Grim defence saves United

Wairarapa United showed commendable resolve in beating Napier City Rovers 2-1 in their central league football match played in Napier on Sunday.
Up against an an in-form NCR side which, like themselves, had reached the last 16 of the Chatham Cup knockout competition the previous weekend, Wairarapa United had to withstand periods of heavy pressure from the home side and came through with flying colours.
It was, in fact, NCR who called the tune in the opening stanzas and they came close to scoring what would have been a memorable goal when a clearing kick from their goalkeeper from deep inside his own territory - and helped by a following wind - was tipped over the crossbar by Wairarapa United 'keeper Matt Borren.
Soon afterwards, however, the home team did hit the front with a well-taken goal but Wairarapa United struck back when Dale Higham was illegally brought down in the penalty box and a penalty was awarded. Adam Cowan made no mistake and it was 1-1.
Three minutes later and Wairarapa United had the lead. They forced a corner and fullback Waisake Sabatu leapt high to head the ball into the net. Wairarapa United 2, Napier City Rovers 1.
The remainder of the first half saw both teams create scoring opportunities but fail to finish them off, more through the solidness of the defence than anything else, and it was still very much anybody's game going into the second spell.
The message from Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley during the interval was based around his side protecting their lead rather than going all out to increase it.
"Basically we had to defend like hell ... we knew they would be throwing the kitchen sink at us and we had to absorb the pressure, that was the number one objective,"Keinzley said.
Absorb the pressure Wairarapa United did and there was plenty of it with NCR once having the mortification of seeing the ball hitting the posts and rebounding back into play and then coming off second best in a one-on-one confrontation with Borren.
"We hung in there, we had some close shaves but we managed to get out of them,"Keinzley said. "It was nerve-wracking but we held on.".
At the forefront of the superb defensive effort was central fullback Scott Robson who consistently thwarted the NCR front runners with his solid tackling and clever intercepting of passes and just behind him were fellow fullbacks Waisake Sabatu and Pablo Moya and 'keeper Borren.
It wasn't all defence for Wairarapa United though. They also found time to mount some strong attacks of their own and there it was Seule Soromon and Dale Higham leading the way.
Sunday's victory moved Wairarapa United from fourth to third on the central league points table.
They now have 20, behind only Miramar Rangers (27) and Western Suburbs (22) and ahead of Olympic (18), Lower Hutt City (17), Napier City Rovers (16), Tawa (15), Petone (15), Maycenvale United (14) and Palmerston North Marist (7).
Despite his side basically being two wins and a draw behind Miramar Rangers, Keinzley still believes they are in with a chance of taking the league title with the one proviso, they can't afford to drop any more points. "We have to keep on winning, it's as simple as that," he said.
Wairarapa United's next assignment, however, is their Chatham Cup last 16 fixture against Wellington United in Wellington this coming Saturday and the good news is that apart from Nobuyishi Ishi, who has returned to Japan, they will be at full strength.
Both Cowan and Higham were sitting on four yellow cards going into the Napier City Rovers match but, fortunately, they kept the slate clean there and should be part of the starting line-up in a game which promises to be a battle royal.
Wellington United play a division below Wairarapa United at club level but their 5-0 thumping of Olympic in an earlier Cup match is evidence of their ability to upset higher-graded sides.
Meanwhile, Masterton Trevs Sports Athletic still leads the Wairarapa championship.
They have 28 points from nine wins and a draw in their 10 matches while Greytown White Swan and Carterton Skulls share second place with 24 points.
Then follow Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 21, Masterton McAuleys 19, Greytown A1 Homes 18, Douglas Villa Hasbeens 16, Greytown Turkey Red 13, Masterton-Gladstone Lions 12, Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 11, Carterton Redbacks 9, Masterton Pacific United 8, Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 6, Carterton Shoe Clinic Social 5, Masterton Farmlands Presidents 3 and Evergreens 2.
Saturday's results: Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 6, Carterton Skulls 1; Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 3, Greytown A1 Homes 1; Greytown White Swan 6, Carterton Shoe Clinic Social 0; Masterton McAuleys 3, Douglas Villa Laser Electrical 0; Masterton Trevs Sports Athletic 5, Masterton Farmlands Presidents 0; Masterton Pacific United 1, Masterton-Gladstone Lions 1; Douglas Villa Hasbeens 6, Evergreens 0.