Football: Youth fill Bay Utd vacancies on road

Jorge Akers, in Marist colours, is a beneficiary of premiership time because of their efforts for the youth franchise team. PHOTO/FILE

Promising striker Jorge Akers and keeper Liam Outtrim have been called in to the Hawke's Bay United football team for tomorrow's Stirling Sports Premiership encounter against Waitakere United in Auckland.

Thirsty Whale Hawke's Bay United coach Brett Angell said the pair had been promoted from the franchise's youth squad in the wake of the suspensions handed out to captain Fin Milne and fellow defender, New Zealand under-20 rep Sean Liddicoat, after the 6-4 away loss to Hamilton Wanderers on December 18.

"Both boys played well for the youth team and have benefited from our Central Football programmes. Depending on circumstances they could get some game time this weekend," Angell said.

Outtrim will provide cover for second-string keeper Ruben Parker who is unavailable with a shoulder injury. Akers is a son of former All Whites player Marty Akers.

That Hamilton match was the Bay's last outing and Angell agreed it had been an agonising wait for his troops, who are keen to redeem themselves.

"It has been a long time between games particularly the way we finished off before Christmas with a disappointing all-round performance."

Waitakere coach Chris Milicich also had his Christmas break ruined when his team threw away a 2-0 lead against the Phoenix Under-20s in stoppage time. Expect the hosts to be just as eager as the visitors.

"This Premiership is so tight and close. Waitakere are one point ahead of us and after the game we want to be ahead of them on the table. But if we don't go about it right and get our defence right individually or collectively, we are likely to be punished," Angell said.

He was happy to report the festive season did not interrupt his team's training sessions as much as it had in the past. Hawke's Bay United trained on December 27, 28 and 29 and then had a normal week of training this week.

Like Waitakere United, Hawke's Bay United have the depth and potential to secure a playoff spot. What tomorrow's visitors lack is consistency and this is the ideal time to kickstart a string of positive results.

If cohesion on attack and defence can be produced in the absence of Milne and Liddicoat, it will be a huge confidence booster.

BOTH TEAMS

Waitakere United: 1. Pirmin Strasser (GK), 2. Scott Hilliar, 3. Stewart Mackay, 4. Ethan Galbraith, 7. Stefen Thelen, 9. Dylan Stansfield, 11. Jordan Hearn, 12. Dan Morgan, 13. Ryan Cain, 14. David Parkinson, 16. Dylan Manickum, 17. Jake Butler, 19. Tom Shaw, 20. Keegan Linderboom, 23. Jake Porter, 28. Liam Anderson (GK).

Coach: Chris Milicich

Hawke's Bay United: 1. Joshua Hill (GK), 3. Kohei Matsumoto, 6. Alex Palezevic, 7. Cory Chettleburgh, 9. Facundo Barbero, 10. Sam Mason-Smith, 11. Saul Halpin, 12. Ross Willox, 13. Ethan Dent, 14. Martin Canales Ramos, 16. Angus Kilkolly, 17. Fergus Neil, 19. Nile Walwyn, 22. Daniel Mulholland, 23. Jorge Akers, 26. Liam Outtrim (GK).

Coach: Brett Angell.