United win fiery clash

Wairarapa United took a giant step towards winning the Capial Soccer division one men's competition when they beat Kapiti Coast United 3-2 in a fiery encounter played at the latter's home ground on Saturday.
It was a victory which propelled Wairarapa United to the top of the points table with just two matches to be played, and both of them at home.
They actually have the same number of competition points as Western Suburbs, which suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Naenae over the weekend, but lead them by five on goal difference.
Which basically means that if Wairarapa United can beat Miramar this coming Saturday and Wainuiomata the following weekend they will not only win the division one title but they will also attain automatic promotion to the Capital premier division in 2006.
If the form book counts for anything success over both Miramar and Wainuiomata should be comfortably enough achieved, but with Miramar having been the only side to beat Wairarapa United in the first round nothing is being taken for granted.
"You don't win games on paper, you have to get out there and do the business," Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said. "The big thing for us is that our destiny is pretty much in our own hands, and that's the way we would want it."
Also in Wairarapa United's favour is that Western Suburbs have to front up to third placed Wellington United next weekend and the chances of Wellington United emerging victorious there certainly can't be discounted.
If that should happen Wairarapa United would be practically home and hosed, providing., of course, that they beat Miramar.
Keinzley found it difficult to describe Wairarapa United's latest win, coming as it did with a Sakeo Valevou goal late in the game.
He said the team had not played well, but could be excused for that because of the "very physical" nature of the game.
"I think there were nine cards handed out over the game and both teams had a player sent off," Keinzley said. "They (Kapiti Coast) have a reputation for sparing nothing when they play at home, and you could see why!"
Disappointing for Wairarapa United was that it should be one of their most influential players Pita Rabo who should be sent from the field allegedly for "diving" when it appeared from the sidelines that he had, in fact, been tripped.
Rabo scored a spectacular first half goal and also played a big part in another netted by 16-year-old Aaron Spierling.
Wairarapa United led 2-1 at the break with Kapiti Coast drawing level soon after halftime , and then Valevou slotting the all-important third goal for his team close to fulltime.
Apart from Rabo other Wairarapa United players to impress included Paul Watkinson, Andrew Taylor and substitute Evan Shailer - but Keinzley played a tribute to all his squad for mainly keeping their cool in trying circumstances.
"It was one of those games where another two or three red cards could have been handed out and we did well to avoid that," he said.
As it is, however, Wairarapa United will now be without Rabo for the Miramar game and injury could also see Troy Burling and Andy Robertson sidelined.
It's a situation which frustrates Keinzley, but he is confident that with an incentive of a title win in the offing his side will still rise to the occasion.