Soccer: Mason out in cold for Chatham Cup tie

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Tommy Mason has taken University Mt Wellington into the Chatham Cup quarter-finals but will not be around on Sunday when they play Central at Kiwitea St for a place in the last four.

Mason, who has switched camps to coach Waitakere City next season, has been released by Uni-Mount, who will have Lee Root and Andy Brown running the ship.

"We had a chat and the Uni-Mount board decided my services were no longer required even though I had told them I was happy to stay on until the end of the season," said Mason, who met the Waitakere players for the first time last night.

"My priority now is the national league playoffs in early September," said Mason, who turns 42 next week. "Provided we do okay there, we can look forward to another season in the league."

Waitakere have released two-term coach Ron Armstrong and Brian Turner - who was his assistant for the latter part of the national league.

The Bluebird-sponsored cup game between Central and Uni-Mount brings together two of the season's under-achievers.

Central have been in the final for four of the last five seasons for two wins. Coach Michael Ridenton is set to return to the playing field on Sunday and hopes he can lift his team's performance.

"It will be a real test for us," said Ridenton, who is chasing his first cup as a coach after picking up medals as a player. "If we are not switched on we have already shown we are easybeats."

Cupholders Uni-Mount, who released coach Clive Campbell at the end of last season, are chasing a record seventh cup.

Tauranga City have a golden chance to extend their season when they take on Bay Olympic at Links Ave. Manawatu United are away to Napier City Rovers and Miramar Rangers play the sole South Island survivor, Halswell United, in Wellington.