Soccer: Keeper in for first and last Kingz trip

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Scott Bishop will play his first and last game for the Football Kingz tomorrow night before picking up his goalkeeping gloves and heading back to his East Coast Bays club and the local league.

Bishop has been called in to replace Michael Theoklitos, who must sit out a one-match suspension after copping his fourth booking of the season in Newcastle last Friday.

Bishop has been on the Kingz' books in recent weeks, but he has retained his amateur status which allows him to be granted an international clearance after tomorrow night's game against Adelaide City in time to play for Bays on Saturday.

If Bishop had joined the Kingz on a professional contract he would have faced a compulsory stand-down period before being eligible to play locally.

While Kingz coach Kevin Fallon has been able to sort out his goalkeeping problems, he has other concerns going into the match at Ericsson Stadium.

Robbie Hooker, John Markovski and Andy Vlahos all trained yesterday, but remain under an injury cloud.

"No matter what has happened and where we find ourselves on the table, you have got to keep your chin up," said Fallon, who must also work through the departure of influential midfielder George Goutzioulis.

"There is a game of football to be won. There will be players out there still playing for contracts. We are all determined to keep our minds on the positives.

"Some good did come out of the Newcastle game - one which we should probably have come away from with a 1-1 draw - and we have to look to build on that."

The game against Adelaide gives the Kingz a real chance to finally get away from the bottom of the table.

Adelaide, beaten 3-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium by the Kingz earlier in the season, go into tomorrow's game two points ahead.

Meanwhile, the off-field wrangle between former Kingz defender Che Bunce and the club continues.

A Soccer Australia tribunal has ruled in Bunce's favour following his claim for compensation after he was released by the Kingz.

Chief executive Chris Turner said the club had lost out on a "technical issue."

"From our point of view, the matter is in the hands of our legal people," Turner said.

"We will be appealing to Soccer Australia. There will be another hearing in front of different commissioners. We are making no comment on what he has claimed."

It is understood Bunce played 10 games in Iceland last year after being released at his request but with the Kingz' blessing.

Bunce was injured while playing there, had an operation and had not played for the Kingz since.

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A full round of the Southern Trust-sponsored National League will be held tomorrow.

Central United are at home to Tauranga City in the match of the day.

Central, beaten by Canterbury United last Sunday, have ended the first half of the season in fifth place - eight points off the pace set by Napier.

North Shore, two points behind Napier, but with only one loss, go to Christchurch, and Napier are at home to Manawatu.

University Mt Wellington are away to Dunedin Technical and Waitakere City travel to third-placed Miramar Rangers.

Another full round will be played on Sunday.