Soccer: When being home is not an advantage

Home advantage has long been the Holy Grail for football teams.

But, it appears, someone forgot to tell Waikato FC coach Declan Edge, his football manager James Pamment and their Hamilton-based players.

That they play in the flashest stadium of the eight teams in the New Zealand Football Championship doesn't, it seems, matter a hoot to the mob who have caused more than their share of upsets on the road.

At home it is a different story.

Only once, in their fifth game of the season, have they won in Hamilton.

That 3-2 win over Team Wellington earned Waikato their only points at home in six appearances. The other 13 points (of 17) have come at their opponent's place.

In their last four games - all on the road - the Che Bunce-led side have drawn 0-0 with Team Wellington and beaten YoungHeart Manawatu, Auckland City and Waitakere United (all by the odd goal) to fashion a record any team would be proud of.

On Sunday, Waikato are back at home to play Napier City in a repeat of their seventh round clash which City won 2-0.

Even with those wins against the Auckland front-runners in successive outings, Pamment is not talking the talk ahead of a game which could take his side even closer to the top three and into playoff contention.

"We have notched two good results away from home against the top two teams but feel we will have to work very hard to beat Napier who are coming off some great form," said Pamment.

"We beat Auckland City but so did Napier and they did it quite comprehensively. They are scoring goals."

Napier's 4-2 win over Auckland City was at home. Their away record - just one win (against Waikato) and one draw - is as bad as Waikato's is good.

Counting against Waikato as they attempt to turn their home record around is the loss of regulars LJ Pijnenburg, Michael Mayne and Cole Tinkler from their starting line-up to the national under-20 side to the Oceania qualifiers in the Solomons.

Waikato have been hardest hit by the national call-up but appear to have found adequate cover in 30-year-olds Garry Board and Grant Cooper as fullbacks and Clinton Boyle in midfield.

Replacement Brent Mayhew, who scored the sensational winner against Auckland City, is again on the bench and Anees Khan joins the squad for the first time.

But, the Waikato faithful must be asking, will these changes be enough to turn their miserable season at the stadium around. Their playoffs hopes surely depend on that.