Gillespie answers United's prayers

Richard Gillespie Fears Wairarapa United may be forced to field a makeshift goalkeeper in several of their Central League football matches in 2012 have dissipated.

The prayers of coach Phil Keinzley were answered when Hawke's Bay national league keeper Richard Gillespie said he was prepared to be the stand-in custodian over the 2012 season.

It was a huge coup for Wairarapa United as Gillespie was a star turn for them when he wore their colours in 2009 and 2010.

"You simply don't expect a player of Richard's calibre to make himself available in circumstances like this. We are absolutely delighted to have him on board," Keinzsley said.

Just how many appearances Gillespie will make for Wairarapa United's Central League combination is unclear but with first string goalkeeper Phil Imray still heavily involved in Team Wellington's bid for the national league crown, and also taking time out for a friend's wedding, Keinzley says he could expect at least seven.

Included among that number will be the opening game against "hotpots" Olympic in Wellington on April 14 which clashes with a Team Wellington fixture, meaning Wairarapa will also be without two of their other new recruits Tim Schaeffers and Daren Cheriton.

Two other acquisitions from Fiji won't be available then either. It is little wonder Keinzley is nervous about the final series of preliminary round national league matches being played over Easter weekend.

All told nine of the Wairarapa United squad will be action and with Keinzley struggling to come up with the bare 11 players for the Olympic game the prospect of any of his players suffering injury is something he doesn't want to think about.

"I'll be keeping everything crossed in the hope that everybody comes out of those games in one piece, we certainly don't have anything to come and go on as far as numbers are concerned," he said.