Tactical rethink leads to success

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley says a rethink on tactics early in the season were the catalyst to his club becoming almost certain winners of Capital Soccer' premier division title for the very first time.
Their 1-1 draw with Marist on Saturday left Wairarapa United with 38 competition points, six more than second-placed Tawa who have two catch-up games to play against Lower Hutt City and Waterside-Karori this coming weekend.
Victories there would see Tawa move to 38pts as well but unless they win by an average of seven goals in both games Wairarapa United will take the spoils on goal difference.
Keinzley recalls Wairarapa United being at the crossroads when they slipped to eighth place on the 12-team competition ladder about midway through the first round of the premier division series.
It was a position which clearly did not do justice to their potential but how could they resurrect what was starting to look like a season to forget?
The answer was found in the first half of their Chatham Cup elimination match with top central league side Miramar Rangers.
Then Wairarapa United were outgunned by an opposition intent on taking the game to them and so at the halftime break Keinzley decided to fight fire with fire and have Wairarapa United copy their approach.
It was the best decision he could ever have made as while Wairarapa United lost the match they actually "won" the second half and with it came a change in game plan for the remainder of the season.
No longer would they give their opposition respect by starting conservatively and looking to build the momentum as the match progressed, now they would look to "blow away" their rivals by adopting an attacking stance right from the word go.
It was a change which Keinzley admits had its risk side in that it made his own team more susceptible to counter attacks themselves but results were to prove it eminently worthwhile.
"We had a couple of hiccups when maybe we should have gone into our shell a bit more but that was something which was always going to happen&&we; just had to put it behind us and trust what we were doing would work out in the long run," Keinzley said.
Statistics too bore out the value of the attacking philosophy with all but goalkeeper Matt Borren and fullback James Oxtoby getting themselves on the scoresheet at some stage of the season.
In all they scored 48 goals in their 18 premier division games, the most of any side, and the soundness of their defence is illustrated by their conceding of just 19 goals, the lowest in the league.
"Obviously if you are scoring goals at one end and keeping them out at the other you usually win, and generally we were able to do that," Keinzley said. "We were strong all round, that was the secret to our success when it all boils down."
A brief resume of the individuals in the Wairarapa-Bush squad is:-
MATT BORREN: The fact Wairarapa United conceded less goals than any other premier division side is a huge compliment to the goalkeeping skills of Borren, who was in his debut season for the club. His quick reactions, honed by him regularly fielding at slip on the representative cricket scene, enabled him to pull off a number of spectacular saves. Borren's accurate clearances were also a big plus for Wairarapa United, quickly becoming a vital component in their counter attacking play.
CARL SHAILER: Shailer was not only rock-like on defence but the natural left footer's speed and fitness made him a constant threat whenever he looked to launch attacks from deep down the left flank. His high workrate did not go unnoticed as he has been included in the extended training squad for the Team Wellington national league side, a just reward for a player who has now played over 100 games in the Wairarapa United jersey.
JAMES OXTOBY: Oxtoby's organisational skills, particularly in tight defensive situations, were a regular highlight of Wairarapa United performances. He was the epitome of the term cool, calm and collected and his combination with Sabutu in the fullback role was outstanding.
WAISAKE SABUTU: Sabutu's height made him an imposing figure in what was his debut season for Wairarapa United and the Fijian international developed into one of the league's most reliable defenders. Originally he was expected to fill a utility role in the midfield but so impressive did he become as a central fullback that he became a regular in that position.
ANDY ROBERTSON: The ruggedness and sheer competitiveness of Robertson meant he could play at striker, midfield or fullback without having any worries over his ability to do the job expected of him. He was especially valuable when opposition teams contained a dangerous attacker who needed to be closed down. Invariably that task fell to Robertson and invariably the Wairarapa United centurion did the business.
SAKEO VALEVOU: When Valevou first joined Wairarapa United a few seasons back the Fijian international was best known for his goal scoring prowess in the role of striker. Remarkably he has now become one of the most impressive fullbacks in the premier division, using his speed to make telling defensive plays and to set up equally telling attacks down the right flank.
GUISEPPE CAGLIARI: Cagliari's take-no-prisoners approach was always obvious in the midfield, whether he was part of the starting line-up or coming off the reserve bench. He was always willing to go where others would fear to tread and seldom did he come off second best in such situations.
MIRIEK TVAROH: No one could deny vice-captain Tvaroh thoroughly deserved his selection in Team Wellington's national league extended training squad. The Dutchman never took a backward step when the going got tough defensively and had the fitness and ball skills to control the midfield in an attacking sense as well. Pressure never seemed to worry him, just the opposite in fact.
PAUL GREGORY: Gregory was something of a revelation after being promoted from Wairarapa United's seconds team, hopefully to add spark to the premier side's effort on both attack and defence. And he did exactly that, scoring some fine goals and shirking nothing on the tackle.
AARON SPIERLING: The depth of Spierling's potential is evidenced by the fact that at age 18 he is not far off chalking up his 100th game for the Wairarapa United premier team. His versatility meant he filled a number of roles and seldom did he fail to add something extra to the overall effort when coming off the reserve bench.
ANTON ROSS: Not the tallest of players Ross often caught opposing defences off guard with his knack of either scoring goals, or at least creating them, when being used as a substitute. His left-footed crosses also come in handy, especially on Saturday when he delivered the cross which allowed Seule Soromon to score the goal which gave Wairarapa United the crucial draw.
KOTA MAENO: Wairarapa United coach Keinzley has big wraps on this 16-year-old Rathkeale College student, who he believes is All White material because of his natural ball skills, speed and self confidence. He didn't get too many starts this season but to say he is a player of the future would obviously be a gross understatement of the enormous potential he possesses.
ANARU TE RANGI: Te Rangi is another promising youngster in the Wairarapa United squad. He was mainly used as a reserve this season and his improved fitness levels meant he generally managed to make a positive impact whenever he was given the chance to display his skills.
PITA RABO: Inspirational is the ideal word to describe the impact Wairarapa United captain Rabo makes on a game by game basis. The third Fijian international in the squad his remarkable elevation means he is seldom beaten for ball in the air and his knack of being in the right place at the right time means he is a regular on the scoresheet as well. His ability to literally juggle his way out of the mud at the Pugh Sports Bowl made him an instant favourite with spectators there. Rabo's inclusion in Team Wellington's national league training squad was never in doubt.
SEULE SOROMON: Wairarapa United supporters won't need much reminding of the silky attacking skills of Scotsman Kevin Murray, who set a club goal scoring record when he netted 25 times a few seasons back. Well, Vanuatu international Soromon's vital goal against Marist on Saturday took his tally for the 2008 season to 26, clear evidence of his massive contribution to their bid for the premier division title. He was a constant thorn in the side of opposition defences with his speed and acceleration and his hunger to convert scoring chances into goals. It couldn't have been a better debut season for Soromon, capped off as it was by his selection in Team Wellington's national league squad as well.