Furthest away game will require big focus

SPREAD YOUR WINGS: Quinn Mailman, seen here contesting with Massey's Daniel Ellington, and his Wanganui Athletic team will have their longest journey of the season to play in Gisborne today. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

A long trip away to the East Coast may not help the struggling Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic first team in today's match against Gisborne Thistle in the Lotto Federation League.

Meanwhile the Athletic Reserves are at home to Levin in the Western premiership at 12.30pm on Wembley's No1 ground.

For the Athletic firsts, it's been a season that started off appallingly but has started to threaten to break into something good in recent weeks, yet still keeps falling shy of giving them any competition points to record.

Today's match against third-placed Gisborne Thistle, who claimed a 4-0 victory over the Reds in the last meeting, will be a test of the character and culture of the club.

It will be seen whether the focus is on claiming a much needed point in the competition, or whether the focus will be on enjoying the scenery and camaraderie of travelling away with the team.

While the latter will certainly be on the cards, the progress of the team over the past few weeks has shown the former is likely be the focus.

Athletic will be desperately working to find a win, or even a draw to represent the positive progress the side has made in the season and dispel the very real possibility of a winless campaign.

With high spirits and a dogged determination, Athletic may be able to scrap out a result today, but it will come down to the creativity and determination of some of the younger squad members, as well as the leadership and guidance of the seniors, to pull together as one and bring home an upset on the road.

While the first team is away, the Reserves have been left to defend the pride of Wembley Park as Levin AFC come to town looking to prove a point after the Reserves held them to a draw in the first round meeting between the two teams.

This weekend may be the best advantage for the visitors to inflict further pain upon the young development side, who have had a horrid run of results over the past few weeks.

But they will be hoping to be able to put the brakes on their slip down the table quickly, and show just what they are truly capable of in front of their home supporters.

The Reserves will be able to take some encouragement from the fact their season to date has been better than Levin " who currently sit in 11th place in the 12-team competition " but are still only two points behind Athletic on the table and are nipping at their heel, preventing them from being too complacent going into the match.

However, this is a team full of rough diamonds, with plenty of unbridled talent to spare, mixed with a few experienced heads that should see the team unlock the defence of Levin, and be able to frustrate the visitors once more this season.