Change forced upon United coach

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 32

Change forced upon United coach

By

DAVID LEGGAT

An injury to Christchurch Brother United’s little Chilean striker, Carlos Villazon, will force a change to its line-up for Sunday’s crucial Rothmans Soccer League match against the leader, National Mutual Miramar, at Queen Elizabeth II Park. Villazon was a victim of heavy punishment in United’s fine 3-1 win over Hanimex-North Shore in Auckland last week-end, which put it third on the table, and is likely to be out of action for at least a fortnight. Coupled with Agustin

Villazon’s dismissal in a premier league match against Burndale United on Wednesday evening, the United coach, Mr lan Marshall, has only two logical options open to him in rearranging his team to face Miramar. Although not giving any secrets away yesterday, he is likely to bring Graeme Archer back into the midfield and push Johan Verweij forward to partner the in-form John Hanson in attack. His alternative is a straight swap up front, with Brent Berry coming in for Villazon. Miramar is likely to come south without two

key players, the talented goal-keeper, Barry Pickering, and the abrasive, but influential midfielder, Grant Turner, both through injury. Turner had a key hand in Miramar’s stunning 5-2 win over DB Wellington last week-end, a result which* took Mr Marshall by surprise. Wellington, generally regarded as the team at shortest odds to win the championship, is the only team to have proved itself markedly superior to United this season, winning its first round match, 4-2. “I thought that Wellington team was a wee bit

special,” said Mr Marshall. “All the other teams have been there for the beating, so we’ve got to respect a team that can do what Miramar did.” Four games back, Mr Marshall initiated his sixmatch plan, which would take it through a particularly tough series of matches. So far. United has had two wins and two draws, those being at Gisborne and against Masport Mount Wellington with a weakened team. “We knew last Sunday that we had to win to set ourselves up for this wqek. Now we have to try and keep the momentum

going,” he said. “We’ve got a fairly settled pattern and the players know what is expected of them.” Victory on Sunday will put United three points off the lead. The match, added Mr Marshall, is “effectively a six-pointer.” Defeat would leave it nine points off the pace, and give United’s title hopes a significant dent. In the other matches on Sunday Wellington will entertain Wickliffe Press Dunedin City; North Shore will attempt to keep Landbase Papatoetoe without a win in the first half of the competition; McK«e Nelson United will play Majic

Carpet Manurewa; Child Freighters United will face, Mount Wellington; and University Cowan will meet NZ Permanent Gisborne. The two teams sitting in third and fourth places in the Hertz League, Shamrock and Budget House Rangers, will meet at English Park tomorrow. The league leader, Andas Halswell United, will play KLM Cashmere in the early game. Woolston W.M.C. will face Sharp Copiers Western, Classique Technical will play South Canterbury, United and Nomads United will tackle New Brighton.