Wairarapa United take the draw

Howard Booth Park in Carterton has become their very own House of Pain for Wairarapa United's premier football side.

Their 2-2 draw with Wellington Olympic in the top-of-the-table Central League fixture on Saturday meant Wairarapa United have not lost a Central League or Chatham Cup there over the past couple of seasons.

And, what's more, the club's seconds team have also racked up an impressive record at the same venue.

"I think it's got to the stage where visiting teams are starting to wonder how they can win at Howard Booth and the more it plays on their minds obviously the better for us," Wairarapa United central league coach Phil Keinzley said yesterday. "You often hear about teams having their own House of Pain and I guess we have ours now."

Keinzley also paid tribute to striker Seule Soromon who chalked up a notable milestone when he scored the opening goal against Olympic. It was the Vanuatu international's 100th goal in Wairarapa United colours, a feat which, as Keinzley said, highlighted his value to the club. "Seule is one of those players who can create goals out of nothing. He's won plenty of games for us with a flash of brilliance; you simply can't coach that sort of thing."

Remarkably, Soromon's goal tally for Wairarapa United means he has scored at an average of better than one goal a game but Keinzley is quick to emphasise he has become more than just a goal scorer. "Early on, Seule was inclined to stay up front and wait for the ball to come to him but now works just as hard on defence as he does on attack, he's as energetic as anyone."

Soromon will have another important assignment on July 20 when he marries one of Wairarapa's leading female footballers of recent years in Sonya Rutene in a ceremony to be held in Vanuatu.

The Wairarapa United seconds hold down second on the Capital fourth division points table after their 4-0 win over Island Bay United HHH at the weekend.

The side were strengthened by having three premier division players in their line-up with one of them, Miroslav Tvaroh, having a commanding presence in midfield. Right fullback Olly Donald also shone while 16-year-old Christopher Cox came off the reserve bench to score his first goal at this level.

Douglas Villa moved out of the relegation zone with an impressive 6-3 defeat of Waikanae in a Capital second division match at Waikanae. It was 2-2 at halftime and Douglas Villa produced their best football of the season in a second half that saw them add four goals to their tally. Troy Burling finished with a hat-trick and other scorers were Nathan Cottle (2) and Michael Kempson. The Capital third division fixture between Waterside-Karori Cougars and Gardner Electrical Masterton was a close-fought affair with WKC winning 2-1.

Wairarapa championship results: Division one: Masterton McAuleys 4, Greytown A1 Homes 1; Masterton Lions 3, Carterton Skulls 1; Greytown White Swan 4, Douglas Villa Good Beginnings 3; Masterton Trevs Athletic 3, Carterton Redbacks 1. Division two: Douglas Villa Hasbeens 5, Evergreens 1; Douglas Villa Laster Electrical 1, Douglas Villa Wairarapa Funeral Services 1; Greytown Turkey Red 6, Masterton Pacific United 3; Masterton Farmlands Presidents 4, Featherston United 4.