Biss on task as United raise stakes

MAN ON MISSION: Tom Biss is gunning to play in tomorrow's clash with Western Suburbs in Wellington

The news for Wairarapa United supporters leading into their team's Central League match with Western Suburbs in Wellington tomorrow just gets better.

Hard on the heels of the announcement that Wellington Phoenix squad member striker Hamish Watson will be part of their starting line-up comes confirmation that they have signed up a second player who has worn the Phoenix colours in the A-League, Tom Biss. And there is the possibility he too will make his debut for Wairarapa United tomorrow.

Biss, described as an attacking midfielder, played for the Phoenix in 2013 under Ricki Herbert and, like Watson, has an impressive curriculum vitae. A New Zealand under-20 representative last year, he has been the leading scorer for Hawkes Bay in the national summer league and was part of the Waitakere United side which only just failed to make it to the semifinals of the 2014 Oceania club championships, being ousted by Auckland City on countback.

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said the arrival of Biss was timely as his squad was about to lose in-form midfielder Nick Roydhouse, who has just two more games to go before he returns to the United States.

In spite of having played no serious football for about two years, Roydhouse has been a revelation with his high workrate on attack and defence and Keinzley sees Biss playing a similar role. "He's a midfielder who scores a lot of goals, he should do a good job for us."

Even if Biss can't play tomorrow -something which depends on his transfer papers coming through - Wairarapa will be fielding what looks like one of their most powerful starting line-ups in years.

Combining for the first time up front will be Watson and Seule Soromon, the latter back from a two-match suspension. They will be joined there by talented youngster Omar Guardiola, who has edged out another couple of "imports" in Apisai Smith and Max Lopex for the third striker role.

In midfield will be Aaron Spierling, Nick Roydhouse and Nathan Cooksley while the tall Smith will now be battling for a fullback-sweeper berth along with Adam Cowan, Carl Shailer, Waisake Sabatu and Josh Margetts. Goalkeeper will be Matt Borren.

Strong as his own squad is, Keinzley is expecting a battle royal with a Western Suburbs side which will still be kicking themselves for letting last year's Central League runners-up, Wellington Olympic, off the hook last weekend. Wests raced out to a comfortable 3-0 lead in that game only for Olympic to strike back and win 4-3. It was a similar story for Wairarapa United too in their game with Petone on the artificial turf at Maidstone Park. Petone coming back from 2-0 down going into the last 10 minutes to draw 2-2.

Keinzley is hopeful the disappointment of not picking up maximum points against Petone will spur his side on to better things tomorrow. "We were all gutted," Keinzley said. "And I guess Wests would have been feeling the same way. Any lapses of concentration at this level means trouble."