United aiming to attack with menace

Rotorua United's George Watson is aiming to be on target for his side on the weekend. PHOTO/BEN PARKER.

Rotorua United must attack with confidence if they are to beat a "testing side" in the WaiBOP Premiership, according to their manager.

The sixth-placed team will go in search of their eighth win in the competition but face a difficult challenge against third placed Matamata Swifts at home tomorrow.

Manager Ian Walker has stressed his side must focus for the full 90 minutes - after their opponents managed to come from behind three times in the reverse fixture and stole a 4-3 victory with a goal in the last five minutes.

"We know they have a very dangerous attacking line and I don't want us conceding late on like that again," he said.

"It was a very open game, and I think we need to control the ball a bit more in midfield and we just need to stay cool calm and collected on the ball."

Walker also said the United defence will have to be wary of frenchman Raphael Berthelot who scored two goals off the bench when the two clubs met previously - including the winning strike.

"He had the sort of quality that can pull a goal from anywhere so we need to try and mark him out of the game," he said.

United will be at full strength and look to in-form strikers Ash Gower-Rudman and George Watson to be in clinical form in front of goal.

The home side come into the game on the back of last weekend's 4-1 local derby loss to the only unbeaten Premiership team - rivals Ngongotaha AFC.

Despite the loss Walker said the team were feeling very confident after playing with "attacking menace".

"In the past it's been said that we park the bus so to speak," he said. "But this wasn't the case against Ngongotaha. We really went for them and can take a lot of belief from that.

"We just needed to be a bit more clinical in front of goal.

"On our day we can beat anyone and Ash and George look like a dangerous threat up front."

Elsewhere, top of the table Ngongotaha are aiming to record their fourteenth win of the season when they take on fourth placed Otumoetai away tomorrow.

Tomorrow's games:

WaiBOP Premiership:
Kick-off 2.45pm

Rotorua United v Matamata Swifts Prem, Neil Hunt Park 1

Otumoetai FC First Credit Union v Ngongotaha AFC, Fergusson Park 1

Melville United Prem v SGS Papamoa Premiership, Gower Park 5

Katikati FC Ambria Premiership v Waikato Unicol AFC Prem, Katikati College 1

Tauranga Boys' College 1st XI v Cambridge FC Prem, Southey 1

Old Blues Prem v Tauranga City Premiership

WaiBOP Championship:
Kick-off 2.45pm

Otumoetai FC Mens v Ngongotaha Champ, Fergusson Park 1 (Kick-off 12.30)

Old Blues Champ v Taupo AFC Champ, Wharepai Domain 1 (Kick-off 12.30)

Hamilton Wanderers Champ v Matamata Swifts Reserve, Porritt Stad 1

Whakatane Town Champ v West Hamilton Champ, Rex Morpeth Park 1

Tokoroa AFC Champ v Waikato Unicol AFC Reserves, Strathmore Park 1

Te Awamutu Edmond Judd Champ v Cambridge FC Champ, The Stadium