Players’ progress pleases coach
AN impressive run has the Southern United Youth side well placed heading into its final three matches.
The team has won two of its past three matches and captain Rory Findlay has had two starts for the men’s team.
On Saturday, the side showed its progress in a 32 comeback win over Tasman United at Tahuna Park.
After falling behind 20, it scored three times through the middle of the second half.
Coach Terry Boylan said the side had stuck to its game plan.
The result was pleasing and left Southern in fifth place, three points off leaders Auckland City.
Boylan said his focus remained on the development of his players rather than the team’s position on the table.
However, he felt the win was a reflection of the improvements the players had made this season.
‘‘We’re tracking really well,’’ he said.
‘‘The boys have bought into the concept of what we’re trying to achieve from a football perspective and individually as players they’ve bought into the concept.
‘‘As I’ve said before, there’s a clear pathway now to the senior men’s side.
‘‘We’re seeing the benefits with young Rory getting his chance and cementing himself in there at the moment.
‘‘Others will hopefully get another opportunity in there as well.’’
Findlay’s rise had been one of the side’s big successes.
After starting against Waitakere United two weekends ago, he retained his spot in the lineup to play Tasman United at Sunnyvale Park.
In that game he played 90 minutes as a 10man Southern played superbly to claim a 31 win.
Boylan was ‘‘elated’’ to see those performances and said it gave evidence of a clear pathway to the senior side for the young players.
Three games remain and as they are all against teams below Southern, a title challenge could be on the cards.
But Boylan was not letting that distract him from he wanted to achieve from the campaign.
‘‘It’s not about the title.
‘‘We’re there to educate the guys and get them ready for firstteam football.
‘‘The competition will be in their minds, so that’s their thinking.
‘‘They want to do well in the competition.
‘‘For me you can say ‘yeah, its about the competition’,
‘‘But I’m more about the players and we’ve got players going into the first team and that’s the key.’’
The side plays the Wellington Phoenix youth side on Saturday and finishes with games against Hawke’s Bay United and Canterbury United.