United facing titanic tussle

Want any proof that Lower Hutt City should give Wairarapa United a whale of a game in their central league soccer clash at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton tomorrow?
Well, even just a cursory glance at their likely team list should do the trick.
Former All White Phil Patterson and Costa Rican Luis Corrales, the winner of the golden boot award as the leading goal scorer in this year's national league, are just two notables in a star-studded line-up.
A Chilean by the name of Garcia also has a big reputation and then there are a host of national age group or secondary schoolboy reps like Adam Church, Rodney Mays, Dane Rayner, Steven Gulley, Sam Blackburn and Chris Campbell to boost their resources.
No wonder then that come the start of this season Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley was actually touting Lower Hutt City as one of the prime contenders for the central league title, and he still thinks that way despite their current one win, two loss record.
"A team with all their talent can't be put down, you have to think they'll starting stringing wins together sooner than later," Keinzley said.
"Obviously they have had some issues but no way can we take anything for granted, it's going to be one hell of a battle."
Keinzley anticipates Lower Hutt City playing a similar style of soccer to defending central league champions Miramar Rangers, to whom Wairarapa United lost 5-3 on Easter Friday before drawing 1-1 with Taranaki three days later.
Wairarapa United also have a 4-0 victory over Wellington United to their credit which has them sitting in third equal place on the competition table with 4 points, one more than Lower Hutt City.
Keinzley recalls Miramar Rangers using a combination of pace and tactical nous to get their strikers behind the Wairarapa United defence and he sees Lower Hutt City looking to take a leaf out of their book.
"They will fancy their chances of exposing us defensively and that's the big challenge for us, we have to be rock solid at the back," he said.
"How we handle the pressure they put on us is going to be very important, any slip ups and they'll pounce, you can guarantee that.".
Goalkeeper Sacha Nathu has been one of the success stories for Wairarapa United so far this season but as was shown in the Miramar Rangers game-and again late in the Taranaki match when a late goal was conceded - he also requires the solid support of those in front of him to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
And the support given him by the likes of James Oxtoby, Carl Shailer, Waisake Sabatu and Sakeo Valevou has not always been solid enough.
In the midfield too there has been problems with the consistency of the defensive play. The usually reliable Mierik Tvaroh was sadly out of sorts against Miramar Rangers but was back to something like his old self in the second half against Taranaki
It's no over-exaggeration of Tvaroh's influence over the past few seasons to say that when he plays well Wairarapa United play well and the locals will want him at his assertive best tomorrow.
Also on the Wairarapa United wish list will be a more cohesive attacking effort so that players with the proven goal scoring capabilities of Pita Rabo, Adam Cowan and Seule Soromon are able to push forward with the confidence of knowing the support play from players such as Aaron Spierling, and Paul Gregory will rend them valuable assistance.
Given that everything goes according to plan Wairarapa United can beat Lower Hutt City and maintain a healthy position near the front of the points table.
Anything less very probably won't be good enough.