Decisions, decisions: full muster for United coach to choose from

PLAY IT AGAIN SAM: Gisborne United’s Sam Royston about to send in a cross in a Pacific Premiership football match against Taradale at Harry Barker Reserve last week. United, who are unbeaten after five games and sit second on the table led by Maycenvale, are in cup knockout football action in Hastings tomorrow. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Gisborne United are in knockout mode tomorrow when they take on Peringa United in the Federation Cup in Hastings.

Peringa are a New Plymouth team and in the Federation Cup any tie between Taranaki and Gisborne teams takes place in Palmerston North, Central Hawke’s Bay or Hawke’s Bay.

Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United will make the trip by road tomorrow morning.

The Federation Cup is open to teams from the Central Football area who have not entered the Chatham Cup.

Peringa lie sixth in the 10-team Taranaki Premiership, the western North Island equivalent of the Pacific Premiership in which Gisborne United lie second.

Player-coach Kieran Venema does not know a lot about Peringa and is concentrating on making the best use of the squad at his disposal.

He expects to have a full muster and has a few decisions to make on his line-up.

With Malcolm Marfell in the frame again — he was unavailable last Saturday — Venema has five defenders for four places.

Marfell will probably take the leftback spot, Kieran Higham and Mal Scammell will be in the middle and Adam Simpson and Corey Boocock could be vying for the start at rightback.

Boocock was named player of the day for his debut performance at rightback against Taradale last Saturday, but Simpson has also done well in his outings this year, impressing with his pace going forward and speed on recovery. Neither would let the side down.

Perhaps the decision with longer-lasting impact is how Venema reconciles his desire for a more patient, short-passing game with United’s simple yet effective long-ball approach.

The two goals Josh Adams scored in the 2-0 win against Taradale came from long, accurate balls into the striker’s path. Adams’s speed and finishing ability did the rest.

Yesterday Venema was considering the possibility of playing himself and skipper Dane Thompson as twin holding midfielders, playing left and right behind Corey Adams, who would have a more attacking role feeding the strikers.

Venema has been drilling his players to provide three options for the man on the ball, but last Saturday he was disappointed to see instances where they struggled to provide one outlet.

“I think having two players lying a little deeper might open up extra options, and we can build from there,” he said.

“And with players like Josh Harris, Josh Adams and Sam Royston up front, with Corey coming through from midfield, we have no need for Dane to push right on. He can create from further back.

“But I’m also starting to lean towards using the counter-attack as one of our key attacking options. We’re good at it, so why not.”

Tomorrow’s game will also give Gisborne United a chance to get a feel for Hastings Sports Park, where they will play Pacific Premiership leaders Maycenvale the following Saturday.

On the neighbouring field at the same venue at the same time tomorrow, Maycenvale are playing Massey University, who beat Gisborne Thistle at Childers Road Reserve last Saturday.

This is also a Federation Cup game, and should be a cracker, as Massey lead the Federation League.

It would be reasonable to assume that Gisborne United and Maycenvale would have someone watching their league rivals on the neighbouring field in the hope of gaining an edge.