Wing out to make amends

Press, 6 October 1989, Page 26

Wing out to make amends

By

GARY BIRKETT

The Christchurch United wing, Paul Nicholls, is at a loss to explain his medicore form this season in the national soccer league. Nicholls, a former Norwich City apprentice, described his form this year as “crap,” earthy description that sums up his frustration after two fine years in the United ranks.

“There are lots of little reasons why. I started off badly and things haven’t got any better. I have been working hard at training to try and put things right. I thought it might be a lack of fitness but I have done a lot of extra work and it has not helped,” he said.

Nicholls has played some excellent matches this year, notably in the Chatham Cup final, but his inconsistency has seen him under pressure to retain his place ahead of Andy Daffin, Julyan Falloon and even Julian Bowden. However, he said his teammates and club supporters have been encouraging with all sorts of suggestions coming forth.

“Sometimes I’ve been trying four or five different approaches. Maybe I have been trying too hard and lacking in confidence. I’ll just have to keep working at it and try to relax more during games.”

He feels that the loss of players like John Hanson, Allan Carville and Ceri Evans, coupled with the pressure of chasing three successive titles, has subtly changed the style of play United employs.

"We don’t seem to create the same number of chances in a game now. We don’t seem to go forward as fluently. Most of the ball that Jo (Verweij) and I have been getting has been with our backs to goal. We both like the ball played in front of us so we can go at defenders. In some games you hardly get a decent kick.” Nicholls can not recall a worse season in his six years in New Zealand but the experience has not put him off soccer.

He is keen to help United into the top five play-offs and believes if it wins its last four games it should finish second at least.

“The team regards any-

thing from now on as a bonus. If we get a good result against Papatoetoe on Sunday it will set us up for the Napier, Mount Wellington and Waikato games to follow.”

Nicholls, who has scored only two league goals, hopes to finish with a flourish and continue scoring regularly in the top five play-offs to redeem his mediocre showings so far.

United will be without Garry Lund for the fourth successive game while his knee injury heals properly and is expected to field the same side which sputtered to a 1-1 draw against Wellington United last Sunday. United has taken only five points from a possible 15 in its last five games, draws with North Shore and Wellington United hindering its chase after the leader. Mount Maunganui. But it is still within striking distance,, six points behind with four games remaining although second place and the $lO,OOO that goes with it is probably a more realistic aim than a third successive title.

Papatoetoe, which United beat, 3-1, in the first round, has lost its last 10 games, the worst losing streak in the national league’s history.

But its form has not been totally disappointing given the narrow losses it has had against Mount Maunganui (12), Waitakere City (0-1) and Hutt Valley (0-1), recently. Its three wins this year have been over Waitakere (32), North Shore(2-1) and Gisborne City (2-1). Papatoetoe is two points adrift of Gisborne City at the bottom of the table and in serious relegation danger, depending on the whims of the New Zealand Football Association.

Mount Roskill, which won the northern league, is applying for a national league place along with New Plymouth Old Boys, the winner of the central league. Round 23 games are: (likely winners in capitals): Gisborne City v. Wellington United; Papatoetoe v. Christchurch United; Mount Wellington v. North Shore; Napier v. Hutt Valley; Waikato y. Mount Maunganui; Waterside v. Waitakere; Miramar v. Manurewa.