Football: WaiBop look to continue good form

Waibop United player Thomas Probert, right, and Hawkes Bay United player Cane Morgan during their teams' ASB Premiership match last year in Rotorua. Photo/File

WaiBOP United takes on Hawke's Bay United tomorrow in what promises to be a telling early season encounter.

Head coach, Peter Smith, is looking for his team to continue with the form they exhibited in a 5-1 victory over Waitakere United last week.

"We had our first experience of Thursday night football last week and I don't really think it could have gone any better. For me now it's just a case of 'more of the same, but better, please lads'," said Smith.

"We did pretty well against Waitakere, the lads were buzzing, the feedback from people in the game has been amazing... but that was last week.

"That win has filled us with belief. It was a good performance and an excellent result against one of the big boys. But if we hope to get anywhere near where we want to be then we have to take the Waitakere performance as our minimum expectation now. Other teams will improve so we have to as well."

He said Hawke's Bay secured an excellent result in their first game against Auckland City and had a good win at the weekend over Southern United.

"We played each other a couple of times during the pre-season and I had a good look at them against Southern on Sunday, so we have a pretty good idea of what they're about. As, I'm sure, do they of us. That probably means the team that can execute on their game plan the best will win. So that's what we'll focus on."

Smith had a little chuckle about the game being played in Taupo.

"It's almost a home game for Brett and his team. I'm sure they don't mind having an away
game so close to Napier," he said. "We're looking forward to playing on Owen Delany Park, though, and to being in front of the Sky Sport cameras once again. Hopefully both sides can get out there and play the sort of football that will keep the local fans, as well as the TV audience, enthralled."

"As coaches we now not only have a responsibility to get results but also to put on a good show for the fans at home. There's nothing as captivating as an exciting game of football and the more of those we can get on TV the better for the league."

-The game kicks off at 7.35pm.