Ngongotaha AFC face tough trip to Waiheke

POWER: Ngongotaha AFC's Mitch Miller wins the ball against Mangere United last weekend. PHOTO/PHOTOTEKNZ

Ngongotaha AFC will be leaving at 6.30am tomorrow to make a 2.45pm kickoff on Waiheke Island.

In what is one of the longest away trips in the league, Ngongotaha face the daunting task of playing a talented Waiheke United on their home turf.

Waiheke are unbeaten in second place with 12 wins and five draws this season. When the sides met in Ngongotaha earlier this season Waiheke won 7-0.

Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis expected a "pretty tough game".

"They're pretty much covered all the way around the field, skill wise.

"I'd like to just see our guys play confidently. Waiheke deserve to be in the position they're in and I think if they beat us they'll earn promotion."

Davis said Waiheke played a free form style of attack and his team should take the opportunity to learn from one of the top teams in the league.

"They play a completely different style to any other team, they have a lot of South American players and they seem to rotate positions. One minute a midfielder is up front, next minute he's right at the back.

"We probably need to make the field as small as possible, play a high defensive line to squeeze them in and compress them.

"I think we're looking forward to the experience, it's a big trip and they have a totally different culture.

"They have supporters on drums the whole time, letting off flares and they have non-stop singing throughout the whole game - it's a cultural experience for all of us."

Meanwhile, in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership Rotorua United play Te Awamutu away.