New Zealand Football Championship
Flem wants a Zig
Rab Smith
Otago United coach Malcolm Fleming is hoping for a ‘Zig’ from
his team when it plays Wellington at 2 pm on Sunday at Carisbrook.
Last weeks New Zealand Football Championship win was Otago’s first home success yet still conformed to its zig zag form of WLWLWLW, and according to coach Fleming, ‘ We need another zig this weekend to confirm our third position.’
Dunedin will resemble Brigadoon this weekend as hordes of Masters gather for the annual event, and more than a few are likely to watch the NZFC game at 
Carisbrook.
Otago has offered a cheap entry for the grey brigade and before such an expert mob both sides will have to be on top form.
And both NZFC coaches will also expect top performances in a critical match that has Otago hovering one point ahead of Wellington on the cusp of making the play-off Top Four.
In fact only three points separate four clubs, ( see Lg table below ) Otago, Wellington, and both Canterbury and Manawatu who have an extra game yet to play, so in racing parlance pencil lines might be required at the finish.
Otago may have a psychological edge, having beaten Wellington 2-nil early in the season when Dan Ede and Dave Dugdale scored.
Dugdale looked back to his best last week, but an injury cloud still hangs over Ede who injured his ankle at work.
A hamstring injury to Nathan Knox is also likely to be the object of a late fitness test, and the long limbed striker may also miss this match.
However the core of Otago’s success has been the consistent performance of team captain Tim Horner and fellow defenders Tom Sadd and keeper James Waggett who have allowed few clear opportunities at goal.
Wide defenders Tristan Prattley and Mike Abbott have also been effective but those positions could also be hard to keep with the return of Rhys Henderson – keen to regain a starting slot.
New transfer window signings Ben Light from Victoria, Australia, Mike Smith and Harley Rodeka will also make Fleming’s choice a bit more difficult.
Against a classy Hawkes Bay side, Otago’s midfield formed a hard to penetrate 
screen, as Andy Coburn and Robbie Deeley blunted the opposition, and Stu Kelly joined in with his penchant for scoring winning goals.
Said Fleming,‘ It all depends on fielding our strongest team and getting them to produce top form – given that, we can beat Wellington- again…’
However the resources of Capital football have dug coach Stu Jacobs team out of its early three match trough of losses in which no goals were scored and seven conceded.
Wellington recovered into midtable and only last weeks loss to top team Auckland 3-1 has dented a three match winning streak.
Six goal Greg Draper has led the charge for coach Jacobs, and experts that eyed the 1-1 halftime scoreline against Auckland, rated the Wellington side as vastly improved from early season performances.
Jacobs showed guts and courage recently in a coaching session when he rescued a dog that was being savaged. He sustained 34 stitches during a three hour hospital operation.
If the Wellington coach can instill that same mental approach against Otago, then his team may not leave Carisbrook unrewarded.
Otago Squad List: 1- James Waggett (GK), 2- Mike Abbot, 3- Tristan Prattley, 4- Dave Shaw, 5- Rhys Henderson, 6- Tom Sadd, 7- Robbie Deeley, 8- Stu Kelly, 9- Ryan Faichnie, 10- Dave Dugdale, 11- Andy Coburn, 12- James Reichwin, 13- Brian Brown (GK), 15- Tom Connor, 16- Morgan Day, 17- Tim Horner, 18- Nathan Knox, 21- Harley Rodeka
Wellington Squad list: 1- James Bannatyne (GK), 2- Adam Birch, 3- Jamie Duncan, 4- Chris Bale, 5- Michael Winsauer, 6- Chris Davies, 7- Cole Peverley, 9- Greg Draper, 12- Bryan Little, 17- Garry McDermott, 18- Trent Watson, 20- Richard McLay, 22- Michael Fifii, 23- James McPeake (GK), 25- Dan Keat, 26- Roddy Brown.
Facts and Figures
Standings
Name |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
Auckland City |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
18 |
3 |
15 |
19 |
Waitakere United |
9 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
19 |
Otago United |
9 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
-2 |
13 |
Team Wellington |
9 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
12 |
14 |
-2 |
12 |
Canterbury United |
8 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
YoungHeart Manawatu |
8 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
10 |
-1 |
10 |
Hawke’s Bay United |
9 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
11 |
14 |
-3 |
8 |
Waikato FC |
9 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
9 |
20 |
-11 |
6 |
Golden Boot Leaders
7- Seule SOROMON (YoungHeart Manawatu)
6- Leon BIRNIE (Hawke’s Bay United)
6- Greg DRAPER (Team Wellington)
5- Brent FISHER (Waitakere United)
5- Grant YOUNG (Auckland City)
3- Andrew ABBA (Hawke’s Bay United)
3- Dan PEAT (Waikato FC)
3- Dan EDE (Otago United)
3- Matt WILLIAMS (Auckland City)
3- Tom LANCASTER (Canterbury United)
3- Russell KAMO (Canterbury United)