LEAD STORY - SOCCER: CIA-like spies map Vale's 'flaws'

The Cold War might well be over, but Wanganui United coach Kenny Halliday still embraces some of the old-fashioned ways of getting the job done.
A candid Halliday is the kind of bloke who doesn't leave too many stones unturned when it comes to winning soccer matches.
As his troops were in the throes of carving out a 4-nil victory over Napier City Rovers at Wembley Park, Wanganui, on Saturday, it is fair to say Halliday's mind was elsewhere.
About 72km, to be precise, at Skoglund Park, Palmerston North, where Palmerston North End were hosting Cru-Bar Maycenvale United in one of the other Lotto Federation League matches.
"I had a couple of spies there sending back reports to me," Halliday told SportToday after the Hastings club trounced North End 5-0 after leading 3-0 at halftime.
"The guys picked up on a couple of weaknesses [of Maycenvale] but I won't let it out now because they'll know what it is," he said as the two unbeaten sides in the revived league prepare to battle this Saturday at Akina Park, Hastings, in a 3pm kick-off.
Wanganui and the Bill Robertson-coached Vale have comfortably beaten younger teams in the first few rounds and their much-anticipated clash should be a humdinger.
"We're aiming to capitalise on their mistakes and generally play our own game. It'll be a good old game, mate," said Halliday after Daniel Benson scored two goals and Troy Smith and Dalin Wilson one each to make short work of the Rovers.
It didn't surprise him that the Rovers had held Wanganui scoreless in the first 45 minutes, but it was a surprise that his troops were making hard work of scoring.
"I was surprised that we had 17 chances and their keeper [Riley Morris] had a blinder. I don't know where he came from," said Halliday, claiming six of those chances were on target but the Rovers' keeper happened to be "at the right place at the right time".
Wanganui had drawn blood four times, he said, from their 23 shots at goal in the second half with "the keeper not in so good a place".
While not wanting to use the youthfulness of his side as an excuse, Rovers' coach John McCarthy said Morris' prowess was indisputable considering a frustrated Wanganui were playing a kick-and-chase affair to his side's constructive football.
"We had three to four clear chances in the first half and had we taken them we would have been 2-nil up at halftime," said McCarthy, believing his players had problems adjusting to play after the more than 3 1/2-hours of travelling.
"I was told it takes three hours from Napier to Wanganui but it actually took half an hour more, so I'll need to look at the way I organise things better next time."
Vale striker Joachim Rande is already leading in the race for golden boot after adding two more goals against North End to take his tally to six, one ahead of Wanganui's Benson for the season.
David Gearey scored the opening goal in the 19th minute before centreback Jonathon Taylor found the net from set pieces in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Coach Robertson said of North End: "We weren't sure what they were about so we expected a bit more challenge but they didn't threaten us at all."
While disappointed North End had conceded three goals from set pieces, coach Rhys Harris said the score didn't reflect how competitive his side were.
"We had mentally switched off at bad times," said Harris, adding Vale deserved to win, but the 5-0 margin was flattering.
"They are certainly not that better than us," he said after losing 2-0 to Wanganui in a tempestuous affair in the opening round during the Easter weekend.
Harris, who will have defender Chad Law back after a red card and four Youngheart Manawatu players, thought Vale and Wanganui had a 50-50 chance of winning this Saturday and it would surprise him if they drew.
"No team is going to go through unbeaten this season."
At Taradale Park, visitors Palmerston North Marist Reserves won the battle of two sides in the hunt for their first points.
The Palmy boys outplayed Taradale in the first half and centreback Craig Tichbon nodded in a corner from a Matthew Bruhn cornerkick for a well-deserved goal.
Tichbon, 38, a 94-game ex-Dale veteran, said he had moved to the other side of the gorge due to family and job commitments.
"It feels great to score but I have a lot of respect for [Dale coach] Jamie Hall," said the trade student who emphasised he and fellow centreback, Kenny Hodgson, had 74 years between them.
A dejected Hall paid tribute to Tichbon, saying if he lived in the Bay he would be in his line up.
"We just didn't turn up in the first half at the park today," said Hall, whose side threw the kitchen sink in the second half but the woodwork denied them three opportunities, although Marist keeper Nick Heywood also made some great saves.
Dale have a bye this weekend but Hall was hoping it wouldn't be another unlucky year.