Football: Tinsley back for Wellington playoff

Ryan Tinsley is back for Hawke's Bay United. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

THE ODDS are stacked against them but Hawke's Bay United travel to Wellington for the ASB Premiership second leg playoff with a pivotal midfielder back in action and Team Wellington's fears of being their own worst enemy.

The Bay welcome back Ryan Tinsley at David Farrington Park tomorrow, after he missed out on the heartbreaking 1-2 defeat at Park Island last week due to suspension. Bay now need to win 2-0 or better to advance to the final, with away goals counting.

Tinsley has scored eight times this season, establishing a fruitful partnership with Sean Lovemore, who has hit the back of the net 10 times. Naturally, coach Brett Angell is delighted to have the Englishman back.

"He is a pretty influential player so his presence will be much needed in the side," he said. "We're a stronger group with Ryan and with him coming back it will strengthen us overall."

Angell feels his side needs to be much sharper early on in the game but while it is imperative that they score goals, he is not willing to throw caution to the wind and allow gaps to develop at the back.

Despite being underdogs after the first leg, Angell is confident they can get the result required.

"It is [a big ask] but likewise we are capable of scoring two or more away from home. It is just a question of whether we can keep the door closed at the other end as Wellington are a good team.

"Things happen in such all-or-nothing games that wouldn't happen in regular season matches."

Angell says he does have worries over a couple of players, whom he declined to name, who have niggles and are not 100 per cent. However, he is confident they will be both be in the team for Sunday.

After such a result away from home, there is a danger Team Wellington's minds could be already drifting toward the Grand Final, and who they'll meet there, a danger that captain Bill Robertson is all too aware of, and has been confronting at training sessions.

"That's certainly something we've spoken about, but we must make sure that we perform to our best. If complacency slips in then that could be the undoing of us and they could well get a result.

"So, we've spoken about that and will continue to remind ourselves that the tie is far from over. Hawke's Bay are a dangerous side and we need to keep our standards pretty high.

"But confidence is high, we've trained well and got a great result last week so we go into this game confident that we can get the job done."

Robertson also said veteran Adam Cowan will be back in the fold after missing the first leg due to a wedding.

Team Wellington: 1. Michael O'Keefe (GK), 4. Tyler Lissette, 5. Bill Robertson (co-c), 6. Tim Myers, 7. Henry Fa'arodo, 8. Cole Pevereley, 9. Jarrod Smith, 11. Michael Gwyther, 12. Ian Hogg, 13 Alex Feneridis, 15. Luis Corrales, 16. Patrick Fleming, 18. Mickael Partodikromo, 19. Cory Chettleburgh, 21. Paul Ifill, 22. Daniel Clarke (RGK).

Coach: Matt Calcott.

Hawke's Bay Utd: 1. Joshua Hill (GK), 2. Wade Randle, 4. Ross Haviland (c), 5. Finlay Milne, 6. Ryan Tinsley, 7. Troy Pennycooke-Morgan, 8. Alex Palezevic, 9. Sean Lovemore, 10. Viktor Lekaj, 11. Mario Barcia, 12. Saul Halpin, 14. Rudi Bauerfeind, 16. Leon Birnie, 18. Billy Scott, 19. Facundo Barbero, 21. Sean Liddicoat, 26. Kyle Baxter (RGK).

Coach: Brett Angell. Ast coach: Leon Birnie.