Banana skin awaits United on latest road trip

Football

Wairarapa United's horror run with the Chatham Cup draw continued this week.

They have reached the fourth round on the weekend of June 29-30 and yesterday were drawn to meet Palmerston North Marist in Palmerston North.

To say they are getting used to away draws for cup matches would be a gross understatement. Of their last 14 games in the cup, 12 have been away from home. Little wonder coach Phil Keinzley was more interested in who they were playing, rather than where, when the latest draw was made.

"Honestly, I just took it for granted we wouldn't get a home game ... I'm pretty sure now it's all done alphabetically," he joked yesterday. "Starting with a W doesn't give us much chance, does it?"

With Wairarapa United playing at Central League level, a tier above Marist, who are in the Lotto Federation Cup, there is no question which side will be match favourites.

Keinzley pointed out, though, that Marist were in the Central League only two years ago and now were well on the way to recapturing that status.

In the Lotto Federation Cup, which involves clubs from Manawatu, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, Marist have a four-point lead at the top of the table, winning eight of their nine games.

Winning that competition would earn them a play-off with the top side in the Capital premier division for the right to contest the Central League.

"I don't know a lot about them but they have the form on the board to suggest they will give us a tough game," Keinzley said. "I guess it's one of those banana-skin type of games, you are expected to win but you know the opposition are good enough to knock you off."