Football: Reserves rivals go head to head

Wanganui Collegiate's Kate Wells on the ball against Wanganui High School last weekend. WHS won the encounter 3-1. Photo/Rob Van Dort

City star in Fed Cup knockout game

Though Wembley Park's main ground is getting a rest in preparation for the Federation Cup tie on Monday, there's still plenty of Local League football going on around the other park fields today.

With no junior football on because of the long weekend, there should be plenty of fresh players out on the grounds after well-deserved sleep-ins.

The day opens up at 12.30pm with the Wanganui City Thirsties facing Castlecliff St Anthony's, who will be looking to claim three points to push themselves back towards the top of the table.

Thirsties could find this game hard, but they have a knack of spoiling teams that underestimate them.

The Athletic Cosmos come up against Castlecliff United, in what should be an easy three points for the Cosmos, with United just not able to find their rhythm this season.

Collegiate 1sts play the Athletic Weekenders, who will want to ensure the other college team in the league don't keep them from another win, while the second of three Marist derbies takes place between the mighty Casuals, and their younger clubmates Celtic.

Celtic should take three points from this fixture, but the Casuals will be sure to make them earn it.

My game of the round though is the match up between the Wanganui City Reserves and the Wanganui Athletic Reserves.

Players from both teams will be keen to show what they have to offer their respective club first teams, while not wanting to give their rival a whiff of victory.

Expect this to be a hugely intense match for the entire 90 minutes.

City should be bolstered with their 1sts playing at home on Monday, but the Athletic boys are currently sitting second and have not shown too many weaknesses this season.

I'm picking a draw for this one.

In the following round at 2.30pm, the Wanganui High School Internationals go up against the league leaders, Total Automotive Wanganui City Hammers. The WHS lads will need to play a tight game and make the most of any opportunity that presents itself, as the Hammers will be unforgiving in this match.

Marist Bhoys have the friendly this week against the Wanganui City Renovators, but neither team will be approaching it as such.

Both squads will be looking to prove a point, coming off losses last week.

The Bhoys will be hoping a win will give them the momentum they need to push them up higher than the cut-off point for when the league splits in two.

In the women's league, things have been heating up at the top of the table.

A battle between Wanganui City Women and the Castlecliff Scrappers is starting to take shape.

With the Scrappers creeping one point clear of City last weekend, who sat the week out with a bye, the Scrappers in turn have the bye this week.

This will give the City Women a chance to reclaim the top spot when they play the Castlecliff Saints.

In the final game for the day, the Wanganui High School Girls 1st XI play the Girls College team in a battle of schools.

It's the first time these two teams have met this season, and with Girls College picking up their first win last week, they'll be keen to add the scalp of their cross-town rivals. All in all, it's shaping up to be a great weekend of football.

Get over to Wembley on Saturday and enjoy the watching the local players and then ignore those long weekend chores on Monday and get yourself back there to support Wanganui City in their Federation Cup knockout match.