United hit Cup rivals for six

Trust House Wairarapa United were flattered by the margin of victory in their 6-1 win over Wainuiomata in the Chatham Cup elimination football match played at Prouse Park, Wainuiomata, on Saturday.
With Wairarapa United sitting top-equal in the Central League series and Wainuiomata lying at the bottom of the second-tier Central League premier grade anything other than a comfortable Wairarapa United success would have been a surprise but, as it happened, the end result did an injustice to the spirited opposition provided by a determined Wainuiomata combination.
In fact, while Wairarapa United led 1-0 at halftime through a Campbell Banks goal Wainuiomata created as many prime scoring chances as them over that period of play and were unlucky to have one shot rebound off the posts.
The second spell saw Wairarapa United increase their advantage to 2-0 when Dale Higham rocketed a shot into the back of the net after a typically elusive run which saw him cut infield and leave several would-be tacklers in his wake but Wainuiomata hit back with an excellent goal scored from a well-constructed counter attack.
From that point on, however, all the scoring action went Wairarapa United's way, the in-form Pita Rabo notching a hat-trick and Seule Soromon scoring from a rebound after a Nathan Cooksley shot from outside the penalty box was fumbled by the 'keeper.
Rabo was one of the obvious standouts in the Wairarapa United line-up, both for his finishing work and his ability to create space for his supports, and Higham was always a threat whenever the ball came his way.
Outstanding on defence were Adam Cowan, who made several telling tackles, the ever-consistent Nathan Cooksley and goalkeeper Matt Borren, who hardly put a foot wrong.
Coach Phil Keinzley labelled the victory as "pretty pleasing" but warned Wairarapa United would have to up the ante if they were to beat joint Central League leaders Miramar Rangers at Queen Elizabeth Park, in Masterton, next Sunday.
"We'll have to start a whole lot better and be more structured all over the field ... it will be a different type of game altogether," Keinzley said.
Just who Wairarapa United will face in their next Chatham Cup assignment won't be known until later this week.