Football: Ladder leaders will treat Melville with respect

Ngongotaha AFC's captain Dave Haua and his side look to continue their winning ways.

Unbeaten Ngongotaha AFC will go in search of their eleventh win in the WaiBOP Premiership.

The top of the table side take on fourth-placed Melville United away tomorrow.

Ngongotaha beat Old Blues 8-0 last week and have only dropped two points all season.

But captain Dave Haua is wary of Melville United - who he described as one of the tougher teams in the division.

"They will be difficult to break down and their pitch can be tricky to get to grips with," he said.

"The key to a win will start with a strong defensive display and creating good attacking chances from the back.

"They may park the bus but that won't change how we play.

"It's the quick pass and move football that has got us all our goals this season.

"It will be pressure from the off.

"We can't take our foot off the pedal just because we are expected to get a result."

Ngongotaha beat their opposition 6-0 in the reverse fixture but Haua said he expected a much improved performance from Melville United this time.

"We aren't taking anything for granted. A lot has happened since that game and I'm sure Melville will have a solid plan to try to outdo us," he said.

"The team just has to make sure we don't get dragged down to their level because that's how you throw away points."

Ngongotaha lead the table on 31 points after 11 games - three points ahead of Matamata Swifts with a game in hand.

Elsewhere, sixth placed Rotorua United are aiming for their first win in eight matches when they take on league strugglers Tauranga Boys' College 1st XI.

But they can take some confidence into the game after a 2-all draw with Katikati FC Ambria Premiership last weekend.

Tomorrow's draw:

WaiBOP Premiership
Kick-off 2.45pm
Melville United Prem v Ngongotaha AFC, Gower Park 5
Tauranga Boys' College 1st XI v Rotorua United, Southey 1
SGS Papamoa Premiership v Cambridge FC Prem, Gordon Spratt Park 6
Katikati FC Ambria Premiership v Otumoetai FC First Credit Union, Katikati College 1
Tauranga City Premiership v Waikato Unicol AFC Prem, Links Ave 2
Old Blues Prem v Matamata Swifts Prem, Wharepai Domain 1

WaiBOP Championship
Kick-off 12.30
Whakatane Town Champ v Ngongotaha Champ, Rex Morpeth Park 1
Kick-off 2.45pm
Old Blues Champ v Matamata Swifts Reserve, Wharepai Domain 1
Tokoroa AFC Champ v Otumoetai FC Mens, Strathmore Park 1
Te Awamutu Edmond Judd Champ v Hamilton Wanderers Champ, The Stadium
Waikato Unicol AFC Reserves v Taupo AFC Champ, Waikato Uni 1
West Hamilton Champ v Cambridge FC Champ, Weka St 1