Pressure on Woolston in second local ‘derby’

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 32

Pressure on Woolston in second local ‘derby’

A rearranged Woolston W.M.C. defence wilt have its hands full against a determined Rangers team in the second local “derby” of the Rothmans .Soccer League at Rangers Park tomorrow. Woolston .will be without its in-form centre-back, Paul Bradshaw r , who has a kr.ee injury. Instead, Josh te Kaat will take Bradshaw’s position, in front of the Woolston player-coach, Trevor Reece, with Graeme Thompson coming in at left back. It will be hoping for -no serious injuries in its pool of attacking players, as Mike Millward left the team before its match last week-end against Hanimex-North Shore. Then, Woolston showed a welcome return to its ’ early season form and was desperately unlucky to go down. 0-1. ;

However, Rangers also gave a strong performance against Takapuna City and their coach, John Souter, admitted to being disappointed the team did not take full advantage of a 3-1 lead midway through the second half. But the point they did take was a valuable one. Only one change is likely to be made to their team for the Woolston match. If Tony Steer has recovered from his back injury; he will return to the defence. .When the teams met on Marell 15,.’Woolston was a convincing winner, 3-0, but it would surprise if it is able to repeat that ■ success tomorrow/

The match, which will begin at the later time of 3.00 p.m,, has possibilities of being far better than a game between the bottom two

teams would generally suggest.

Christchurch Mogal United, now with the mid-field organiser it needed, should be too strong for the struggling Takapuna City team in Auckland tomorrow.

Pat Sharkey, who made his first appearance for the team last Sunday, made an immediate impression and the result was United’s best home performance of , the season to date. Sharkey, a former Northern Ireland and Ipswich Town player, fitted in well and gave United the control it needed to beat Hamilton-

The other two matches scheduled for tomorrow are Dunedin City v. Mount Wellington and Wellington Diamond United v. North Shore.