Soccer: City aim to reward supporters' faith

Ricky Espinoza. Photo / Brett Phibbs

They may be the longest shots of the eight teams heading into tomorrow's Chatham Cup quarter-finals but Manukau City are determined to repay the faith of supporters who have bankrolled their expensive trip to Dunedin.

City coach Ricky Espinoza is determined he and his players will leave nothing in the tank in their bid to reach the cup semifinals for the second time when they square-off against Caversham at Dunedin's Caledonian ground. Hit with costs of around $11,000 for the trip, Espinoza has been overwhelmed with the response from the supporters who have rallied to the cause. Life members Barry and Maria Gratwick, who will be with the team on their flight south this morning, have chipped in with a decent chunk of the costs facing the club after New Zealand Football contributed $5000.

"Rob Ewen, through his company Mr Vintage, has supplied the team with clothing including gloves and jumpers as we know just how cold it can be in Dunedin," said Espinoza. "We have had support in many ways including Sacred Heart College who have helped us out with a training ground."

Despite his team's lowly position in the second division of the Northern Regional League, Espinoza is confident they can beat the odds and win through to the next round.

"We are always confident of beating any team we come up against but our season-long problem is in not taking the goal-scoring chances we create. We are definitely capable of playing football. I just hope it is on Sunday."

Espinoza said he had received some feedback on what to expect having "some eyes" on recent Caversham games.

"Hopefully they did the same on us last week when we drew with Tauranga City. We had four or five players out for that game when we conceded a goal in the last five minutes for a 2-2 draw."

For the South Auckland club the Chatham Cup run has been a blessing after the strife they found themselves in earlier in the season when one of their players struck a referee.

"That player is no longer with us, we have moved on," said Espinoza.

In 1987, City reached the semifinals where they bowed out to Cup giants Christchurch United.

In tomorrow's feature quarter-final, four time winners Central United are at home to Eastern Suburbs who have lifted the coveted trophy five times, but not since 1969. Now coached by Kevin Fallon, Suburbs have had a wretched league season and see the Cup as one way to salvage some glory.

Birkenhead United entertain Lower Hutt City in the other match between two teams yet to reach a final with the visitors buoyed by their fourth round win over Napier City Rovers.

Women's Knockout Cup hot favourites Claudelands Rovers are at home to Massey in one semifinal while Three Kings United entertain Coastal Spirit in the other fixture.