Soccer: Stiff challenge for Waitakere in cup quarters

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Hammered one week and under the hammer the next - that is the scenario Waitakere City face when they step out on to Park Island in Napier in tomorrow's Chatham Cup soccer quarter-final against Napier City Rovers.

Waitakere, three-times cup winners and last year's beaten finalists, must overcome the odds and the difficult away assignment to keep their hopes alive.

The unpredictable Steve Cain-coached City side must shrug off last week's nightmare - a 2-6 walloping by Dunedin Technical - to have any chance against the in-form dual Cup-winners.

Napier have only one change, import Ricky Ravenhill back into the midfield in place of Warren Gilbertson, from the team who thumped Manawatu 3-0 last Sunday.

The return of Ryan Dawkins at the heart of the Waitakere defence might be even more significant.

They will, however, be without injured Jamie McKenna, who has joined Hoani Edwards (also injured) on the sideline.

The quarter-finals promise some tight matches, with the winners of all but one of the last 10 cup finals involved.

Ansett national club championship leaders University-Mt Wellington - just one triumph away from joining North Shore and Christchurch United as the most successful club in cup history - face a difficult away trip to play cup-holders Dunedin Technical, who have been in great form.

Unbeaten in their past nine outings, the southerners have watched with real satisfaction as Aaron Burgess has leapt into second place on the league's goal-scoring list with the five he netted against Waitakere on the same New Caledonian ground a week ago.

University-Mt Wellington have "Mr Dependable" - assistant coach and midfield general Andy Brown - back and will look to his abilities to read the game and steady the ship in chasing what would be a hard-earned victory.

Central United, the winners in 1997-98, have the home advantage for the all-Auckland clash against neighbours Metro, who are the only side among the eight survivors yet to get their hands on the coveted trophy.

Neither side have played anywhere near their best this season, but Central have Fred de Jong back and Gareth Rowe to add some stability.

Wellington United, the only non-league side still in contention, are at home to Miramar Rangers.

Wellington, at home and with the lead in their local competition to boost their hopes, could upset the 1992 and 1996 winners, who lacked firepower in going down to University/Mt Wellington last Sunday.