Cantabrians seek a second major northern scalp in season finale
By a strange twist of fate, the New Zealand Football Championship season will end as it started - Waitakere United at home to Canterbury United at Fred Taylor Park.
But there is a lot more riding on this afternoon's grand final than when the two teams ran out on November 1 with Waitakere, the defending minor premiers, pitted against the previous season's wooden spooners.
That game, won 1-0 by the hosts, was a timely preview of some of the better games that followed in a keenly-contested season.
Keith Braithwaite brings his team back with happier memories of other trips to Auckland this season, which in February earned a 1-1 draw with Auckland City and, two weeks ago, a 3-0 win over City to clinch their place in today's final.
"We have nothing to lose. It's a one-off game and the last of the season," said Braithwaite.
"We will be at full strength, but I'm not sure whether Dan Terris will play. He has been out for eight weeks since he broke his collarbone against Otago.
"I'm really excited to be in the position we are now in.
"I'm especially pleased for the young lads who came in this season. This is basically a completely new team. There are only three or four survivors from last year.
"Once I was given the job it was a mad rush to get the players I felt I needed, but I quickly realised finishing bottom in any competition is not really an attraction when looking for players to come to Christchurch.
"We only had a three-week pre-season, but when we drew 0-0 with the Phoenix in that time, I felt we might have something special."
Braithwaite has blended a more-than-useful outfit with seasoned campaigners like Terris, former All Whites Glen Collins and Gareth Rowe and Andy Pittman and Matt Boyd who, along with Nick Wortelboer, are the only players back from last season.
They will have their work cut out containing the likes of Waitakere's Benjamin Totori.
A solid defensive platform has given them more freedom in midfield - a role which Aaron Clapham has relished to the extent he is now very much in the picture for an All Whites call-up.
Waitakere coach Neil Emblen, too, is aware this is it. There are no second chances in the race to claim not only the championship but the second spot in next season's O-League.
Waitakere have seemingly used up their stack of "get out of jail free" cards in recent weeks and will be looking at their better efforts and their outstanding home form as the catalyst this time.
"Canterbury will be confident having thumped us 4-0 the last time we met," said Emblen.
"If they can contain us here they will deserve to win."
Emblen can take heart from recent results in Tahiti and at Kiwitea St and Fred Taylor Park where his team have done exactly what they had to to survive.
They needed to beat AS Manu Ura by four goals - they won 5-1 - to go into the group A O-League decider with Auckland City needing only a draw to progress. They drew that one 2-2. Then, needing to win at home after dropping the first leg of their NZFC semifinal to Team Wellington, they won 2-1 with the winner scored just seconds from the end of stoppage time.
"In every scenario we have ended up coming through," said Emblen. "This time we start at 0-0 knowing any win will do. But that doesn't make it any easier."
Emblen will revert to a more fashionable line-up after making changes in PNG last weekend but he has yet to decide on who will start.
The TAB sees Waitakere as winners, offering odds of just $1.18 with Canterbury at a tempting $4.40.
NZFC GRAND FINAL
Who: Waitakere United v Canterbury United
Where: Fred Taylor Park
When: Saturday 2pm (live SS3)
Referee: Jamie Cross
