It won't be the end of the world if Anderson Meats Wairarapa United lose their Capital Soccer premier division soccer match with Island Bay at Island Bay tomorrow.
After all Island Bay are one of the early favourites for competition honours, and Wairarapa United are pretty much the new boys on
the block, having been promoted from first division in 2005.,
That said, however, Wairarapa United are treating the match as one of their most important of the season as it will provide an early gauge as to their own chances of making a bold bid for the premier division title.
Coach Phil Keinzley believes his Wairarapa United squad only have to produce the quality of soccer, they did in the first half of their 3-0 win over Norths last weekend, for almost the entire match, to make Island Bay sit up and take notice.
But he is also aware that if they slacken off again to the degree they did in the second half against Norths, then they will very probably find themselves on the end of a decent beating.
"Norths simply didn't have the firepower to take advantage of our drop in standard, but you can bet Island Bay will punish us if it happens again," he said. "Teams like them generally capitalise on scoring opportunities?they don't give you a second chance."
The worry for Keinzley is that the Wairarapa United's lack match fitness will count heavily against them tomorrow, and to that end he is placing the emphasis on them playing the game at their own pace, rather than allowing Island Bay to call the tune in that respect.
He knows that if skilled attackers like Stanley Waita and Pita Rabo are put in prime goal scoring positions, they will very probably make the most of them, and he says patience will be the key to Wairarapa United achieving that objective.
"The longer the periods we are in possession the more chance we have to score, and obviously the less chance they have," Keinzley said. "We have to work hard at retaining the ball and keeping passing mistakes to an absolute minimum. And we have to be aggressive on defence, we have to cut their space down and make our tackles count."
