Chatham Cup beckons GJ Gardner Homes Wanganui Athletic

Ross Kinnerley (red) returns from a break last weekend hoping to help Athletic win its Chatham Cup match against New Plymouth Rangers at Wembley Park on Anzac Day. PHOTO/Karen Hughes

GJ Gardner Homes Wanganui Athletic will be seeking redemption against New Plymouth Rangers on Wednesday in their opening game of the Chatham Cup.

Athletic have the advantage of home turf with a 2pm kick off at Wembley Park, but will need to lift to beat their arch rivals.

Last year Athletic went down 4-3 in extra time in it's Chatham Cup opener against a Rangers side featuring at least three Team Taranaki representative players in the line-up.
The two met four times last year winning two apiece, but since then Rangers have gone one up with a 1-nil win in New Plymouth two weeks ago in a Federation League match-up.

On the flipside, Rangers did get dealt to 3-2 by Big Orange Wanganui City at Wembley last Saturday.

That loss, however, could spark the visitors into action for the knockout round of Chatham Cup football on Wednesday.

Stating the obvious Athletic coach Jason King football was a simple game with the side scoring the most goals celebrating the win.

"It's a simple equation that I have talked to the team about on many occasions," King said.

"I was proud of the guys last season going so close in extra time against a side with several representative players in the line-up. We were fairly evenly matched last season and this year we have taken a bit to hit our straps. We still need to gel and a game at Chatham Cup level will hopefully give us the lift we need - it is a chance for redemption," King said.

Athletic have played three games this season winning only one, but King has warned his side should not be taken lightly.

"The players have belief in themselves and so do I. Athletic has made it to the quarter finals of the Chatham Cup in the past and it would be great to go some way toward repeating that," King said.