Revenge was sweet for Wairarapa United when they beat Wellington Marist 4-2 in their opening round match of the Hilton Petone pre-season competition at Petone on Sunday. Marist had thumped Wairarapa United 5-0 in the same competition last year but on this occasion it was Wairarapa United who called the tunealthough they did trail by 2-1 at halftime. Originally Wairarapa United were scheduled to meet one of the top Manawatu club sides in Palmerston North Red Sox but their late withdrawal saw the draw changed and Marist, which is likely to be one of their main rivals in Capital premier division play this season, became their opposition. The Wairarapa United performance was far from complete with defensive lapses and a lack of flow in midfield two of the main problem areas but coach Phil Keinzley was "fairly happy" with what eventuated. "For a first game it wasn't too bad, there is a lot to work to do before we are near where we need to be but overall it was a good start," he said. The two newcomers in the Wairarapa United squad, Vanuatu's Soromon Seule and Fiji's Waisake Subatu, were both impressive. Seule scored two of the goals and always seemed to make for room for himself even when confronted by two or three defenders while Subatu used his height to telling effect in the air at fullback and demonstrated a powerful clearing kick. Partnering Seule up front was Pita Rabo and he too was all action in an attacking sense, scoring two goals and constantly tormenting the Marist defence with his ability to be in the right place at the right time. The combination on the right flank between Sakeo Valevou and Aaron Spierling was another Wairarapa United strength as was the high workrate of players like James Oxtoby and Andy Robertson. Wairarapa United will continue their Hilton Petone programme with a match against lower graded Wainuiomata at Petone this coming Sunday.
