EYE ON THE BALL
Marist won't go soft against cellar dwellers
FOOTBALL: It’s top versus bottom in the Federation League this weekend as unbeaten Palmerston North Marist take on cellar-dweller Red Sox.
After three rounds, Marist are setting the pace at the head of the league ladder, with two wins and a draw, while Red Sox bring up the rear still looking for their first victory of the season.
Marist coach Shane Rufer is cautioning against complacency, which, he feels, has already cost his side points.
‘‘That’s the big danger for us, I think,’’ he said.
Apart from the absence of New Caledonian Jean-marie Hmaloko, sidelined with a hamstring problem, Marist would be fielding a similar side to the combination that convincingly beat North End last weekend, Rufer said.
He was facing ‘‘challenges’’ picking his run-on side for the derby clash, but they were positive challenges because of competition for spots in the team.
For Red Sox, the challenge is different. They will be wanting to make sure they stay in touch with most of the other sides in the competition, but unless they collect more points soon, the gap, which at present amounts to six points between top and bottom, will inevitably widen.
In other games, Hokowhitu host Wanganui City, Massey University are away to Wanganui Athletic and North End are home to New Plymouth Rangers.
The two Whanganui sides have similar records of a win and two losses so far, while Rangers lost their first game of the season last weekend.
North End coach Gary Hodge is expecting stiff opposition from Rangers, as is Massey coach Donald Piper in Whanganui.
Hodge said picking up points at home was key to North End’s prospects this season, but Rangers had players like Dom Squatriti and Wade Randall who could cause plenty of trouble.
Piper said Massey would have to be at their best to come away with maximum points from Whanganui.
‘‘Playing over there is a whole different kettle of fish.’’
After last weekend’s five-goal spree against Red Sox, the students had momentum, but with four players on military duty this weekend, another away, plus a player out injured, Massey’s depth would be tested, he said.
Meanwhile, North End successfully negotiated the first round of the Chatham Cup competition on Wednesday when they beat Gisborne Thistle 2-1 in Palmerston North. Izaak Franklin and Nathan Cooksley scored the North End goals.
In Whanganui, Athletic beat Rangers 3-1 in another first-round cup encounter.