Wairarapa United storm Red Sox

A late change in playing format worked wonders for Wairarapa United in their 6-0 win over Manawatu Red Sox in the Chatham Cup third round football match played in Palmerston North on Sunday.
It was only in the 24 hours before kickoff that Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley decided to play three strikers rather than the one, which had been the case in previous games.
Joining Adam Cowan up front were Seule Soromon and Campbell Banks and they ensured a smooth path for Wairarapa United through to the cup quarter-finals by tormenting the Red Sox defence. Cowan scored four of the goals and Soromon one with the pacy Dale Higham providing the other.
Keinzley said the decision to have three strikers was a "calculated risk" with the aim being to take the game to Red Sox right from the word go and hopefully secure enough first-half goals to put the result beyond doubt.
"The longer Red Sox stayed in the game the more confident and dangerous they were likely to become and, therefore, it was important we took the sting out of them early on," Keinzley said. "They weren't expecting us to do anything different so that probably helped too."
So successful were the Wairarapa United tactics they led by a commanding 4-0 at the break despite turning over possession in the first 15 minutes through inaccurate passing. "We did take a little longer than we wanted to get any real flow into the game, but once we did it was pretty much all one-way traffic."
Their decisive halftime advantage meant Wairarapa United could give two of the younger members of their squad a good slice of the action in the second spell. Thomas Hemi replaced Banks as striker for the last 35 minutes and Rathkeale College pupil Josh Mann took the goalkeeping role from Matt Borren for the final 15 minutes.
Central midfielder Miroslav Tvaroh was in superb form for Wairarapa, tackling strongly, while fullbacks Carl Shailer, who has now played more than 160 games for his club's premier side, and Scott Robson were equally impressive.
Just who and where Wairarapa United will play in the cup quarter-finals in a fortnight's time was expected to be known late today, Central League sides Napier City Rovers and Palmerston North Marist are also through to the last 16, as are Wellington United.
Meanwhile, Douglas Villa kept their Capital third division title hopes alive with a 3-0 win over Lower Hutt City. Paekakariki heads the points table with 23, followed by Petone Armanis 22, Douglas Villa 19, Lower Hutt City 14, Karori Barcodes 13, Island Bay United 13, North Wellington 13, Marist 9, Petone 7 and Kapiti Coast United 4. Making Douglas Villa's position even more promising is the fact they have played one game less than both the two teams sitting above them.
Wairarapa United seconds still lead the Capital fourth division competition after their entertaining 5-5 draw with the Tawa Devilz.