Soccer: United put faith in Pearce and Scott teamwork

Allan Pearce. Photo / Richard Robinson

Two of only a handful of players to play all 16 matches this season, Waitakere United's Allan Pearce and Aaron Scott have more than most to play for in Sunday's ASB Premiership grand final.

Both had a brief flirtation with the All Whites in the early stages of the last World Cup campaign but were then discarded and in the end could only wish their teammates good luck in South Africa.

Scott, one of few genuine fullbacks in the domestic game, and Pearce, a runaway winner of this season's Golden Boot, were more than a trifle perplexed at not making the cut when coach Ricki Herbert finalised his 23-strong Cup squad.

But the pair have continued to work in tandem with Pearce acknowledging Scott's contribution in providing the pace on the right flank which has stretched many opposing teams and played a part in Pearce's 14 goals.

With Scott's ability and agility, Pearce had little to concern himself with defensively which allowed him to attack freely often, in the early part of the season, in unison with livewire Fijian Roy Krishna.

But with Krishna out of action after being injured in the away O-League loss to AS Tefana in early February, Pearce has played alongside a number of players assuming the senior role.

At times he has failed to meet his own expectations and sees Sunday's big stage - and yet another battle with rivals Auckland City - as the time to get it right and add to his impressive record of having scored in the last three finals, twice in the winning team and once, against City, coming second.

"Until this season I had scored in most games against Auckland," said Pearce who admitted he is ready to step up after an indifferent effort against Canterbury last Sunday. "It was difficult down there. We had a big lead after the first leg and I was on a yellow card.

"There was a lack of real enthusiasm. Training wasn't as good as it had been with Neil and Darren [Bazeley] away but I'm sure we will all be ready this week.

"It has been more difficult with Roy [Krishna] out as I have had to step up each game. He is a guy with such a good football brain it is great to play alongside him. We have certainly missed him since he has been out but it is up to the rest of us to get the job done."

Coach Neil Emblen has no doubt Scott and Pearce can lift their game against a team he has no hesitation in tagging very good and the best since the heart-stopping, and crucial, 1-1 O-League draw at Fred Taylor Park in early November.

"Aaron Scott was brilliant against Canterbury last weekend. As a team we played poorly but he stood out," said Emblen. "His attitude, on and off the field, is top class."

At the end of last season when left out of the team for the last two games, there were doubts whether he would bother returning. After all, he lives in Hamilton and makes two or three trips north each week to train and play.

His pre-season form quickly convinced Scott was ready to continue. His has been the first name called out every week since.

"Whether he will be back next season remains to be seen," said Emblen. "But with us already confirmed in the O-League we are guaranteed 20 games - that is six more than any other team apart from Auckland City can offer."

Emblen has no doubt his right-sided pair face a huge task on Sunday.

They will be charged with closing down the Auckland City threat on the left where Ian Hogg and Manel Exposito have been in sparkling form.

"If they can contain them and Allan Pearce can add a couple of goals to his already impressive tally, we might be in with a shout."

ASB PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL

Waitakere United v Auckland City

Douglas Field, Trusts Stadium

Sunday 2pm

Referee: Peter O'Leary