United up against it in Chatham Cup clash

Wairarapa United will start rank outsiders in their Chatham Cup elimination soccer match with Miramar Rangers at Miramar tomorrow.
The lead-up form of the two sides makes the occasion look like a David and Goliath affair with Wairarapa United struggling to keep their heads above water in Capital Soccer's premier division competition, where they currently hold down fifth position, and Miramar Rangers unbeaten and heading the points table in central league
Which is like comparing chalk with cheese when you consider central league is a grade higher than premier division.
There is little chance either of Miramar Rangers taking Wairarapa United too lightly and producing a below-par effort as a consequence.
They will be well aware that a Wairarapa United side similar in strength to what they are now got through to the last 16 of the Chatham Cup last year with the then defending champions Western Suburbs finally eliminating them in a game which went to extra time.
And they will also have noticed that one of Wairarapa United's best efforts so far this season was their 4-1 thumping of what was touted to be a pretty handy Miramar Rangers seconds team.
It doesn't help the Wairarapa United cause either they will be taking the field tomorrow without Miriek Tuaroh, the most rugged of their midfielders.
He has been struggling health wise for a couple of weekends now and coach Phil Keinzley says he will be rested from tomorrow's game..
Tuaroh's absence means Wairarapa United will be missing their one player who goes where others fear to tread in tight defensive situations and a Miramar Rangers team which includes the prolific scoring Jeremy Brockie, the New Zealand under-23 captain, will be quick to capitalise on any weakness in that area.
Keinzley accepts that if current form counts for anything his side are on a hiding to nothing but he also believes a Wairarapa United team playing anywhere near their potential are capable of making a decent nuisance of themselves.
"The pressure is more on them than us because everybody will be expecting them to win easily and that can do funny things to teams, no matter how strong they are," he said.
"If we get a goal or two up early anything could happen.
Tactically, Keinzley can't see any point in Wairarapa United adopting a defensive strategy simply because it could help the scoreboard look better at the game's end. He said they would be going into the game intent on fully utilising the attacking skills of players like Pita Rabo and Seule Soromon and if that meant taking risks which Miramar Rangers could exploit so be it
"I'm absolutely sure we have enough firepower up front to worry their defence, the question is whether we can keep them out at the other end," Keinzley said.
"They will likely be very quick on the counter attack and that's where the danger is, we have to close them down before they get into open spaces."
The Wairarapa United seconds are at home tomorrow.
They play Wellington United at the Pugh Sports Bowl and will be looking for a much stronger finish to their Capital third division game than last weekend when they led Kapiti Coast United 3-1 with 10 minutes of play remaining and lost 4-3.
They have had two wins, a draw and two losses from their five games and sit fifth on the competition table. CLUB SCENE
On the local club scene comfortable wins were mainly the order of the day when first round matches in the men's knockout competition were played last weekend. Results: McAuleys Masterton 2, Douglas Villa Magpies 1; Trev Sports Masterton 6, Wairarapa College 4; Sports Arena Douglas Villa 4, Carterton Redbacks 0; Carterton Wanderers 5, Douglas Villa Offsiders 1; Featherston 5, Evergreens 2; Farmlands Presidents 4, Carterton Casuals 0.
Wairarapa championship games resume tomorrow and in division one the smart money will be on Trevs Sports Masterton to beat McAuleys Masterton at Hullena Park, Sports Arena Douglas Villa to beat Wairarapa College at Park Sportsground No.2 and Carterton Wanderers to beat Featherston at Howard Booth Park.
In division two Carterton Redbacks should account for Masterton Presidents at Howard Booth Park but there should little in it when Douglas Villa Magpies hosts Carterton Casuals at Park Sportsground and Carterton Skills play Douglas Villa Offsiders at Howard Booth Park.
Current points are.-Division one: Trevs Sports Masterton 12, Carterton Wanderers 11, Sports Arena Douglas Vilola 10, Featherston 4, Wairarapa College 4, McAuleys Masterton 1.Division two: Carterton Redbacks 12, Carterton Skulls 7, Douglas Villa Magpies 7, Douglas Villa Offisders 7, Evergreens 4, Carterton Casuals 3, Masterton Presidents 2.