Marist’s chance to break clear
Palmerston North Marist have a golden opportunity to snaffle a break on the rest of the field in the men’s Federation League this weekend.
The locals host league newcomers Levin tomorrow while Whanganui Athletic, currently top of the table with Marist, have the bye.
It is a game unbeaten Marist should win – Levin have leaked 11 goals from three outings, indicating they are finding the going tough in the federation, although they do have an upset 1-0 victory over titleholders Havelock North Wanderers to their credit.
After a rash of injuries last weekend, only one player, defender Jaeden Shaw, is out this weekend, but midfielder Luke Palfreyman is back in selection contention for Marist after recovering from an off-season injury.
Coach Kenny Santy said he was pleased to be able to field a largely unchanged squad, which included Luke Minshull in the midfield after his first full game last weekend, because he was keen to pocket maximum points from the clash to keep the pressure on Athletic.
The other home game tomorrow is at
Massey, where the students host
Napier Marist.
Massey coach Donald Piper said putting a squad together for this weekend was no simple task because exams would hit who was available, as would injuries to the likes of defender Lachie Preston (shoulder) and Elisha Masoe (calf), while Caleb Young had been sick all week.
But Piper said Massey, who lost their first three games, were seeking to open their account against a Napier side that was not doing much better.
Red Sox, who are away to Wanderers tomorrow, will be looking to convert their chances to improve their meagre haul up front so far this season, said coach Shane Rufer.
With a solitary goal after two games, it was clear where Red Sox needed to improve, and as everyone knew, ‘‘goals change games’’.
Rufer said he did not expect changes to the squad travelling to Hawke’s Bay from the side that turned out last weekend.
‘‘I was happy with how we played last weekend, but finishing is the big thing.’’
It’s a sentiment echoed by North End coach Garry Hodge, whose side is at New Plymouth Rangers on Sunday.
North End have also scored just one goal this season – but worse, according to Hodge, is that they have conceded soft goals at the other end of the pitch.
Hodge said North End were creating chances they should be turning into goals, something they will need to do against a new-look Rangers outfit who have been showing some good early form this season – scoring five against Massey and six at Levin.
With one player unable to travel and a couple nursing injuries, Hodge said there could be changes to the North End lineup, but he was hoping a wholesale reshuffle would not be needed.
Hodge said he welcomed a stronger Rangers side this year, because that would be ‘‘good for the competition’’.
■ In the Horizons Premiership, leaders Wanganui City play lowly Takaro, while there are derby clashes between Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Hokowhitu, second-placed Marist reserves and Red Sox reserves and North End reserves versus Massey University.
In the remaining game, Whanganui Athletic reserves meet the bottom side, Feilding United.