Gore look to bounce back

Gore Wanderers will be looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season, when they take on Southend United in Southland’s Donald Gray Cup football competition on Saturday.

The top-of-the-table team’s 12-game unbeaten run in Southland’s top grade came to an end at the hands of Thistle last Saturday, with a 3-1 loss in wet conditions at the ILT Turf in Invercargill.

The match also saw another impressive streak come to an end, with the league’s top goal scorer Miguel Ortiz’s feats of scoring in every match coming to a halt, with Jack Boland claiming Gore’s only goal against Thistle.

Ortiz’s exploits this season includes scoring at least one goal in each of Gore’s first 12 matches, including two bags of five goals.

Heading into round 16, the Chilean-born Ortiz sits in pole position in the golden boot stakes, with 30 from 13 matches, 12 goals clear of his Gore team-mate Andy Roberts on 18.

Gore Wanderers are still in a strong position on 34 points from 13 games, four points clear of nearest rivals Old Boys on 30, while Queens Park are two points further back on 28 points, with all three teams still to play five matches.

‘‘We are on the top, we want to win the championship,’’ Ortiz said.

The Hyde Park-based side have been the big improvers since reentering the Southland premier competition in 2015.

The 2016 season was Ortiz’s first full season following a knee injury, although he managed to find the back of the net for 13 league goals.

‘‘Last season was good for fitness,’’ he said.

‘‘This season we improve our skill and teamwork and push harder.’’

The Gore Wanderers are reliant on farm workers and so the late part of the season represents the time when several players take a break, which could potentially impact on the remainder of the season for the country team.

‘‘Because last Saturday we lost, some players they are on holiday, we are missing two or three players every Saturday,’’ Ortiz said.

‘‘Now is the relaxed time or this time is for just holiday.’’

Gore Wanderers host Southend United at Hyde Park on Saturday as they look to return to their winning ways in Southland’s Donald Gray Cup.

In other matches, Queens Park host Thistle, while Waihopai tackle Old Boys, with both games to be played at Surrey Park.

Meanwhile, Southland United will be looking to pick up a precious away win against University in the Southern Premier League.

The Southland side sit seventh on the table, four points clear of the Dunedin-based student team as both combinations look to move up the ladder.

Queenstown Rovers face a tough road trip to Dunedin, to take on the unbeaten Caversham at Tahuna Park.