City derby a key federation clash

FOOTBALL: Get the attitude right and the rest will come.

That’s the best advice Palmerston North Marist coach Shane Rufer can offer to his squad ahead of tomorrow’s feature Federation League football clash against North End. It comes after Marist’s second-round draw with Massey University last weekend left Rufer lamenting what he hoped would be Marist’s worst effort of the season.

Marist remain unbeaten in the competition, but so are North End, who are shaping as one of the surprise sides of the league after entering it only by winning an invitation playoff last year. But North End coach Gary Hodge said the lineup bore little resemblance to last year’s team and contains experience in the form of the likes of keeper Matt Borren and defenders Cameron Dearlove and Dave Mccorkindale.

He said once Marist were relegated out of the Central League, players scattered and went looking for somewhere to play, benefiting clubs like North End.

Rufer said Marist should be aided by the return for the first time this season of midfield-defenders Sam Jones and Josh Cremins. Jones had been captain of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School first XI. He said a loss even at this early stage would leave Marist five points off the top of the competition – not a comfortable place to be for a club that wants back in the Central League.

So, tomorrow’s Memorial Park fixture has all the hallmarks of a top game, with both sides out for a result. In the other derby game tomorrow, Red Sox and Massey meet, with both teams seeking their first win of the season. Both drew last weekend, so they will be out for something better this round.

In other games, Hokowhitu host Wanganui Athletic and Wanganui City are home to unbeaten New Plymouth Rangers.