United on title track

Statistics indicate Wairarapa United very firmly have the ball in their own court as they push for overall success in Capital Soccer's division one competition, and with it automatic promotion to premier division in 2006.
With just two series of matches to be played before the season's close Wairarapa United and Western Suburbs are equal at the top of the points table but Wairarapa United have the number one spot by virtue of their better goal difference.
Both sides have won 11 and drawn two of their 16 matches and they have both conceded the same number of goals, 21.
However, when it comes to goals scored Wairarapa United have a crucial edge, 51 to 46
There seems little doubt then that should Wairarapa United beat Miramar Rangers and Wainuiomata in their last two games, both of which will be played at Howard Booth Park in Carterton, the title will be theirs for the taking.
The form book is certainly in their favour with Miramar lying seventh on the competition table and Wainuiomata one place further back
Miramar, though, has to be rated a threat as they were the only team to topple Wairarapa United in the first round and while they have won only five of their 15 matches they have had seven draws, easily the most of any side in the division one grade. Indeed their losses number just four, only one more than Wairarapa United and Western Suburbs.
Wairarapa United's defence will take heart, however, from the fact that Miramar has managed just the 29 goals thus far, a figure which suggests they are a defensive-orientated side who have found it difficult to make an impact at the other end of the paddock.
But if Miramar are a distinct threat to Wairarapa United's title aspirations Wainuiomata, on the other hand, would need to show vast improvement to represent any sort of serious threat. They have won three and lost 13 of their 16 matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding 19.
So if Wairarapa United goes into their last game still requiring maximim points for overall victory you'd have to fancy them pulling it off, wouldn't you?
There is though a good chance that the competition could be basically signed and sealed this coming weekend.
Western Suburbs have to front up to third placed Wellington United on Friday night and while a Western Suburbs win is the most likely result they did suffer a shock 1-0 loss to Naenae last Saturday so morale won't exactly be sky high.
A Western Suburbs loss and a Wairarapa United the following day would leave the latter three points (or one win) clear of both Western Suburbs and Wellington United and such is the advantage they have in goal difference even defeat by Wainuiomata would very probably still see them emerge as champions.
The full division one table is (in order of matches played, wins, draws, losses, goals for, goals against and total points): Wairarapa United 16, 11, 2, 3, 51, 21, 35; Western Suburbs 16, 11, 2, 3, 46, 21, 35; Wellington United 16, 10, 2, 4, 33, 21, 32; Lower Hutt City 15, 8, 3, 4, 23, 18, 27; Naenae 15, 8, 2, 5, 35, 25, 26; Kapiti Coast United 16, 8, 2, 6, 37, 34, 26; Miramar Rangers 16, 5, 7, 4, 29, 27, 22; Wainuiomata 16, 3, 0, 13, 19, 46, 9; Olympic 16, 2, 3, 11, 25, 49, 9; Seatoun 16, 1, 1, 14, 14, 50, 4.