Hoping to turn fortunes around

Plenty of cup action this weekend for travelling men's sides from Wanganui.

Wanganui City 1sts hit the Chatham Cup with a match up at Karo Park against Inglewood AFC, after the former sat out the last qualifying round as one of the seeded Federation sides.

For City it has been a tough campaign a 2-1 loss to Team Taranaki last Sunday in slippery conditions will have to be put behind them as they focus on a Cup run which will hopefully turn around fortunes and confidence when they hit the league again.

Seemingly on the road for the last three weeks, the players are looking forward to returning home in a fortnight's time.

They must turn results in their favour to build for future Cup matches which saw glamour club Mirimar Rangers at Wembley Park last season attract plenty of spectators and then for the second round of the Federation League.

Western Premiership action will also take a break this week with many sides either contesting the Chatham or Easter Cup (Palmerston North-based competition).

For City Reserves, who come off a 2-2 draw last Saturday against North End Reserves, it will be a lay day as their scheduled league opponents PNBHS play out a Chatham fixture.

Wanganui Athletic 1sts will have a rematch of last week's league match in the Easter competition when they host Redsox Rovers at Wembley Park at 2.30pm.

Hopefully Mickey Cronin can turn around the 5-1 loss in the Western Premiership with some home ground advantage and put pressure on a side full of confidence, unbeaten thus far, and with a lead in their league.

Another undefeated side is Wanganui Athletic Womens 1sts in the Manawatu Women's division.

They stood up to their real first test last weekend on the road, against one of the sides vying for top spot in the league PN Marist Womens 1sts.

Athletic came through with a 1-1 draw thanks to a Hollie Tindall goal.

Sunday at Wembley Park the girls host Massey Women Social at 1.30pm, which in reality should be a much easier outing for the locals

But the Manawatu-based side have not been a stand out in their league, grabbing just one win from five outings and seemingly struggling in the attacking department with just six goals.

Athletic, for their part, are another world away with a staggering 74.

ASB 2013 Chatham Cup Round 1:

Saturday, 2pm, Inglewood AFC v Wanganui City, Karo Park.

The full ASB 2013 Chatham Cup Round 1 Draw can be found on the NZF Website www.nzfootball.co.nz.