Marist look to finish their season on a high note

"It’s disappointing it’s taken this late in the season for us to finally show what we’re capable of." Scott Hales

Palmerston North Marist coach Scott Hales is expecting another stellar performance from his team when they host bottom side Petone in the final Central League game of the season at Memorial Park tomorrow..

With the shackles of any potential relegation from the Central League well and truly put to bed, Marist turned on a brilliant display to beat fourth-placed Western Suburbs 6-0 at home last week, after doing everything but beat third-placed Napier City Rovers the previous weekend, before losing 3-2.

‘‘We’ve been threatening that all season,’’ Hales said.

‘‘It’s disappointing it’s taken this late in the season for us to finally show what we’re capable of.

‘‘I’m looking for us to finish the season in style against Petone.’’

Marist’s win last week was built around a strong solid defence, with Hales even happy to concede possession to Wests, then a few pieces of magic passing the ball from defence to the midfield and quickly forward to Marist’s pacey strikers Jerram Tuck and Rhys Galyer.

Both Tuck and Galyer showed, given space, they’re a handful for any defence.

Their team work with one breaking down the flank and the other coming from a wide position on the other side of the field was too much for Wests’ defence.

Marist’s win was built around central defender Graeme Craven, who was outstanding and will surely be hunted by a summer national league team.

Not only is Craven tall, he’s strong in the tackle and lately there’s none of the little errors.

A win by Marist will move them ahead of Wellington United and into eighth place, not the goal Hales set before the season began.

But there’s enough to suggest that with the addition of a couple of players, especially a dominant central midfielder to play alongside Nathan Cooksley and possibly a strong centre forward, Marist does have the makings of a topfour team.

There will be a lot of interest surrounding whether Tuck can take out the league’s golden boot award.

Tuck has an impressive 15 goals, just one behind Miramar Rangers’ Ben Harris.

There are no other games this weekend, so Tuck can level the standings or take the lead if he scores.

Red Sox-manawatu Napier City

travel away to play

in the Federation Cup knockout final.

Both sides had big semifinal wins with Red Sox beating North End 6-1 and Napier beating Palmerston North Marist Reserves 7-1.

Rovers

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