Wairarapa United will be desperate to end a four-year trend when they play Kapiti Coast United in a Capital Soccer premier division match at Kapiti on Saturday.
The last four years these two teams have met at Kapiti the home team have emerged triumphant and with Wairarapa United well in the
hunt for competition honours they can't afford to slip up again this time round.
But it's not only past history which worries Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley, he is also well aware of the improved form shown by Kapiti Coast United since they lost 4-0 to his team in Masterton at the beginning of this season.
In fact, the last four series of matches have seen Kapiti Coast United unbeaten and score more goals than any other premier division side in the process.
"It's a tough one, a very tough one," Keinzley said of Saturday's match. "They (Kapiti Coast) are on a high and they are playing on their home ground, that's a pretty lethal combination."
Wairarapa United too have played well in their recent games but Keinzley notes those efforts were against teams well down the points table who wouldn't play with the skill or intensity of Kapiti Coast. "We were good in those games but we have to be better this weekend, that's the guts of it," he said. "We need to lift the quality of our play at least a couple of levels to come out of this one."
For outstanding Wairarapa United midfielder Mirek Tvaroh Saturday's game will be make or break as he will test out the leg injury which has been troubling him over the past month or so. If he pulls up sore again he is likely to be sidelined for several weeks, if not for the remainder of the season.
Also looking to have a big impact on proceedings will be Phil Gregory, who was promoted from the club's seconds team for Wairarapa United's last game and did so well Keinzley is keen to give him a further chance to cement a regular berth in the side. "He (Gregory) brings a different perspective to the midfield in that he is always willing to shoot and that can be a big plus, especially in close games," Keinzley said.
