18- Nathan Knox, 19- Ben Light, 20- Rhys Henderson, 21- Harley Rodeka – three to be omitted.
Facts and Figures
Standings
Name | P | W | D | L | For | Ag | GD | Pts |
Auckland City | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 15 | 20 |
Waitakere United | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 20 |
Otago United | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 16 |
Team Wellington | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 17 | -4 | 12 |
Canterbury United | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
YoungHeart Manawatu | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 10 |
Waikato FC | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 22 | -10 | 9 |
Hawke’s Bay United | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
Golden Boot Leaders
8- 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)
3- Dave DUGDALE (Otago United)
Print this Article
