Winning chances boosted

Wairarapa United's chances of winning their home and away central league soccer playoff series with Maycenvale United have been given an extra boost.
Already strong after their 4-0 win in the first of the two matches played at the Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton on Sunday they have been improved by the discovery of a rule which says the first goal scored in away games is actually worth double that amount.
What this means in effect is that if Wairarapa United score even just the solitary goal in this Saturday's return match Maycenvale United would have to score at least four in reply to stop them from having a clear advantage on goal aggregate and with it a ticket to the promotion relegation series with the bottom-placed team in the 2008 central league, Stop out of Wellington. It's a rule apparently often used in European competitions with the idea of encouraging teams playing away from home to adopt a more attacking approach but Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley admits he only became aware of it being part of the central playoff format a couple of days ago.
And with Wairarapa United having the remarkable record of having scored at least one goal in all of their matches so far this season-including the Hilton-Petone pre-season tourney the odds are heavily in favour of them taking advantage of the "double goal" rule in Hastings.
"I have to say it's music to the ears as far as we are concerned," Keinzley said. "And it obviously makes it harder for the opposition & and we're pleased about that too!"
Wairarapa United were already planning to go into the return game intent on playing their usual attacking style of soccer and the "bonus point" for scoring a goal gives even greater credence to them adopting that stance.
"We were always going to push hard in the first 20 minutes for a goal or two to put them further behind the eight ball and we've now got an extra reason to do that," Keinzley said. The Wairarapa United coach actually has visions of Saturday's match being a high scoring affair with Maycenvale United having little option but to throw caution to the wind in their search to make up lost ground.
Keinzley sees the Hastings-based side increasing their number of strikers from two to three and having even their defensive players push forward on a regular basis to add greater numbers to their attack.
And if they do they will be taking the risk of exposing gaps in their defence and allowing proven goal scorers like Seule Soromon and Pita Rabo the chance to cut loose.
"It's got all the makings of a very entertaining game & I can see six or seven goals being scored," he said "Hopefully a good share of them by us."
The starting line-up for Wairarapa United on Saturday will be exactly the same as that which initially took the field at the Pugh Sports Bowl.
Keinzley admits he was giving some consideration to having Guiseppe Cagliari and Paul Gregory start in midfield rather than on the reserves bench but both were unable to make Tuesday night's training session and that made the decision easy for him. They will be on the reserves bench again.
THE WAIRARAPA UNITED TEAM WILL THEREFORE BE:
Matt Borren, Carl Shailer, James Oxtoby, Andy Robertson, Waisake Sabutu, Sakeo Valevou, Miriek Tvaroh, Aaron Spierling, Anton Ross, Pita Rabo, Seule Soromon. Reserves: Paul Gregory, Guiseppe Cagliari, Anaru Te Rangi, Kota Maeno.