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Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Football: Athletic look to get rolling

By Jason King
Whanganui Chronicle·
1 Aug, 2014 09:00 PM4 mins to read

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Football PHOTO/FILE

Football PHOTO/FILE

It feels like an age since Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic and Wanganui City have played on the No1 ground at Wembley Park.

But this weekend they return with Athletic hosting Palmerston North Boys' High School at 2.30pm in the Lotto Federation League Cup, and City entertaining the Red Sox Manawatu Rovers at 12.30pm in the Western Premiership.

After winning the league only a few weeks ago, it has been a case of false starts for Athletic in the newly-created Federation League Cup.

With a postponement on their first week, and the Football United tour games in Wellington seeing matches postponed last weekend, only one game has been played in their pool in the past few weeks.

It can be guaranteed Troy Smith and the rest of the Reds will be champing at the bit to lace up again and knock a ball around in anger, so it should be a great fixture to watch against the youthful PNBHS squad.

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Athletic found Boys' High to be their bogey team in the Federation League, struggling to get to a 1-0 victory over them in the first round, and then memorably finishing up at 2-all when they last hosted them on Wembley Park.

James Oxtoby and Joe Sowden will be crucial in this match, and their work-rate will need to be at their usual high pace if the Reds midfield is to take control of the game quickly.

Keeper Nick Hayward will be looking to continue his blessed spell between the sticks in this half of the season. He will no doubt put on an acrobatic display of goalkeeping ability as he will be demanding nothing less than a clean sheet today.

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I expect this match to be tight, and the result will come down to whether Athletic can brush away the cobwebs after a couple of weeks without competitive football. I'm picking this one to end up as a scoreless draw.

Wanganui City have also had the last week off, but should be rearing to go as they host the Red Sox Rovers at 12.30pm at Wembley Park.

City have been making a solid case for themselves to be promoted back into the Federation League next season, having not yet dropped any competition points in the 13 rounds to date.

Still sitting nine points clear of the pack and with seven games left in the season, it's hard to think that anyone will be able to catch them or even get close.

City coach Kelvin Francis expressed his desire to finish the league unbeaten, and the squad is certainly geared up to deliver that goal for him.

One of the success stories in the City squad this year has been the revelation of Marcus Jones, who has plied his trade week in an week out at fullback for City.

At just 15-years-old, Jones has shown a mature and level head, while answering the call and supporting his squad, contributing heavily each week and growing more and more with each game.

Facing bottom-of-the-table Red Sox this weekend should be the perfect way for City to get back into the swing of competitive football, and no doubt will give their players plenty of opportunities to get some shooting practise.

Jamie and Luke Lambe have shown they can put aside any friendly sibling rivalry off the pitch and have the capability to work in tandem to potent effect when in front of goal.

Chris Annabell, City's stalwart midfield general, will also be hoping to slot a few away this weekend, as he looks to catch Jamie Lambe in the Golden Boot race.

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City dominates that race as well, with Lambe, Annabell and captain James Satherly all featuring in the Top 5 goal scorers in the competition so far.

It should be hard work for the Rovers to keep pace with the attacking style of football City has developed over the past 13 rounds.

I'm picking City to break the double digits today, and put on a clinical display and use the width of the park in attack.

With two entertaining matches in store on Wembley Park's main ground, it's a great opportunity to sit in the Roly Taylor grandstand and enjoys an afternoon of entertaining football.

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