Spierling to captain in 150th

MAJOR MILESTONE: Aaron Spierling (left) is playing some of the best football of his career.PHOTO/FILE

It will be a notable occasion for Aaron Spierling on two counts when Wairarapa United meets Upper Hutt City in a Central League football match at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton on Sunday.

Not only will midfielder Spierling be making his 150th appearance for Wairarapa United's premier side, but he has been handed the captaincy in the absence of usual skipper Adam Cowan, who is taking a month away from the game.

Coach Phil Keinzley is adamant, however, Spierling hasn't been promoted to the leadership role simply because he will be celebrating a significant milestone.

"No way. Sentiment hasn't really come into it," he said. "Obviously it's great for Aaron to bring up 150 games, but he's got the captaincy because of the respect he has within the team, on and off the field. And, quite honestly, he's probably playing the best football of his career right now. He's one of the most consistent players we've got."

Spierling's 150th is just one reason why the Wairarapa football fraternity should turn out in their droves to watch Sunday's action. The fact the Eva Francis Memorial Trophy will be on the line for the first time will also be an attraction as will the first appearance on Wairarapa turf of the two latest acquisitions to the Wairarapa United squad, Hamish Watson and Tom Biss, both of whom have played for the Phoenix in the A-League.

Striker Watson was a revelation in the 3-1 win over Western Suburbs in Wellington last weekend. His debut game for his new club was only three minutes old when he got on the scoresheet and he added a second goal not long after. Not only was it his goal-scoring capabilities that came to the fore, but his willingness to compete for possession, both in the air and on the ground.

Biss also made his WU debut against Western Suburbs and, while he wasn't as prominent as Watson, he still impressed Keinzley with his positional play and distribution skills. Unfortunately, however, he was forced to leave the field with an ankle injury in the second spell and he will start on the reserve bench on Sunday. He will be given some playing time though, something necessary for him to fulfil requirements for the Chatham Cup, which kicks off the following weekend.

For in-form midfielder Nick Roydhouse, the Upper Hutt match will be his last for WU this season as he is returning to the United States. His huge workrate on attack and defence will be sorely missed; a point certainly not lost on Keinzley. "Nick has been amazing, he came to us having played no serious football for a couple of years and, straightaway, had a big influence on how we performed. He's averaging a goal a game yet he's never played up front ... that's how competitive he is."

Of all the selections in the Wairarapa United starting line-up for Sunday perhaps the most interesting is that of youngster Chris Cox, who comes in for Cowan as part of the defence. Cox has been in fine form for the Wairarapa United seconds in Capital second division play and now gets the chance to show he can foot it at the higher level.

With Wairarapa United sitting fourth on the Central League table and Upper Hutt languishing at the bottom anything less than a comfortable Wairarapa United win would rate as a surprise, but Keinzley isn't about to count his chickens as far as the end result is concerned.

"They (Upper Hutt) have some very good players and we've slipped up often enough in the past against the bottom teams not to take anything for granted."

A likely Wairarapa United starting line-up is: Matt Borren, Carl Shailer, Waisake Sabatu, Josh Margetts, Chris Cox, Nathan Cooksley, Nick Roydhouse, Aaron Spierling, Omar Guardiola, Hamish Watson, Seule Soromon.

Kick-off is 2pm.