Woolston in trouble

Press, 26 August 1978, Page 52

Woolston in trouble

DAVID LEGGAT

By

The Woolston W.M.C. coach (Mr Terry Mann) is faced with a familiar problem in preparing for the vital Rothmans Soccer League match against Columbus Waterside at Garrick Park tomorrow.

In the middle of May he had a bad run of injuries which gave him no chance to experiment with the side. He was forced, at times, to pick the 11 fittest players and he now. faces the possibility of having as many as five of his squad out for tomorrow’s match. Robbie Larter is definitely out with his leg injury while four players, Keith Francis, Colin Currie, Neville Petrie and Brian Hendry all have the flu. Francis missed last weekend’s match with Stop Out and has improved this* week but is still a doubtful starter while Currie became sick on

Thursday. Hendry and Petrie are the most likely to be fit. However, Hendry may not be required as Steve Smith seems to have gained the inside running for the position of right full-back.

If Woolston does not win tomorrow it can probably say good-bye to its chances of avoiding relegation. To win, it must score more goals than it has been. It has scored 18 goals this season, fewer than any other side in the league. Trans Tours United will be attempting its fifth successive league win when it meets Nelson United in Nelson tomorrow. Playing as well as it is, United must have a great chance of overcoming the bogey Nelson has been this season. The teams have met twice, drawing 1-1 in a league match earlier in the season, and Nelson winning the Adidas Chatham Cup semifinal, 3-1, recently.

Other matches: Courier Rangers v. Hamilton (today), Blockhouse Bay v. W.D.U., Stop Out v. Eastern Suburbs, North Shore v. Mount Wellington (tomorrow). Two matches of crucial importance will be played in the Broadlands Southern League today. In Dunedin, Caversham will meet Western and the loser will probably end its chances of winning promotion to the national league while the same situation will apply at Rangers Park where Rangers will meet Dunedin City.

These four sides all have a chance of winning the title, a vast change from two months ago when Dunedin City appeared to be romping to an easy competition win. The other two matches are between North End United and Technical, at Dunedin, and New Brighton v. Northern Hearts, at Queen Elizabeth II Park.