Season-defining stretch looms in men’s Federation League
An important series of games approaches for Massey University in the men’s Federation League.
Currently unbeaten and second in the league, the students in short order face North End, Palmerston North Marist and Whanganui Athletic. After they’ve played that lot, they should have a fair idea how the rest of their season will pan out.
First up are North End today, in what will be Massey’s first home game of the season.
It’s been a bit of a nightmare start for North End, who have yet to win a game or score a league goal under new coach Scott Robson.
But things could be looking up for the side after their seven-goal feast last weekend against the New Plymouth Rangers in the Federation Cup.
Admittedly Rangers play in the Taranaki competition, so are not the hardest of opponents. But finding the back of the net so many times with the goals spread around their players ought to do wonders for North End’s morale.
What they have to do now, of course, is demonstrate the same kind of finishing prowess against opposition who are a rather more difficult kettle of fish.
Coach Robson reckons North End are up for it because the students haven’t had the hardest of starts to the season so are open to serious challenge by the likes of his side. He said North End were keen to ‘‘get back on track’’ and climb out of the second-bottom hole where they were languishing and join the dog fight for a top-three place in the league.
Missing from today’s game for North End is Josh Sansom, while Michael Sheridan, Devon Batchelor and Nathan Cooksley are in doubt.
Massey coach Donald Piper said he had a full squad available for the game, coming off their Chatham Cup loss against Marist last weekend. ‘‘I wasn’t happy with our performance. We need to close off our opportunities – that’s what counts,’’ he said.
Piper said he did not doubt North End’s tails would be up, their confidence improved by their victory last weekend, but the students would also be boosted playing on their home patch at long last this season.
Third-placed Palmerston North Marist are at Napier City Rovers reserves today, needing points to stay in touch with the leading sides.
Coach Juliano Schmeling was expecting at least one of Napier’s Central League players to take the field as the first team isn’t playing until Sunday.
Napier have already collected North End’s scalp this season.
With only winger Jono Steele still unavailable, it will be the first time this season that Schmeling has been able to choose from much the same squad for two consecutive weekends, he said.
‘‘We want to maintain the same good performance we had against Massey,’’ he added.
In the W League women’s competition, Palmerston North Marist have an important game against Wellington United Diamonds in the capital. Wellington United won the league last year, so if Marist, who are on top of the table after three rounds, can get a win it could count for a lot later in the season.
In the Horizons Premiership, leaders Feilding meet Massey reserves today. Second-placed North End reserves, who are also unbeaten, playMarist reserves.
In other games, Tākaro play Linton and Palmerston North Boys’ High host Whanganui Athletic reserves.