Defence key for Wairarapa Utd

The D-word could be the deciding factor in the Chatham Cup quarter-final football match between Wairarapa United and Waitakere City at Carterton's Howard Booth Park on Sunday.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is confident of his squad making a bold showing with the one proviso, their discipline is up to scratch.
"Frankly, I think we just might have the edge if the focus is spot on," Keinzley said. "We have to work as a unit, stay composed and keep mistakes to a minimum. Do all that and the result will take care of itself."
Keinzley readily concedes that Wairarapa United's discipline has not always been what it should be in 2011 with players occasionally having on-field spats with each other and allowing themselves to be "wound up" by perceived dubious refereeing decisions.
"It's the sort of thing which happens in most sports from time to time and, more often than not, it produces a poor outcome."
Keinzley knows Waitakere City will place the emphasis on exposing any defensive deficiencies. He travelled north to watch the visitors play last weekend and, while they lost 2-1 to East Coast Bays in a Northern Premier League match, he was impressed with the speed of their strikers.
"They are fast and their tactics are obviously built around using that speed to full advantage. They will look to run at us all game and we have to be ready for that."
Keinzley said the onus would be on defenders such as Waisake Sabatu, James Oxtoby, Scott Robson, Nathan Cooksley and Pablo Moya to close down the Waitakere City front runners by restricting their space and time on the ball.
"We have to be in their faces and make it hard for them to string even a few passes together, we have to get in their minds as often as we can. The more frustration we can create in their ranks the better."
The Wairarapa United coach also wants his players to impose themselves on Waitakere City in an attacking sense too and, to that end, is giving serious consideration to having Pita Rabo play up front with the side's most lethal finisher, Seule Soromon.
For most of this season, Rabo has been in the midfield but Keinzley is aware of the affinity he has with Soromon and is tempted to move him into the joint striker role for Sunday's match.
"The two of them together are capable of making something out of nothing, they seem to know instinctively what the other is going to do. It could be worth a look. It's certainly worth thinking about."
In Wairarapa United's favour, too, is that, apart from Rabo and Soromon, they have several potential goal scorers in their line-up, including skipper Adam Cowan, Dale Higham, Carl Shailer and Campbell Banks, and Keinzley will be encouraging them to have a "decent crack" when within scoring range.
"We're due a game where we make the most of our scoring chances, hopefully this will be it."
Keinzley praised Carterton District Council chief executive Colin Wright for his support in having the playing conditions at Howard Booth Park enhanced for Sunday.
"There was quite of bit of work needing to be done and he (Wright) has gone out of his way to help us. It's great to know there are some council officers about who will do that."
With arrangements made to add temporary seating for up to 700 people, Keinzley is keeping his fingers crossed that the forecast wet weather won't stop the sporting fraternity turning out in big numbers.
"Games like this often come down to the last 20 minutes and that's when crowd support can really lift a team to produce a big finish," he said. "The more noise people make in getting behind our players the better the chance of victory. We want everybody there to be in good voice."
The Wairarapa United starting line-up for Sunday's match (kick off 2pm) is:
Matt Borren, Waisake Sabatu, James Oxtoby, Scott Robson, Pablo Moya, Adam Cowan, Dale Higham, Carl Shailer, Nathan Cooksley, Pita Rabo, Seule Soromon.