United keen to halt bad run

Press, 2 May 1986, Page 32

United keen to halt bad run

By

DAVID LEGGAT

A trip to the southernmost Rothmans Soccer League outpost has, in recent seasons, proved to be one of the Christchurch Brother United’s least rewarding assignments.

Its last six away matches against Wickliffe Press Dunedin City in the national competition have produced two draws and four losses, with only four goalls scored. Not since 1979 has United travelled home with a win under its belt. On that occasion, one of its goals in the 4-2 win

was scored by a key member of the present United side, Johan Verweij. The early season form of the two teams should give United encouragement to arrest that depressing run. After taking a point in its opening match in Auckland, Dunedin has managed four consecutive losses, even if all have been by a single goal margin. United, in contrast, has gathered three wins and has shown itself capable of entertaining, assertive play. It has already met

Dunedin once, in a preseason match, coming from behind three times to draw, 3-3. In Michael McGarry and the 17-year-old Graham Marshall, Dunedin has gifted young attackers. It has rugged defenders and a reliable stalwart, Jim Taylor, in goal. United’s least impressive win was its most recent, 1-0, over McKee Nelson United last Sunday. However, Nelson’s pattern, based on hoofing the ball down the pitch from a packed defence, did not make United’s job any easier.

Victory for United on Sunday would be sure to move it up the table from its present position of fifth. The four teams immediately above it play each other. Regardless of the result between DB Wellington and Masport Mount Wellington, a win in Dunedin would put United in the top four. In the other league matches on Sunday, Majic Carpet Manurewa will play the league leader, National Mutual Miramar, Nelson will face Landbase Papatoetoe in a bottom-of-the-table clash, NZ Jfer-

manent Gisborne will meet Hanimex-North Shore and University Cowan will play Child Freighters United. The joint leaders of the Hertz League, Andas Halswell United and New Brighton, have home games in the fifth round tomorrow. Halswell will tackle Classique Technical while Brighton will meet South Canterbury United. Nomads United will play Shamrock, KLM Cashmere will face Woolston W.M.C. and Budget House Rangers will play Sharp Copiers Western.