Composure will be a key word for Trust House Wairarapa United in their central league soccer match with defending champions Miramar Rangers at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval, Masterton, tomorrow afternoon.
Up against a side full of players who have won national or inter-provincial selection the importance of Wairarapa United remaining cool
under pressure will be crucial if they are to make a close game of it.
"They will be coming at us from all angles and we will have to be organised and structured to cope with the pace and skills they have," Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said. "If we don't keep our composure we will very probably be on the end of a hiding."
Keinzley believes it important too that Wairarapa United are consistently accurate with their passing, especially in midfield, with Miramar Rangers being a team who are "ultra-dangerous" on the counter attack.
"We need to frustrate them by keeping the ball for long periods, the last thing we want is for them to dominate possession," he said. "Again it comes down to staying composed and not being hurried into doing anything rash. The looser we get the easier it will be for them."
Keinzley is excited though at the prospect of Wairarapa United being able to test their own attacking capabilities against opposition of the highest calibre, and no wonder when you have the inventiveness and flair of players like Pita Rabo, Seule Soromon and Adam Cowan to call on.
"Scoring goals has seldom been a problem for us and there's no reason why tomorrow should be any different," he said, noting that Miramar Rangers had let in three goals in their narrow win over Taranaki United (which Wairarapa United hosts on Easter Monday) last weekend. "Maybe defence is their weakness, that's something we have to put to the test."
Keinzley is also hoping the Easter Friday date will see a big crowd at the Park Oval and that they will be in good voice too.
"The guys always respond positively when they know they have the crowd behind them, the more they get involved in the game the better for us."
THE WAIRARAPA UNITED TEAM FOR TOMORROW IS: Sacha Nathu, Carl Shailer, James Oxtoby, Waisake Sabutu, Sakeo Valevou, Aaron Spierling, Pita Rabo, Miriek Tvaroh, Adam Cowan, Paul Gregory, Seule Soromon. Substitutes: Andy Robertson, Kote Maeno, Chris Kirkham, Nick Keinzley, Joel Macklin.
