Few problems for Chch soccer clubs

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 24

Few problems for Chch soccer clubs

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Team selections for Christchurch’s three Rothmans Soccer League teams appear fairly clear-cut as they prepare for the start of the 1981 competition tomorrow.

Three players will not be considered for Woolston W.M.C.’s opening match against Wellington Diamond United at English Park — David Hendry, Kevin Mulgrew, the joint coach, and Keith Francis. Hendry has a leg injury, and Francis has yet to receive a clearance from England.

Graham Dacombe and Trevor Reece, two of the team’s most experienced players, will tonight receive further treatment for injuries, but Mulgrew and Reece might prefer to. retain the side which beat Christchurch Mcgal United last Tuesday evening. Woolston does lack tall players and W.D.U. are certain to work on that weakness. It has four players, Mike Simenoff, Paul van der Breggen, Derek Gibson-

Smith and Ceri Evans, who stand well over 1.83 m and will provide plenty of problems at set pieces. For this reason, Peter Moot, who has 44 league appearances behind him, might be selected ahead of the younger, but clearly talented, Craig Thompson.

The match will also mark the first game Ross Durant has played in the national League for any club besides Christchurch United. He joined W.D.U. at the start of the season after playing more than' 100 times for United. lan Park is almost certain to return to United’s line-up for its match against Gisborne City at English Park tomorrow night. Park suffered mild concussion during a pre-season . match a week ago, but his coach (Mr Terry Conley) is confident Park will be able to take his place in the United attack. Alan South will replace Mike Howard at centre back, with Howard moving into the central mid-field position. Mike Cantin or Gordon Faichnie will join Park and

Kees Doornenbal in the front line.

A strong midfield may be the key to Rangers success in its match against National Mutual Miramar in Wellington on Sunday. The signing of the vastly underrated John Stevens from Halswell United, who will link up with lan Cowan and Paul Glasson, should add polish to Rangers play this season.

Stevens, however, will not be available to play on Sunday. Neil Francis and Gerard Kemp will be absent through injury, and Glasson still has a slight niggle in his leg, but is fairly sure of playing. John Boatwood might be preferred to lan France at left back, while Steve Welford, who returns today from his honeymoon, will have a fitness test before joining John Brand and Grant Hughes in the attack.

The other three matches, all scheduled for Sunday, are Mount Wellington v. Manurewa, Hamilton v. HanimexNorth Shore and Takapuna City v. Dunedin City.