Soccer: Kingz look to reward followers

By TERRY MADDAFORD

With their first point on the board, the Football Kingz are now looking for their first home win.

"To get three points at home on Sunday would make a hell of a difference," coach Ken Dugdale said of tomorrow's fixture against the Marconi Stallions.

"The schedule is better from here on. No one liked those early [12.30pm] kick-offs," Dugdale said.

"Getting back to 4.30 [tomorrow's kickoff time] should help.

"It would be great to win for those supporters who have stuck with us."

Dugdale said he would not settle on his starting lineup until today. Among those he will cast an eye over at training today is injured goalkeeper Michael Utting.

While he does not want to make too big an issue of it, Dugdale admits to being hamstrung in having just one evening training session a day rather than the two sessions he had with his players last season.

"We don't have the time to do the analysis and preparation we want. Some of the players are working and are finding that coupled with training tiring. It's not ideal but we won't use that as an excuse."

Instead, he wants to eliminate the mistakes which have cost his team goals at both ends of the park.

"We are still being punished for silly errors," said Dugdale. "But that's professional sport. Against Northern Spirit, Espen Schjerven missed a header and they scored. It was the only one he missed in the entire match but he, and we, got punished.

"Up front Paul Harries and Harry Ngata are both capable goal scorers but they aren't doing it. Sure, we might be missing the ball we used to get up front from players like Andy Vlahos and Raf de Gregorio but they aren't there now so we have to get on with it.

"Too often, though, Harries and Ngata have been dropping back to the midfield in search of the ball, which means they are not in the right position to do their main job. It is a vicious circle."

Marconi come to Ericsson Stadium sitting comfortably in third place after a strong start to their season. They finished a disappointing 12th last season, a point and a place below the Kingz.

"They have turned it around with the same players," said Dugdale. "There is a lesson in that. We have to look to do the same. We started as strongly last season as they have done this time. Maybe their bubble will burst."

For Dugdale and his team there would be no better time than tomorrow.