‘Inside information’ to help United?

Press, 8 May 1982, Page 64

‘Inside information’ to help United?

A bit of inside information might help Christchurch Mogal United clinch its expected win over East Coast Bays in the Rothmans League soccer at English Park tomorrow. About six of the players in the Auckland team are known to the United coach, Terry Conley, from his coaching days at Blockhouse Bay a couple of seasons ago. They include the goalkeeper, John Morris, the fullback, Jimmy Hogg, and the right winger, Stuart Clark. United, unbeaten in its last seven league games, is firmly favoured to beat

Bays, which lies at the bottom of the points table after its two wins and seven losses. Bays, under the guidance of the former New Zealand coach, Wally Hughes, has, however, had a revival of fortunes in its last four games, with wins over the defending champion, Wellington Diamond United, and National Mutual Miramar. In the other matches it lost 1-2 to Invercargill Thistle, and 01 to Dunedin City. Its loss against the Chatham Cup holder, Dunedin City, in Dunedin last week eamo oft<>r a brilliant reflex

save ,from the home goalkeeper, Jim Taylor, had prevented Bays from equalising in the second half. So although United will be keen to find the finishing touch which eluded it in the drawn match against Thistle last week, Mr Conley will be treating the Aucklanders with some respect. “There is no way we will be taking them lightly,” he said. The Christchurch team took a few knocks in the Invercargill game but there are no injury worries, he said. The lineup of players is likely to be the same as last

week’s, with the front combination of the English import, Brent Berry, and Johan Verweij, expected to play again. In the Hertz league, Rangers should firm up its competition lead in Timaru against South Canterbury while Cashmere Wanderers, its closest rival, could find the going a little tougher against Technical. The game between Shamrock and Woolston W.M.C., originally set down for English Park, has been moved to Riccarton Domain to keep English Park in good order for Sunday.