Wanganui City's Latham Berry claims the ball in the big win over PN North End last Saturday. Photo/Sharon Francis
It is road games for Wanganui football's top teams as City look to maintain their unbeaten run when they travel to Donnelly Park to take on the HRV Levin AFC 1sts today.
Tomorrow, Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic will be looking to keep Team Taranaki within reach at Pukerua Park in their Lotto Federation League fixture, while Valeron Wanderers host the Athletic women in their women's Central League matchup at Ashurst Domain.
After last weekend's harsh lesson from Miramar Rangers about what they would be up against should they earn promotion to Central League, the Athletic men now need to turn their attention back to their grade as they face off against table leaders Team Taranaki. Sitting five points behind, Athletic still have a game in hand so will be looking to topple their neighbours to keep Taranaki within reach as the season progresses.
Taranaki, having yet to drop a game, have racked up an impressive 22 goals over six matches so the feat will not be easy.
But with a raft of players with Central League experience such as player-coach Troy Smith, keeper Nick Hayward, and James Oxtoby, as well as national league experience from Josh Smith, who played alongside All White Aaron Clapham at Canterbury United, could see Athletic steal the points tomorrow.
This match promises to be close and bitterly fought in the midfield, so long as Athletic have been able to shake off the Miramar result.
The resolve of the senior squad members will need to be steeled if the Reds are to gain ascendancy over Taranaki.
I'm picking a 1-0 win to the Reds.
Further south, Wanganui City come up against a historically physical opponent in the Levin AFC squad.
Coached by former All White goalkeeper Michael Utting, Levin are known to be tough and never give up, sitting third on the Western Premiership table only due to a weaker goal difference from Hokowhitu Rangers.
City will need to continue their goal scoring form, and maintain the team unity which has seen them put on some stellar displays to date, if they are to bring home three points this afternoon.
No doubt coach Kelvin Francis would have been hammering home the unity message and the importance of avoiding being complacent, with both Hokowhitu and Levin sitting only three points behind on the table.
A slip now could prove costly as the boys in black and yellow will be looking to pull away from the chasing pack.
While the big teams are away, Wembley Park's No1 pitch is far from vacant this weekend as senior men's local league teams put their brand of football on show.
At 12.30pm, the Marist Bhoys face their toughest opponent to date, incumbent champions the Total Automotive Wanganui City Hammers.
After drawing even honours last week against Marist's top team the Celtic the Hammers will be looking to teach the young pretenders a lesson on the hallowed ground of Wanganui football while they attempt to keep pace with current league leaders Castlecliff St Anthony's.
The entertainment on the main pitch doesn't stop there, with 2.30pm seeing the Marist Casuals face the Wanganui Athletic Weekenders, which has produced plenty of entertaining football over the past seasons.
While the rivalry is respectful and jovial off the pitch, once the whistle blows both teams will not be giving any quarter to the other as this promises to be a goal laden event.
Over on the surrounding fields, senior men's and women's football continues this weekend, starting at 12.30pm with Castlecliff St Anthony's lining up for another inter-club derby against the Castlecliff Braves, while the Wanganui High School Athletic International team will be hoping their opponents, Athletic Reserves, will be weakened by the crucial match for the Athletic 1sts in Taranaki.
Wanganui City Thirsties will be looking to bounce back after last week's result with a win over Castlecliff United, but will need to be wary of their foe, as they themselves go looking for their first points of the season.
Marist Celtic, who initially thought they would be sitting in the Roly Taylor stand and supporting their clubmates on their bye weekend, have instead been picked as the first opponents for Tex von Kwiatkowski's Wanganui City Renovators side, who are late entrants into the Local League.
This match should be a big wakeup call for von Kwiatkowski's lads, but will also be a good chance to show how they will handle themselves in this higher grade.
In the second round at 2.30pm, the St John Castlecliff 1sts get a chance to prove they have found their rhythm this season when they come up against the Wanganui City Reserves, while the Athletic Cosmos will be looking to swindle three points from their junior clubmates Wanganui Collegiate in a classic match of experience against youth.
The round also sees the women of Wanganui football lace up, with the Castlecliff Saints taking on the Wanganui Collegiate Girls 1st X1, the Wanganui City Women facing Wanganui Girls College and the Wanganui High School Girls 1st XI playing Castlecliff Scrappers, as all teams vie for points in a congested table.