Athletic's second chance

Athletic's Luke Howe-Matthews takes on Red Sox's Harry Hamilton in last weekend's match between the sides at Wembley Park.

Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic hit the road for the catch-up round of the Lotto Federation League today - making the quick hop to Palmerston North's Memorial Park to take on last weekend's victors Red Sox Manawatu.

Meanwhile the Athletic Reserves host second placed Hokowhitu at Wembley Park in the Western Premiership.

The Athletic firsts will be out to prove a point to themselves today, with the return fixture at Memorial Park against Red Sox being the chance to redeem themselves after last weekend's lacklustre effort.

The player group would have needed some good honesty over the last week, and will want to take this chance to restore their own pride and self belief as they take stock of the season gone by.

Red Sox clearly wanted the game more last weekend, so today the Reds will need to adopt the same mentality if they hope to get a result from the match.

With only one competition point to show for their efforts, there will be players in the group who will be unrelenting on the pitch today, determined to bring more home.

The Reserves will be smarting after last weekend's spanking at the hands of the Western Premiership's cellar dwellers, and face a no easier task today at 12.30pm on Wembley's No1 ground.

Hokowhitu dismantled the Reserves last time the two teams met with a 4-0 scoreline, and will be looking to claim the win today to keep themselves within grasping distance of current league leaders, New Plymouth Rangers.

The Reserves have missed some of the attacking intent they had since the promotion of Quinn Mailman to the first team, but it's now time for one of the other young players to step up, and push themselves to the fore.

With the majority of the squad being under 20 years old, the lack of a senior head for stability and direction may hurt the home side today, however, there are plenty of players within the group who possess the ability to step up and lead.

Today's match will need to be about maturity, and how well a team can pick themself back up after being knocked down.

With plenty of home support surrounding the ground, and a team mentality of playing for each other, it should be exciting to see the blooming of these shrinking violets.

In the men's local Division One, it's the last round of play before the teams all prepare for an extended Charity Cup competition.

Congratulations must go to the Wanganui City Wanderers who wrapped up the competition last weekend, with a decisive and hard fought victory over Marist Celtic - ensuring that they were unreachable even with a game left to play.

While Marist took the lead after a scoreless first half, with just 15 minutes to go, the Wanderers showed their superior fitness and dogged determination by claiming two quick goals to give them the lead, and ultimately the crucial victoy which allowed them to lift the Roly Taylor Cup and carry it back to the City clubrooms.

The rivalry between these two teams is set to continue with the Charity Cup tournament, with both team's favoured to progress as top of their pools and be in the running to claim one of Wanganui Football's oldest titles.