United wonders just how far it can go

Press, 7 August 1981, Page 24

United wonders just how far it can go

The same team that reminded its supporters of the club’s palmy days by upsetting Dunedin City last Saturday, will take Christchurch Mogal United into the Rothmans Soccer League season's finishing straight at Gisborne on Sunday:

. A month ago United was eyeing, somewhat desperately. the narrow gap between it and the clubs threatened with relegation. Now, with the points that made it safe tucked away in the competition table, United is beginning to wonder how far it can go in its last five matches.

Statistically. even the championship is within the club's reach; realistically, third place is the immediate objective. Either must be contingent on a retention of the present form and determination, as well as two points from a failing Gisborne City, everyone’s fav-

ounte tor the title before the recent World Cup programme but now only a fringe prospect. Gisborne has lost its last five league games, suffered seriously from a run of injuries. found itself with a backlog of games that requires the club to play twice every week-end, and has seen the heels of its championship rivals disappearing from view.

For these reasons, Gisborne's double-header at the week-end (National Mutual Miramar on Saturday and United on Sunday) is a make-or-break programme, which has not been made any easier by the injuries to its World Cup hero. Grant Turner.

Turner has been having intensive treatment all week in Auckland, primarily to get him fully fit for New Zealand’s World Cup fixture with Fiji on Saturday week. Kevin Fallon, Gisborne’s coach, has decided not to

play him against Miramar but is hopeful of including Turner for the game with United.

Gisborne is one of the three front-runners United will meet this, month (the others are Wellington Diamond United and Hanimex North Shore); And, like Gisborne, to stay in the hunt for prize money and prestige, it must win:

The other big match this week-end is W.D.U.’s clash with Hamilton, at Wellington. Hamilton’s defeat of Woolston last Sunday lifted the Waikato club out of the relegation zone but it is unlikely to stop W.D.U.’s championship) prospects.

Neither Woolston nor Rangers is involved this week-end. The only other Rothmans League fixture is Takapuna City v. Manurewa.

Cashmere Wanderers is as certain as a club can be to sew up the Hertz League northern section tomorrow.