Unbeaten teams face off in Federation League
There’s a top-of-the-table clash in the men’s Federation League under lights on the artificial turf at the Arena tonight.
The Palmerston North MaristMassey University shoot-out promises plenty of action between the two best performing sides in the league thus far this season.
There doesn’t seem to be much between the two, with only a piece of individual brilliance separating them when Marist edged the students by a goal in the Chinese Cup last month.
Since then both sides have gone unbeaten in the league, notching two wins apiece from their first two games. Massey’s early goalscoring spree has been notable, the students amassing 11 from their first two league outings, including eight against Napier Marist last weekend.
Coach Donald Piper said with a multitude of goalscorers, Massey showed they could mount genuine threats from all over the park. So while Marist had the home advantage on the artificial turf, Massey looked to have a wider spread of goalscoring talent.
Piper said Massey’s start this season was in stark contrast to last year when they didn’t pick up a point until the fourth round and their first victory didn’t happen until their sixth game.
‘‘But I think Marist are still the hot favourites for the league title.’’
He had a full squad of 17 from which to pick tonight’s run-on side.
In contrast, Marist will be missing Jaeden Shaw, Adam Gill and Josh Cremen through injury, said coach Juliano Schmeling, which meant more game time for Jamie Lambe in the defence.
The three on the bench will be Che Boag, Fletcher Leslie and Eli Smith. Schmeling said he would be improvising because of the forced changes, so it will be interesting to see how Marist cope in defensive set-pieces after conceding goals from corners in both their two previous league fixtures.
Two other unbeaten sides, newbies Gisborne Thistle and Havelock North Wanderers, are in action at the weekend after their opening victories. Thistle are away at New Plymouth Rangers while Wanderers are away to Whanganui Athletic.
Three teams are locked at the foot of the league with no points so far–north End, Levin and Napier Marist. Napier and Levin meet this weekend while North End have the bye.
■ In the Horizons Premiership, two of the unbeaten sides – Takaro and Marist reserves – clash at the weekend.
Also unbeaten are Feilding United, who play Massey reserves, and Hokowhitu who are at Wanganui City. The two bottom sides, Palmerston North Boys’ High School and North End reserves, both of whom have yet to register a point after two rounds, meet at the weekend.
The other game is between Red Sox reserves and Whanganui Athletic reserves.