ASB National League
Dunedin, 2011-12
Otago Action
Overton back for United 
Rab Smith
More than a few had already said goodby to Darren Overton as he prepared to head for Sydney, but the talented midfielder has adjusted his schedule and will squeeze one more match in for Otago, when United plays Team Wellington at the Caledonian ground at 2 pm on Sunday.
Overton’s presence will attract a few personal fans, since he played regularly for Caversham for several years in winter, and his broad range of skills have lit up Otago’s play this season.
He has scored half of Otago’s goals so far this season, and his general outfield play was of sufficient quality to put him in the picture for NZ Olympic squad selection.
Fellow candidate for the Olympic squad is Tristan Prattley. The talented left sided defender has broadened his range by also turning out for Otago at centreback, where his calm positional play was exceptional.
Team captain Prattley stands out with over 50 games of national league, next in seniority is the feisty young midfielder Morgan Day with 32 games and not so new right fullback Harley Rodeka has 20 games.
Keen to increase his total is striker Ant Hancock, but he is out again, still recovering from the calf strain he picked up in last weeks warm up.
Apart from pseudo veterans goalkeeper Peter Evans and defender Craig Ferguson, Otago has a long line of smooth cheeked youngsters, eager but lacking top experience - that coach Richard Murray will have to organize.
Coach Murray has strengthened his squad by adding defender Andrew Ridden, below, to his 
Premiership squad, and James Watson also attended training at Tahuna on Thursday.
Along with Hancock, doing gentle laps to test his calf, another newcomer Josemaria Cantillo from Costa Rica was also testing a recent strain, but could become a part of future Otago teams.
And there were friendly greetings for former Otago player Liam Little who has returned to Dunedin, and could be involved in a goalkeeping coaching role.
‘ Our first priority is to put out our strongest team against Wellington. We created enough chances last week to win twice over, so this week we have to hit the net,’ said Murray.
In contrast, coach Matt Calcott's ( pic left ) Wellington side is buzzing after banging in six goals against Hawkes Bay last week, and clearly, Louis Fenton, after scoring four of them, would have needed watching.
But Fenton is unavailable while Scott Basalaj is away on professional trials in the UK. Michael Fifii is drafted in , and Nick Branch remains injured with concussion.
Third placed Wellington has 12 points, Otago – after losing the last point gained in the first round 2-2 draw with Wellington, due to crass administration – lurks three points behind on nine points.
A small enough gap to give the home side hope that it can take something from the match,
and remain in the hunt for a Top Four placin
Otago’s record against the Capital side is poor, with just three wins, while Wellington has registered 11 wins and five draws.
‘ We face a string of difficult matches,’ said coach Murray. ‘ Back to our old stamping ground the Caledonian at 2 pm on Sunday, we could do with maximum spectator support to cheer the team onwards.’
Otago United Squad : 1-Oswaldo RODRIGUEZ (GK), 2- Liam LOCKHART, 3- Tristan PRATTLEY (c),4- Jude FITZPATRICK, 5- Matt JOY, 6-Morgan DAY, 7-Regan COLDICOTT, 8- Seamus RYDER, 9- Donnie MacGREGOR, 11- James GOVAN, 14- Sam MEPHAM, 15- Darren OVERTON, 18- Harley RODEKA, 20- Matt BROOK, 22- Peter EVANS (GK), 23- Joel STEVENS, 24- Andrew RIDDEN, 25- Craig FERGUSON
Wellington Squad : 1- Phil IMRAY (GK), 2- Tim SCHAEFFERS, 3- Jamie DUNCAN, 4- Michael EAGAR, 6- Darren CHERITON, 7- Wiremu PATRICK, 9- Patrick FLEMING, 10- Dakota LUCAS, 12- Ethan GALBRAITH, 13- Karl WHALEN, 15- Sam MASON-SMITH, 18- Michael FIIFI, 19- James MUSA, 20- Luke ROWE, 22- Justin GULLEY, 24- Daniel CLARKE.
Referee: Mirko Benischke,
AR1: Brent Best,
AR2: Hamish Philip
4th: Edward Cook
| Auckland | 6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
4 |
19 |
18 |
| Waitakere | 7 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
24 |
9 |
15 |
15 |
| Wellington | 7 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
16 |
9 |
7 |
12* |
| Canterbury | 7 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
12 |
8 |
4 |
12 |
| Otago Utd | 7 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
15 |
-9 |
9* |
| Waikato | 6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
18 |
-11 |
6 |
| Hawke’s Bay | 5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
13 |
-6 |
4 |
| Manawatu | 7 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
26 |
-19 |
1 |