Rangers no easy-beats

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task facing his side in their crucial Capital Soccer division one men's match at Howard Booth Park, Carterton tomorrow. Victory over Miramar Rangers would go a long way towards Wairarapa United not only winning the competition, but also automatic promotion to the premier division in 2006 - but Keinzley knows it won't come without a struggle. In fact, if omens count for anything Wairarapa United could be in trouble. They went into their first round match against Miramar undefeated and were on the end of the beating. Missing from the Wairarapa United line-up that day were two of their key players, Murray Burling and Andy Taylor, and they are faced with a similar situation this time round. Prolific goal scorer Pita Rabo has been suspended after being carded in his side's hard-fought win over Kapiti Coast United last weekend and two other regulars, Troy Burling and Andy Robertson, are sidelined with injury. "It's uncanny how things have gone the way pretty much the same way as last time?.we're just hoping the result will be a lot different," Keinzley said The Wairarapa United coach is confident that even without Rabo, Burling and Robertson he has a squad capable of producing an important success but he admits to being worried about their depth should injuries occur. "The team which starts the game will be strong enough to come up with a win but we can't really afford injuries. Get them and we could be struggling,' he said. Keinzley is sure too that the importance of the game won't see his side going into their shell from a tactical viewpoint. He has been pleased with the way they have handled pressure in the past and sees no reason why things should change in that regard. "We'll just be going out there determined to play our own style of soccer and hopefully the result will take care of itself," he said. Keinzley is not anticipating anything flash from Miramar, whose results this season have included seven draws, easily the most in the second division series. He described Miramar as a well-organised team with a good mix of youth and experience and expects them to be enthusiastic about the prospect of knocking over the competition leaders for a second time. "There's no real pressure on them?.it's all on us," Keinzley said. "They can just go out and there and play and not worry about what the scoreboard says." Keinzley is hopeful that now with Wairarapa-Bush club rugby at an end some supporters of that code will join what should be a good-sised crowd at Howard Booth Park. "We want the locals to get right behind us?that can mean a lot in a game like this," he said. Kick off is at 2.30pm.