Football: Heat's on at Wembley Park

Football PHOTO/FILE

It's another exciting day of football over at Wembley Park with the men's and women's local leagues continuing to heat up.

In the opening round of the day at 12.30pm, Wembley's No1 pitch will be hosting this weekend's feature match between the Wanganui Athletic Cosmos and Castlecliff St Anthony's.

The Saints have been rocking the boat in the Men's League - charging up the table in their debut season. But this weekend they face off against one of the league's most experienced teams, Cosmos.

Don't be fooled by the greying hair and receding hairlines of the gentlemen in red, as their possession-based game has led to the downfall of many opponents during this season and seasons past.

The Saints will need to ensure they can keep possession away from Cosmos, as once they have the ball, they will control the game at their pace, and will take every opportunity they can to send the younger lads from the Cliff home with a lesson in how to play football.

In other games this round, Wanganui High School International will be looking to spoil the Marist Bhoys hopes of staying in the top eight, while the St John Castlecliff 1sts will be hoping to bounce back from last week's loss as they face off against the Wanganui City Thirsties.

In what will be another game to watch, the Wanganui Athletic Reserves go up against the Castlecliff Braves, with the Braves on the hunt for another big scalp this season to keep them in the hunt for a top eight position.

Reserves have dropped just one game this season, and will be hunting for three points to keep themselves within reach of the top of the table. They will also be hoping that their City counterparts will do their bit, as the Wanganui City Reserves play the Total Automotive Wanganui City Hammers.

Bragging rights in the clubrooms after the match will be up for grabs here, but you can bet Reserves will not want to roll over and let the Hammers have three points easily - loving nothing more than to give the league leaders their first loss of the season.

The Wanganui Athletic Weekenders will be riding high after last week's shock victory and will be hoping to continue their mini-march as they go up against Castlecliff United.

Meanwhile, the Wanganui Collegiate 1st XI will be wanting to contain the Marist Celtic, who currently sit in fourth position and need to collect points.

In Women's League, the Castlecliff Saints host Wanganui High School, with the WHS girls keen to grab another three points to keep them at the head of the pack, while the Wanganui Girls' College go up against a Castlecliff Scrappers who are hoping their clubmates can keep points away from WHS, while they make a play for first place.

Wanganui City Women will be reeling after last weekend's loss and will be looking to vent their frustration against the Clive Barritt Builders Marist Women in the final match of the day.