United pushes the champs all the way

Defending champions Miramar Rangers produced a hugely impressive second half effort to thwart a determined Wairarapa United challenge in their central league soccer match played at Queen Elizabeth Park oval, Masterton yesterday.
Their 5-3 victory might suggest Miramar Rangers were comfortable enough winners but it came only after some stern words were said at halftime, at which stage Wairarapa United deservedly had their noses in front by 2-1.
The ease with which Wairarapa United had been creating space for dangerous attackers Pita Rabo, Seule Soromon and Adam Cowan had to be a major concern for Miramar Rangers whose own forwards had failed to capitalise on a number of prime scoring opportunities.
Cowan, the Manawatu national league captain, had a particularly impressive first 45 minutes, often taunting the Manawatu defence with his probing runs and his knack of putting his supports into open spaces with well-timed passes.
Invariably it was Rabo , who scored both the goals,and Soromon who were those supports with Rabo consistently making room for himself through the cleverness of his ball control and Soromon just as consistently using his acceleration to outpace his markers.
The soundess of Sacha Nathu in goal was another plus for Wairarapa United with a couple of fine saves and some hefty clearing kicks marking his first half performance.
The second spell saw a very different Miramar Rangers.The looseness which had marred their play in the opening spell was gone and they deprived Wairarapa United off possession for long periods through the sureness of their passing and by constantly using the complete width of the pitch to a outflank a noticeably tiring opposition Wairarapa United defence.
An early goal to the visitors saw them draw level at 2-2 and they went ahead soon after at 3-2 only for Wairarapa United to even things up again when Soromon got one of his few chances in that spell to show his attacking skills, and made the most of it.
Unfortunately for the locals, however, that was to the end of their scoring efforts but not so Miramar Rangers who turned the dominance they had in territory and possession into two further goals, and may even had another couple but for Nathu's pluckiness under pressure.
The lethargy of their defence was clearly the most disappointing feature of the Wairarapa United second half display with usually reliable tacklers like Miriek Tvaroh, James Oxtoby, Sakeo Valevou and Waisake Sabutu too often being caught off guard in that respect.
Several times goalkeeper Nathu was left as the lone ranger on defence and while he himself will undoubtedly be disappointed at conceding five goals-four of them in the second half- there was only one which he had any chance of pulling in.
Yesterday's game attracted one of the biggest crowds to have watched an inter-club soccer match in the Wairarapa and the entertainment value was such the majority of them should be back for the Easter Monday central league match between Wairarapa United and Taranaki United.
The latter were beaten by just 4-3 by Miramar Rangers in their first round clash, a result which clearly suggests they will provide stern opposition for Wairarapa United. Kick off is 2pm.