Discipline vital against robust Island Bay defence

Little wonder Wairarapa United is wary of the threat posed them by Island Bay United in their Capital Soccer premier division match to be played at the Pugh Sports Bowl tomorrow.
While Island Bay United share fifth place with Wairarapa United on the competition table, it gives a somewhat distorted impression because they have actually played two more games than them their 2-1 win over third-placed Waterside-Karori last weekend makes impressive reading.
Wairarapa United won't need reminding either that the last time they met they had to work hard to share the spoils and it's no consolation to know that Island Bay United have been strengthened since then through the acquisition of a highly regarded Chilean midfielder. If that is not enough to have Wairarapa United totally focused, then there is also the issue of this being their last home game of the 2007 season, and they will want to give their growing band of supporters something to remember.
An encouraging sign for Wairarapa United is that team officials will have a full squad to select from and manager Phil Keinzley admits that has created a few headaches for them with most players in good form.
The probability though is that the starting line-up will replicate that which initially took the field in the 4-2 win over Lower Hutt City last weekend. That would mean leaving Andy Robertson at striker in partnership with Pita Rabo and continuing with Guiseppe Cugliari in midfield.
Rabo was in brilliant form in scoring all four of Wairarapa United's goals last weekend and along with Lai Gataurua and Petero Dauniseka he will be using tomorrow's game as a final hit-out before playing for the Fiji national side against the All Whites in Suva and Lautoka.
Goalkeeper Tony Jamieson is also about to leave for international duty with the Cook Island team which will contest the South Pacific tournament while one of the big success stories of this season's Wairarapa United squad, midfielder Merick Tvaroh, is heading home to the Czech Republic next week.
Happily, however, he will be back in the Wairarapa United colours in 2008, as will Rabo, Gataurua, Dauniseka and Jamieson.
Manager Keinzley said Wairarapa United's tactical approach tomorrow would revolve around staying structured and composed against an Island Bay United side noted for the robustness of their defence.
"They don't mind knocking you around a bit and it's important to keep calm and collected," he said. "Discipline is vital in a game like this."
If Wairarapa United can pick up the three points for a win tomorrow they will go into their last two matches of their premier division campaign with the knowledge that wins there would either take them to a clear second on the competition table, or sharing that spot with Tawa. The latter upset leaders Petone 1-0 last weekend but Petone had such an commanding lead in the championship that the defeat was of no consequence to them.
The current points table, remembering that all teams have played 17 matches except Wairarapa United which has had 15 and Waterside Karori and Upper Hutt City who both have had 16:- Petone 38, Tawa 31, Waterside Karori 30, Lower Hutt City 28, Wairarapa United 25, Island Bay United 25, Kapiti Coast United 23, Western Suburbs 21, Upper Hutt City 12, Brooklyn Northern United 3.
Meanwhile, the Wairarapa under-19 team will face stern opposition when they meet Wainuiomata in a second round Ivan England Trophy match at Wainuiomata on Sunday.
Both teams were good winners in first round matches, Wairarapa beating Porirua 4-2 and Wainuiomata beating what was considered to be a strong Marist line-up 8-4.
Wairarapa impressed coach Phil Keinzley with the way in which they lifted their effort in the second half of their game with Porirua but he says a more consistent performance will be required if they are to topple Wainuiomata as well.
"They (Wainuiomata) obviously know how to score goals so the big test for us will be to hold on to possession for long periods, we gave away too much ball last weekend and we can't afford to do that again."