Crunch time for Marist in cup

Palmerston North Marist will need to take down Capital W League rivals Upper Hutt this weekend if they want a spot in the national women’s knockout cup semifinals.

Marist play Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park in Hutt Valley on Saturday in the national knockout quarterfinal, having been the top two sides in the Central region this season.

Upper Hutt have a four-point lead in the Capital W League, but Marist haven’t been far behind them on form.

In their three league meetings this season, they have won one each, both 2-1, and drew 1-all in their other encounter.

Upper Hutt hammered Seatoun 8-1 last weekend, where former international Sarah Gregorius scored six goals.

Marist are coming off a clinical 6-0 win over Stop Out last weekend, where coach Simon Lees thought they looked good.

Lees has had a good look at Upper Hutt through all their encounters and because they both played at Maidstone Park last weekend, Lees got to check out Upper Hutt before Marist played.

‘‘We’ve played Upper Hutt three times this season,’’ Lee said. ‘‘We know them pretty well and they know us pretty well.’’

Lees said they were confident and had made a couple of changes to the way they play.

Marist have been boosted by the return of Rose Morton from injury, but Siobhan Patterson has returned to the United States.

One of their two goalkeepers, Courtney Norman, is still overseas and Aniela Jensen is away with the New Zealand under-17 team in Samoa.

Because it is a cup weekend, there is no Central League action, which is probably good news for the relegation-bound Marist men.

Marist are eight points adrift at the bottom of the table with two matches remaining, so they will be competing in the Federation League next season.

There is a full round of Federation League games and the interesting match for Manawatu teams is Massey University against Marist Reserves at the university.

Marist Reserves will be keen to carry on from their good result last weekend, when they beat New Plymouth Rangers.

Red Sox-manawatu will play Gisborne Thistle at Park Island, Napier. The game was shifted to Napier because Red Sox already travelled to Gisborne this season and their scheduled game for Palmerston North was rained off.

Havelock North Wanderers travel to play New Plymouth Rangers and if league leaders Havelock North win, it is likely to end second-placed New Plymouth’s title hopes. Wanganui Athletic have the bye.