Stellar record to be put under pressure

Lizzie Keedwell, left, a key figure in the Wairarapa United attack. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

The remarkable record Wairarapa United's premier women's football squad have amassed in Capital Football competition matches over the past three seasons will count for nothing when they meet Kapiti Coast United at Kapiti on Sunday.

If Wairarapa United happen to win or draw it will be the 40th consecutive time they have achieved that feat but coach Phil Keinzley is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task facing them on this occasion.

"It will be the toughest game we have had over all that time, there is no question of that," Keinzley said. "We'll need to be right at our best to pull this one off."

Wairarapa United and Kapiti Coast United sit at the top of the Capital premier division table with 14 points apiece although Wairarapa United have the number one spot on goal difference. Adding to the importance of Sunday's game is that both sides also have ambitions to earn promotion to the Central League next season and the result could play a huge part in whoever gets that opportunity.

Wairarapa United will be at full strength for only the second time this season and Keinzley says they will be looking to play a positive style of football through the likes of Michele Clarke, Lizzie Keedwell and Stephanie Andrews-Paul, which will place sustained pressure on the opposition defence while not jeopardising their own defensive structure at the same time.

"You always have to be aware of the dangers of the counter-attack, we certainly won't be taking any risks in that regard."

A likely Wairarapa United starting line-up is: Emma Kruszona, Bridget Milne, Sophie George, Angie Pope, Annie Jones, Poppy Libby, Meisha Boone, Chontelle Laban, Lizzie Keedwell, Michele Clarke, Stephanie Andrews-Paul.

Meanwhile, the Wairarapa United Central League men's team will be without skipper Adam Cowan when they take on Miramar Rangers at Dave Farrington Park tomorrow. Wairarapa United are in sixth-equal place on the points table, three points and one place behind a Miramar Rangers side which, like them, have been struggling to get any real consistency.

The fallout from the lacklustre showing in the 1-all draw with Palmerston North Marist last weekend should, however, be the catalyst to spark United into overdrive and a victory is well within their capabilities.