Soccer: Form dispels thoughts of hiding

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Melville last played Central United in the Chatham Cup six years ago at Kiwitea St.

They make the trip north again tomorrow with no thoughts of a repeat of the 12-3 hiding they copped in 1997.

After playing all their cup matches in Hamilton this season, Melville will bring a rich vein of form to Auckland, having gone nine matches unbeaten before last weekend's hiccup against University Mt Wellington.

"We have been dealt a fierce obstacle to make the final," Nixon said. "But given the right circumstances and plan for the day, we can pull it off."

Melville's youthful exuberance will be severely tested by Central, who have won the cup twice.

Steven Holloway has scored 10 in five Bluebird-sponsored Chatham Cup matches this season and will be flat out to add to that tally tomorrow.

Striker Daryl Gibbs is back, but midfielder Sam Wilkinson and Grant Cooper are under injury clouds.

Central, who comprise national and northern premier players, have the edge in experience, but also have players on the doubtful list, including captain Dean Tallentire, Steve Callinan, Scott Greenhalgh and Greg Uhlmann.

"The key for us is to try to keep scoring," Central coach Billy Harris said. "We have done that in all but one of our national, premier league and Chatham Cup games this season."

Harris says he cannot remember scoring twice for Central in that 15-goal thriller six seasons ago, but says he will settle for half as many goals this time.

Even that might be stretching it a bit.

Lower Hutt City have been around a long time - 82 years - without ever reaching the semifinals.

They have the chance now to go all the way to the August 17 final. Standing between them and the biggest day in the club's history is a University Mt Wellington side who, as Mt Wellington, have one of the proudest cup records.

Hutt have the record to back their bid. In league and cup games they have netted more than 70 goals this season.

They can call on the experience of players such as Phil and Blair Patterson and Mark Foster, who between them have played nearly 700 games for the club.

With former Tauranga City sharpshooter Dion Bartosh and Chilean Pedro Garcias scoring regularly, the Uni-Mount defence - without suspended former international Sean Douglas - faces a busy time at Bell Park this afternoon.



Uni-Mount will also be without suspended captain Paul Bunbury.

In the Uncle Tobys women's Knockout Cup, as in the Chatham Cup, there is the prospect of an all-Auckland final. Or, perhaps, no Auckland team at all.

In a replay of last year's semifinal, cup-holders and favourites Lynn Avon meet Nomads United at Tulett Park in Christchurch tomorrow.

Despite the odd airshot in recent weeks, Lynn Avon, 5-0 winners in the same fixture a year ago, should be too strong.

Ellerslie are chasing a place in their third successive final.

They beat Lynn Avon 1-0 two years ago and lost a penalty shootout last season.

This time they are away to ever-likely Claudelands Rovers at Galloway Park in tomorrow morning's semifinal.