Football: It's do-or-die time for the Havelock North Wanderers against Waterside Karori

Gagame Feni praises the footballing gods but Havelock North Wanderers will need some faith to eke out a must-win game tomorrow at Guthrie Park tomorrow. Photo/file

Whatever their level of academic qualifications, coach Chris Greatholder knows he doesn't have to dumb down the message for his players to comprehend the gravity of the situation in Hastings tomorrow.

Don't eke out a win in the round 15 Ultra Football Central League match in the 1pm kickoff against Integration Works Waterside Karori at Guthrie Park and the writing will be on the wall for Building King Havelock North Wanderers.

Having kicked off the season in the premier winter league after responding to an SOS at the 11th hour from organisers to enter after Team Taranaki withdrew due to player paucity, any romantic notions of committing to a noble gesture will long be forgotten if they are relegated in their debut season.

Young charges, most definitely, but the villagers know too well in this day and age the uncompromising world of competitive sport teams fly in the face of the edict that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

The Wanderers, who lost in the home-and-away promotion-relegation match last winter to Waterside Karori on goal difference, are also mindful the visitors who helped the Wellington side to the higher echelons are long gone and the current squad is a different ball game.

The harsh reality is it's a marquee league for a reason so there's no room for mediocrity.

Sure, the last-placed Havelock North players, on nine points, will be much better for having had the experience but they will have to come to terms with their demons throughout summer if they don't claim three points to stay in touch with Waterside Karori above them on 12 points and a yawning goal difference.

Yes, the beautiful game can be uncompromisingly cruel because elite sport is about excellence ... and, of course, money disguised as resources.

But, akin to Texas Hold'Em Poker, you don't join the table to gamble if you're not prepared to show your hand at some stage.

"If we don't win then the writing's probably on the wall," says Greatholder, believing if they claim a point then it'll perhaps give them a fighting chance of going into the last game.

The prudent will argue it isn't plausible because league leaders Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers are next in the derby at Park Island, Napier, before the Wanderers host Wellington Olympic at the village. They finish the season away against second-placed defending champions Advanced Electrical Western Suburbs at Endeavour Park, Wellington, on Sunday, August 12.

Realistically, the Greeks will be the Ethan Dent-captained Wanderers' only hope of points but don't stay with the pack tomorrow and they're going to find themselves in the drop zone although Greatholder believes they are better than that.

"We have to take three points if we're serious about surviving," he says. "I'm desperate for a win and I know the lads will be, too."

That is not to say Havelock North are lacking confidence in their charges to get the job done tomorrow.

"We were very good the last time against Wairarapa United so I think if we can play that game again," he says, reflecting on the 6-2 upset win of the season here in round five in April.

Greatholder sees the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup round last weekend as a good time to unwind to push through from training last week.

"We have a few niggles but I think a mental break was what was needed going into a pivotal game."

Greatholder says unfortunately his men didn't come away with anything a fortnight ago in their 4-2 loss away to Wairarapa in Masterton but their behaviour was good and followed the script accordingly.

"At times we were unfortunate but if we roll out a similar performance then I'm confident we can get three points."

Home advantage, he says, is all well and good but three weeks ago they had a similar opportunity against Lower Hutt City and didn't step up in the 2-1 loss.

"You know, I want to take the pressure away from the players to a certain extent as well so that all they'll need to do is to go away to express themselves.

"We don't want to freeze, we don't want to make it a big issue. It's a game of football that if we play really well we'll win, simple."

Against Wairarapa, Havelock North took the ball out from the back, through the midfield and teed it up the front. For Greatholder, that sort of game is easy on the eye and something he wants to instil.

They have up to five good stories of individuals who have been around the block a few times now and got better but he's mindful so have Waterside Karori.

"They are no easy-beats so I've got big respect for them and they've done well," he says, after losing 4-1 away to them on April 28. "I won't wish them well this weekend, though."

Blues golden-boot contender Martin Bueno (left) and midfielder Wesley Cain celebrate scoring against Wellington United at Park Island, Napier, on April 29. Photo/file

The Rovers kick off against Wellington United at 2.30pm in Newtown Park today.
Blues player/coach Bill Robertson echoes Greatholder's sentiments on a weekend off to hit the mental reset button but emphasises they trained this time.

The Fifa World Cup offered a degree of escapism with banter flying around among English, Uruguyan and Japan teammates.

The James Hoyle-skippered Blues have a three-point buffer over the Declan Edge-coached Western Suburbs but they won't relax on that even though they beat Wellington United 3-0 in round six on April 29.

"If at the start of the season you would have given me three points with four rounds to go I'd have taken that," says Robertson, describing it as a great season with 11 wins and a draw from 14 outings and 48 goals scored.

"In years gone by that might have been enough to have won a title but at the moment it's not enough because we need to keep winning as Western Suburbs are a very strong side and I anticipate they'll keep winning games."

Robertson realises Suburbs boast a better goal difference (32/25) so it can come down to that if they find themselves on similar points on August 12.

"The boys are focused so I'm hoping there won't be any complacency and slip ups so I suppose that puts a bit of pressure on us to keep winning."

He expects Wellington United to be at their best, aware they made a robust start to the season before hitting the doldrums which perhaps comes with inconsistency among young players.

A grass pitch on a crisp park will make it a good challenge.