Keeping focus key for United

The need to keep their minds on the job in hand will be stressed to Wairarapa United in the build-up to their Capital Soccer premier division match with Marist Wellington at Howard Booth Park, Carterton tomorrow.
Their Chatham Cup knockout match with premier division leaders Petone, on their home ground next weekend, could be a highlight of the Wairarapa United season but if they are to remain in contention for premier division competition honours themselves victory over Marist Wellington is a must
Going into tomorrow's game Wairarapa United sits in third place on the points table, just two points behind second-placed Tawa but six points behind Petone.
To have any chance of catching Petone the odds are they will have to string a succession of wins together over the remainder of the season and hope that as well as themselves at least another couple of sides knock over Petone too.
Coach Phil Keinzley admits complacency is not the only worry for Wairarapa United tomorrow, statistics also show that Marist Wellington have traditionally made a habit of producing their best form against Wairarapa United and he expects no different on this occasion.
"We have had some really close goes in the past and I'm sure they'll be tough again," he said.
Keinzley is confident, however, that if Wairarapa United can show the same character and resilience as they did in their 3-0 win over Brooklyn Northern United last Saturday they will get the desired result.
Previous to that game they had been inclined to play their best soccer in the first half of their matches and fall into decline in the second but against BNU it was a strong second half display which guaranteed the win.
Keinzley said the Marist Wellington game gave the Wairarapa United squad the chance to show that last weekend's performance was no fluke, and that they were now a force to be reckoned with over the whole course of a game.
"At this level you can't afford to slacken off at any stage and hopefully we've learned our lessons in that regard," he said. "Once you've got the foot on the throat you have to keep it there."
Just the one change has been made to the starting line-up for Wairarapa United to that fielded against BNU, with James Oxtoby coming in for Troy Burling at right half.
What this means is that Solomon Islands international Stanley Waita has failed to supplant Sakeo Valevou at striker, after missing the last two games through returning to his homeland to be with his family during the civil unrest there
That situation is a mark of the depth in the Wairarapa United squad and also an indication of well Valevou played last weekend.
Waita will, in fact, turn out for the Wairarapa United seconds in a Capital division three match against Waterside-Karori, also to be played at Howard Booth Park Wairarapa United are just one behind the leaders in this competition and will be looking for a good win here..