Soccer: Decisive clash at top of the table

Commins Menapi is one of Manawatu's three Solomon Islanders who have proved a strong influence this season. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Any hope Auckland City coach Allan Jones might have had of cashing in on Alick Maemae's one-match suspension may have been dented with news that his place in the YoungHeart Manawatu side will be taken by fellow Solomon Islands international Benjamin Totori.

The Solomon Islands connection has been a key to Manawatu's success this season. Coach Colin Tuaa has little doubt Totori, 20, will step in and up to the biggest match of the New Zealand Football Championship's 12th round at Kiwitea St tomorrow.

"Benjamin will play a part in his debut match," said Tuaa yesterday. "Even if he doesn't start, he will have a big involvement."

Tuaa has no doubts about Totori's ability to play at this level.

"He has had a season in Fiji so he knows all about the physical side of the game," said Tuaa. "He has shown out as a player of some ability. He and Alick were in the Solomon Islands team which Shane Rufer coached for eight weeks and which beat New Zealand at the last Oceania under-20 tournament."

While Maemae and Totori will provide the youthful enthusiasm when paired together, Tuaa also calls on the experience of Commins Menapi, the third of the team's Solomon Islands trio.

Menapi, 28, is second behind Auckland City's Keryn Jordan in the Golden Boot race.

Despite their great run this season - their only loss came in the earlier home game against City - Manawatu rarely go into matches as hot favourites.

They are the only unbeaten team on the road and were held to only their second draw last weekend when they came back from 2-0 down after 20 minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Although Manawatu have the second-best attacking record, averaging better than two goals a game, their defensive record of 11 goals conceded in 11 games is the best in the championship and nine better than the 20 conceded by City.

"We certainly deserve to be where we are," said Tuaa.

"But I'm not sure how long it will be before we are taken seriously. January is a challenging month for us with four away games but once we get through that we have a split of four at home and four away."

All Whites defender Stephen Old will play the two matches in Auckland, tomorrow against City and eight days later against Waitakere United, before returning to the US. But, should Manawatu make it through to the Oceania club championship in Auckland in May, Tuaa is confident Old will return. He has already ascertained that his Solomon Islanders will also be available.

"I don't want to look too far ahead," said Tuaa. "But we are happy with where we are and how we are playing. The first half of the game against Team Wellington was our worst performance of the season but we were still able to pick it up and get something from it."

Tuaa said Michael Utting's arrival has helped.

The former All Whites goalkeeper has played a key role in his team's solid defensive record.

He has also played a steadying role within the team environment.

"We have a good balance of youth and experience and Michael plays a part in getting that mix right," said Tuaa, who has also been impressed by Campbell Banks.

"When I looked at the squad, I needed someone to play with Commins up front.

"I knew Campbell when he was a kid in Nelson and gave him a call. He has done well but I feel we have yet to see the best of him."

The clash between City's strikeforce and the Manawatu defence promises to be a feature of the match, which should go a long way towards finding the eventual champion.

* Points (all played 11): Auckland City 27, Manawatu 26, Canterbury 21, Otago 15, Waitakere 13, Wellington 11, Waikato 10, Hawkes Bay 4.