Most of Central Football Federation's eyes will be on the match at Wembley Park this afternoon when HRT Builders Wanganui City take on Redsox Manawatu at 2.30pm.
For the locals it will be a title deciding match as they sit a mere two points off leader PN Marist, which has already wrapped up its league campaign and now can only sit and wait to see whether it will be itself or the Wanganui side, which with a win today leap-frogs the Manawatu side, to take on Upper Hutt City FC in a Central League play-off series (over two legs, home and away) to find a spot in the elite of Central North Island football standings.
First of all though, City has to get the maximum points and nothing less to win the Western Premiership title by beating a Redsox side they have drawn both matches with this season (1-1, and 2-2).
Having been in sudden-death mode for the last three weeks, City has been playing with nerves as it has ground out close wins over firstly Team Taranaki (4-3) and then last weekend against a plucky Feilding Utd (3-2), and at times City have looked impatient to score goals. Coach Karl Hayward will be telling his players to enjoy the occasion today firstly, and show patience against a side that is always hard to break down, but show the same spirit which has got them through their recent outings and good things should happen.
Only once this season have the Wanganui side been held scoreless, and even in that match against Marist, there were no lack of opportunities, but for some slick keeping and the odd crossbar and goal post. So Hayward is instilling in his troops, patience. Also asking for his side's experienced campaigners to lead across the park and put in a determined, honest effort, and he (Hayward) believes the right result will come for the locals today.
While close to full strength in terms of selection, City are, as they have been all season, not able to have "first choice" players to pick from. Having said that, Hayward is pleased with the fast progression youngster James Dorgan (defence) has shown in recent weeks, and with Scott Tunnicliffe coming back to his better form of late, the coaching staff have left little to chance. Both sides will be wary that they have each lost a player early in their respective home matches this season so far, for City it has to be controlled aggression, while Redsox Coach Aaron Clegg knows his side would do well to keep City at bay with a full complement.
With Redsox playing today with no chance of a position change in league standings, with the best finish of third place already secured, the question begs as to their mind set and tactics for the game. Do they sit back and hold off City, remembering the latter requires nothing less than a win, or do they (Redsox) approach the game with the right spirit.
Whatever the attitude is of the visitors, the onus remains on City to score more goals than their opponents. Something the side has been adept at all season bar once, and given the fighting spirit shown in the last couple of weeks, for Wanganui's sake, hopefully the trend continues this afternoon. All will be revealed come around 4.30pm, should the 'black and gold's' prevail, it will be a few hangovers on Sunday.
This afternoon's line up for City : Nicholas Hayward (Goalkeeper) James Dorgan, James Satherley, Ben Toyne, Joshua Annabell, Joshua Plumridge (Defence), Michael Hewitt, Scott Tunnicliffe , David Mulford (c), Kyle Graham-Luke, Jordan Joblin-Hall (midfield) Chris Annabell, Anthony Bell, Latham Berry, Jordan Hodgkinson (Strikers)