Soccer: Former winners have easy Cup path

Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Albany United should continue the success North Harbour clubs enjoy.Relishing the opportunity to play in the higher standard of the Northern Regional League, United Soccer 1 teams are poised to continue their bold Chatham Cup showing in this weekend's third round action.

Former cup winners East Coast Bays appear to have the easiest path to the last 16 with a home game against Auckland Grammar School.

Bays, a point clear of last year's beaten Chatham Cup finalists Three Kings United at the top of the premier league, can call on a wealth of experience against an AGS team who also lead their competition but will have to overcome the disadvantage of playing away from home and against a team who have lost only once in 16 league and cup fixtures this season.

Glenfield Rovers also have home advantage but will find Ellerslie a tougher prospect. Rovers have three teams below them in the premier league whereas Ellerslie have lost only once in the first division to trail leaders North Force by three points but have a game in hand.

In earlier cup outings, Ellerslie have won on the road against Ngongotaha, West Auckland and Western Springs scoring 14 goals while conceding just two.

Albany United are at home to struggling Hamilton Wanderers and should continue the success North Harbour clubs seem set to enjoy.

In an all-first division battle and again with the Shore club having home advantage, Birkenhead United entertain Tauranga City at Shepherds Park. The hosts, eyeing a premier league spot next season, should get home against Tauranga, who are only a place outside the bottom four.

Takapuna drew the home ally with Bay Olympic, who have former cup-winners Blockhouse Bay as part of their make-up. Bay Olympic, 12 points ahead of Takapuna in the league, should overcome the trip to win through to the last 16.

The remaining US 1 teams Forrest Hill Milford and Waitakere City were both drawn away.

Forrest Hill Milford are at Melville tomorrow in what promises to be one of the more keenly-fought ties.

There will be some interest in the Keith Hay Park clash between Three Kings and Eastern Suburbs - one of only a handful of former cup winners still alive.

Three Kings will start hot favourites against a Suburbs team who have won six and lost six of their 15 premier league outings. In their only cup outing this season, Suburbs saw off non-league Whakatane Town 8-0.

Former champions Napier City Rovers and Miramar Rangers have home advantage against Red Sox Manawatu (tomorrow) and Lower Hutt City (today) respectively and are expected to progress, while Palmerston North Marist, who lost 2-1 to Central in the 2005 final, will be continuing their bid in today's away game with Upper Hutt City.

New Plymouth Rangers are at home to Wellington United in the remaining Central League fixture.