Soccer: Stage set for Waitakere

By TERRY MADDAFORD

If a poor dress rehearsal is to be followed by a command performance, Waitakere City will bolt in when they meet Miramar Rangers in Monday's Chatham Cup final at North Harbour Stadium.

But form and the odds suggest something different.

Miramar will come north as reigning Capital Premier League champions and with a couple of big scalps including Napier City Rovers and Eastern Suburbs (both in away games) en route to Monday night's final.

Waitakere City, on the other hand, lost their last four Northern Premier outings and a had a couple of scrappy wins over "Nigel No Names" in cup quarter and semifinals.

"We ain't been playing well," admitted City coach Tommy Mason, who has been forced through injuries/suspensions to field teams down on firepower recently.

How does he plan to turn that around?

"The final will do that in itself," said Mason, who is heading into uncharted territory with his team's appearance in the Bluebird-sponsored final.

While Miramar coach Dave Farrington has been to a final - he took Miramar to the 1982 final which they lost 1-0 to Mt Wellington in extra time - Mason has yet to experience such giddy heights here either as a player or coach.

"Our season has not been great," said Mason. "We did all right early on but I don't think we have done well lately. Our loss to Central in the league was the turning point.

"We had a few injuries after that and started missing too many of our regular players."

He concedes the odds - while against his team - are fair.

"It says they [Miramar] are a very good side. I know that and so do the players. We will be the second favourites, but that does not mean we can't win."

For the first time in weeks, Mason will put out a full-strength side. He has allowed Chilean Mauro Donoso time to recover from injury as goalkeeper Michael Utting has done.

Their experience will be invaluable, but it is the younger players who will win or lose it for City.

Jason Rowley has done well in difficult circumstances and must again step up. So must Craig Wylie. Hone Fowler is tipped as a player to watch along with Kris Bright, who sometimes struggles against well-organised, quick defences.

Bright has the chance to join an elite group of father-and-son cup winners. His father, Dave, who played 13 times for the All Whites between 1979-82, won cup finals with Manurewa in 1978 and 1984.

Bright's battle with experienced Miramar defender Andy Hedge will be interesting to say the least.

Miramar have scored 20 goals and conceded six on their way to the final. Waitakere have won four games by the odd goal and another in a penalty shootout.

That does not convince Farrington, who will coach Miramar for the last time in the final, that this will be a cakewalk.

"I expect it to be a tight, dour, struggle with little in it," said Farrington. "Perhaps an opportunist goal from a player on either side being the difference on the night."

In captain Graham Little, Farrington has the player most likely to grab the goal that counts.

He and his brother Bryan (10 goals between them in the cup thus far), with the midfield back-up of Tim Butterfield, must be contained for City to have any chance.

That might be a tall order.

Tomorrow's Uncle Toby women's Knockout Cup final promises to be a close battle between long-time rivals Lynn Avon United and Three Kings United, who, somewhat surprisingly, will meet in a cup final for the first time.

The clash at Fred Taylor Park gives Three Kings the chance to join their rivals as four-time winners.

Many of the country's best players will be on show in a match which will be controlled by 23-year-old Palmerston North referee Shannon Smith, who will be only the second woman, after Linda Ritchie (2000/01), to be in charge of a final.

Maia Jackman, who was the most valuable player in Lynn Avon's 1996 4-2 win over Petone, will lead Three Kings, while veteran international Terry McCahill will captain Lynn Avon.

Kick-off is at noon.