United taking no chances

Their position on the points table may not suggest it is warranted, but Wairarapa United are justifiably treating Upper Hutt with the utmost respect leading into their Capital Soccer premier division match at Upper Hutt tomorrow, a match which will signal Wairarapa United's 200th game since their inception.
Upper Hutt have accumulated just the seven points so far this season, a tally which pales into insignifance when compared to Wairarapa United's 25, and, what's more, sit just one place above the relgation zone.
But the fact they have beaten Island Bay and drawn with competition leaders Petone in recent weeks suggests they have put a very slow start to the season behind them and can no longer be classified as easy-beats.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley doesn't need reminding either of the shock waves which went through his camp in their first round match with Upper Hutt at home.
Sure, Wairarapa United ended up winning 5-2, but not before Upper Hutt had gone out to a 2-0 lead through some excellent first half play.
"They dropped away in the end but it was tough going through most of the first half and their latest results suggest they are putting 90 minutes of that sort of soccer together now," he said. "We have no room for complacency, none whatsoever."
Wairarapa United will be without the durable Guiseppe Cagliari tomorrow as he received his fifth yellow card of the season in the 1-0 win over Island Bay last weekend and is therefore suspended for one week.
Doubts also exist over the availability of another of their in form players in Murray Burling, who left the field injured against Island Bay and is no better than a 50-50 chance to take the field against Upper Hutt.
Keinzley is confident, however, that even without Cagliari and Burling Wairarapa United should be able to come up with maximum points and thus maintain their bid for competition honours.
He was delighted with the aggressive defence mounted by his side in the win over Island Bay and says more of the same will be required tomorrow against an Upper Hutt side which is sure to place the emphasis on attack.
But at the same time Keinzley is also stressing the importance of his team making a similarly strong start to the game as they did against Island Bay with an early goal being the only scoring action in the game.
"A goal up early on does put the opposition on the back foot and create doubts in their minds an that's what we need to do tomorrow," he said. "We need to have them playing catch up rather than us."
For one member of the Wairarapa United squad the game will have special significance.Making his 50 th appearance for the club will be Troy Burling and Keinzley said that would give his players an extra incentive to produce a winning effort.