Soccer: Weekly NZFC match predictions

AUCKLAND CITY V MANAWATU

* Kiwitea St, Sandringham, tomorrow 4pm
Referee: Michael Hester

Auckland City

Ross Nicholson, Nick Hyde, Paul Seaman, Liam Mulrooney, James Pritchett, Jonathan Smith, Grant Young, Neil Sykes, Reg Davani, Greg Uhlmann, Riki Van Steeden

Manawatu

Hayden Englefield, Sanjay Singh, Ian Robinson, Ian Sandbrook, Nathan Hill, Alick Maemae, Jared McElhannan, Nathan Cooksley, Commins Menapi, Benjamin Totori, Adam Cowan

ODDS $2.30 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $2.80

Prediction: Auckland have never lost to Manawatu in their time in the league and on their own turf should maintain that record. All the talk is about goals but the key may be whether Allan Jones can fashion a defensive pattern to keep the fleet-footed Solomons stars quiet.

HAWKES BAY V WAIKATO FC

* Park Island, Napier, tomorrow 4pm
Referee: Stephen Fletcher

Hawkes Bay

Mitchell O'Brien, Jamie Farrington, Wayne Atkins, Marty Akers, Jason Hayne, Reiner Bauerfeind, Nick Lucas, Niklas Sandor, Dean Johnston, Sam Jenkins, Nathan Holten

Waikato FC

Tamati Williams, Aaron Scott, Che Bunce, Paul Caton, Stu Watene, LJ Pijnenberg, Andrew Foskett, Michael Gwyther, Nathan Robertson, Colin Gardyne, Jakub Sinkora

ODDS $8.00 DRAW $3.75 ODDS $1.40

Prediction: Waikato could still sneak into the playoffs but a win in the Bay is essential. This must appeal to Jonathan Gould's young charges as a chance to record their second win and give their fans some late consolation for a dreadful season. If guts were goals, they would.

WAITAKERE UNITED V TEAM WELLINGTON

* Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, Sunday 3pm
Referee: Kevin Stoltencamp

Waitakere United

Simon Eaddy, Ben Steward, Craig Wylie, Dean Storey, Ben Hall, Shannon Cole, George Suri, Shaun Van Rooyen, Stuart Hogg, Chris Jackson, Sean Douglas

Team Wellington


Dylan Hall, Jamie Duncan, Karl Whalen, Matt Adams, Raf De Gregorio, Adam Birch, Wiremu Patrick, Michael Eager, Bryan Little, Graham Little, Steven Gulley

ODDS $2.30 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $2.80

Prediction: Waitakere are an 80-minute team playing a 90-minute game and Steve Cain may get the jitters late on each week. But Wellington have let in 50 goals in 19 games and the West Aucklanders should add to that. With a playoff place at stake they should settle Cain's nerves.

OTAGO UNITED V CANTERBURY UNITED

* Caledonian Ground, Dunedin Sunday 3pm
Referee: Neil Fox

Otago United

Lutz Pfannenstiel, Craig Dale, Tim Horner, Jim Letts, Ian Mandry, Uliks Kotrri, Andy Coburn, Michael Eisenhut, Blair Scoullar, Brad Scott, Franceso Caruso

Canterbury United

James Bannatyne, Daniel Terris, Ben Sigmund, Chris Morris, Glen Collins, Jeremy Brockie, Andy Pitman, Justin Lucas, Stuart Kelly, Michael Lilley, Andy Barron

ODDS $2.40 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $2.65

Prediction: Both teams are safely in the playoffs and Canterbury are assured of third place. Nobody is likely to beat Jeremy Brockie's goal within the first minute of last week's game against Wellington, but Canterbury must be favoured.