Dalefield expect Northern battle

BALL WATCHING: Rowan Yeo on the attack for Dalefield against Harbour City last weekend. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

Dalefield have good reason not to take Northern United lightly in their Wellington premier division men's hockey match at Clareville tomorrow.

While Dalefield are runaway leaders on the points table and Northern United 23 points back in fifth place, in the last two clashes between them Dalefield won by a single goal each time.

Not surprisingly then, Dalefield coach Willie Schaefer is wary about tomorrow's game. He has great respect for the strong Northern United midfield and their counter attack and expects another close battle.

"They (Northern United) have probably under-achieved this season but we know what they are capable of," Schaefer said. "There is no room for complacency on our part, none at all."

A "pretty average" performance by Dalefield in their 5-3 win over Harbour City last weekend would also be a motivating force for his players, he said.

"It was only a couple of late goals which got us home and I don't think many of the guys were satisfied with their performances. We don't want a repeat of that."

Three of the talented youngsters in the Dalefield squad, Zac Caldwell, Gus Wakeling and Morgan Taylor, are unavailable for tomorrow's match - which starts the earlier time of 1.15pm - because they will be at an under-18 tourney, while Chris Horwell is recovering from injury.

The one major positional change from last weekend involves Junior Black Stick Ben van Woerkom moving from striker to the midfield, leaving Rowan Yeo, Alex Sumenko-Bucknell, Aaron Oakley and the Finlaysons, Hamish and Nick, to share the striking duties.