Stop Out concession suggests confidence

Stop Out's move to concede home advantage in the first of their two central league playoff promotion-relegation soccer matches with Wairarapa United suggests a positive mindset on their part.
At least that was the take of Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley after learning this coming Saturday's encounter would be played at the Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton, a decision allowed Stop Out through them currently holding central league status.
"I think it shows how confident they are that they have the measure of us," Keinzley said. "They obviously think they can blow our own confidence by beating us up here before finishing the job at their own ground."
Stop Out may have finished bottom of the 2008 central league but they have two current New Zealand Olympic players in their squad and possibly if rumours are to be believed three others as well.
Not surprisingly then they are expected to provide much more formidable opposition than Maycenvale United, the team Wairarapa United beat 7-2 on aggregate in the first of the central league playoff series.
"They (Stop Out) are used to playing at the higher level, you'd have to expect them to be quicker and smarter," Keinzley said.
"And they won't lack incentive, they have a very proud history as a club and losing to a team like us wouldn't sit well with them at all."
Whether Wairarapa United will have skipper Pita Rabo on hand for Saturday's game was still a matter of conjecture yesterday. He suffered a suspected broken collarbone in the first 10 minutes of the return fixture with Maycenvale United in Hastings a game won by Wairarapa United 3-2 but the severity of the injury probably won't be determined until tomorrow at the earliest.
Having waited four seasons for Wairarapa United to reach the stage where central league is a distinct possibility the inspirational Rabo is "desperately keen" to play both matches against Stop Out but Keinzley said medical advice would dictate his availability.
"If Pita had his way he would be playing no matter what but, really, it's a matter of wait and see," he said.
Just who would replace Rabo in the starting line-up should he not be fit enough is difficult to predict too.
It would probably come down to Keinzley having to omit one of three players all capable of filling a midfield or striker's role, Guiseppe Cagliari, Paul Gregory and Kota Maeno.
Tactically, the emphasis will still very much be on attack for Wairarapa United although Keinzley does see them returning to the conventional 4-4-2 format against a Stop Out side expected to use that format as well.
If Wairarapa United does manage to beat Stop Out on goal aggregate over the two games they won't be the first Wairarapa-based club to make the central league but they will become the first to play there since the central league became second only in importance to the national league & and the highest possible competition Wairarapa United can aspire to.
In previous years when Wairarapa teams were involved there was a national league, a central premier league and three divisions of what could be called the ordinary central league. And it was in the latter where the Wairarapa teams played.
Meanwhile, coach Keinzley is blaming himself for the 5-3 loss suffered by the Wairarapa United under-19s in their England Trophy match with Tawa College at Rathkeale College on Sunday morning.
He said he had taken the gamble of allowing some of their key players also involved in the victory over Maycenvale United the previous day to celebrate the win with the "senior pros" and they struggled to display their usual enthusiasm as a result.
"Tawa are a very good side and we never got to the intensity we needed to beat them," he said.
"In fact, you could say the crossbar was our best player & I'd hate to think how many of their shots deflected off there."
Andrew Traill and Kota Maeno (2) were the goal scorers for Wairarapa United and players to stand out were Aaron Spierling, Gin Kwon, Leighton Calkin and Mitchell Scaife.