United blow chance to take down league leaders

Wairarapa United manager Phil Keinzley is hoping his team's 2-1 loss to Petone in their Capital Soccer premier division match at the Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton on Saturday will be a blessing in disguise.
So dominant were Wairarapa United over unbeaten Petone in the opening 45 minutes of the game they should have had the win signed, sealed and delivered by the break.
As it happened, however, several prime scoring opportunities, including at least three open goals, were missed and the only goal they had to show for their dominance was that scored by Lai Gataurua after impressive lead-up work from Petero Dauniseka, Sakeo Valevou and Anton Ross.
"We should have three goals up, maybe even four," Keinzley said. "We were all over them but we just didn't take our chances."
Obviously frustrated by their lack of finish Wairarapa United made too many basic errois in the second spell with the worst of them coming when Dauniseka grabbed the jersey of a Petone attacker in the goal circle and Petone were awarded a penalty which they successfully converted to make it 1-1.
Another 'softish" goal soon after gave the visitors a 2-1 lead and while Wairarapa United had the better of the closing stanzas Petone did enough to keep them at bay and snare the victory.
Coming just eight days before Wairarapa United front up to holders Western Suburbs in a last 16 Chatham Cup match at the Pugh Sports Bowl, Keinzley said the manner of defeat was a timely lesson for his side.
"We have to stay focussed for the full 90 minutes next weekend, if we ease off again we'll be in deep strife," he said. "Hopefully it's been a blessing in disguise in that respect, it's reminded everybody that you have to sustain a maximum effort all the way through."
Keinzley believes Wairarapa United will push even a team of Western Suburb's calibre if they can produce the level of soccer for the whole match that they did in the first half against Petone.
"If you had asked me then who was the player of the match I wouldn't have been able to single anybody out, that's how well everybody was playing," he said. "We weren't clinical enough in our finishing work but apart from that we were a class above them."
Taking the whole game in context though the pick of the Wairarapa United players were the hard-working duo James Oxtoby and Mirek Tvaroh , along with striker Lai Gataurua, who took the place of prolific goal scorer Pita Rabo who was rested with the idea of giving his knee injury more time to heal before the Chatham Cup match.
Saturday's loss dropped Wairarapa United to fifth on the premier division table. Wairarapa United does have a game in hand on the top four sides, however, and are still a strong chance for a top three placing.