Soccer: Concentration lapses worry Waitakere

Steve Cain remains mindful of how Waitakere United blew a 2-0 lead in Hamilton to hand a 2-2 draw and a point to Waikato FC in their last New Zealand Football Championship clash.

"We were 2-0 up with 10 minutes to play when, not for the first time this season, we conceded late goals," said Cain. "At this stage of the season you can't afford slip-ups like that."

Last Sunday too United took a 2-0 lead over Otago United before "taking the foot off the pedal" and letting the visitors score one before halftime.

"No team at any level has a full-on 45 minutes in every half of football they play. The trick is not to concede goals in that 10 minutes when you are not right on your game. Too often this season we have been punished," said Cain. "That's what happened last time against them [Waikato]."

He took heart from last Sunday's battling effort in a scrappy second half in which no goals were scored.

"It was good that we battled to keep the three points I felt we deserved. You can never plan to defend a 2-1 lead."

Cain is just keen to take maximum points at Trusts Stadium tomorrow.

"If we win this one, we would put seven points between us and them. Points, particularly against those teams we are battling with for fourth and fifth place, are crucial.

"We have two games of our last five against teams in that position," said Cain. "We play Waikato and later Team Wellington. We also have difficult away games against Canterbury and Manawatu before finishing at home against Auckland City."

Cain will be without dead ball specialist Marcus Phillips - out with a slight groin strain - but has Craig Wylie back from international duty.

He will contend for a place in the starting Xl along with Hone Fowler, Richie Cardozo and Jake Butler when Cain settles on his team this morning.

Most round 17 matches pit one of the top three teams against the four chasing the other two play-off spots.

There will be much interest in today's Kiwitea St battle between Auckland City and Otago United and tomorrow's game when Team Wellington host YoungHeart Manawatu.