Western has incentive to win against Woolston

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 42

Western has incentive to win against Woolston

By

GARY BIRKETT

The Western soccer team will be hoping to give its coach, Ron Provan, a winning farewell present when it meets Woolston W.M.C. in the English Cup final at Queen Elizabeth II Park today. Mr Provan is standing down after three years at the helm and the side has another reason for wanting to win badly. The club celebrated its seventy fifth anniversary this year and winning the cup for the twenty third time would be an ideal birthday present. Western has not played a competitive fixture since September 6 and has a number of injury worries. Andrew Koster, Darren Redway, Paul Brockie and John Boatwood are nursing injuries while the key defender, Steve Rhind, is overseas. The southern league third place getter is expecting a tough match against Woolston, which finished a credit-

able fourth in the second division. Woolston, coached by the former All White, Bobby Almond, has beaten the first division sides, Burndale and Technical, on its way to the final. “They (Woolston) seem to have got better as the season has gone on,” said Mr Provan, who is pleased with the venue. “The park is the best in Christchurch and it could mean a lot for the players. It will give both sides something to go for but there will be a few tired bodies out there if training this week is anything to go by.” The game was going to be played next Saturday to preserve the ground for national league games but both Mr Provan and Mr Almond talked officials into bringing the match forward to avoid further prolonging the season. Meanwhile, the Christchurch national league cap-

tain and midfielder, Keith Braithwaite, is hoping for a big win against Manurewa at QEII Park tomorrow to soothe the disappointment of being overlooked for the All Whites squad for the home and away series against Australia next month. Braithwaite was called into the side for two friendlies against Saudi Arabia in June, playing a full match in one game, but was dropped by Kevin Fallon for the forthcoming series. Five other Christchurch players made the 16 man squad and while Braithwaite was happy for them, he was understandably bemused that he had been left out. “I suppose I am lucky, some people never get to play for New Zealand.” Christchurch and Mount Wellington share the lead at the top of the table with four rounds left and Braithwaite said he is confident of a good showing against Manurewa,

which is twelfth on the table. It beat Miramar, 1-0, last Sunday but' could struggle against the in-form Christchurch side, which beat it 2-0 in the first round.' There are no injury worries in the Christchurch camp, with the central striker, John Hanson, apparently over his ankle injury. Braithwaite, seeking to add to his 15 goal tally to retain the Golden Boot award, emphasised that his side was taking one game at a time. At the back of the players’ minds though will be the big clash with the Mount in Auckland next Saturday. The Mount travels to face Miramar in Wellington and a loss there could give Christchurch a three point cushion. Other round 23 games are: — Papatoetoe v. Manawatu; North Shore v. Waikato; Nelson v. Hutt Valley; Napier v. Wellington; Mount Maunganui v. Gisborne.