Reserves want revenge

Ryan Holden is likely to be back to assist the Wanganui Athletic Reserves against North End today at Wembley Park.

Wembley Park will be the hunting grounds of the Athletic Reserves today as they host North End at 12.30pm in their Western Premiership clash.

Meanwhile on the surrounding pitches, the local Charity Cup Group B teams battle out the final placings as the knockout leg of the competition draws close.

It's been eleven long and frustrating weeks since the Athletic Reserves have managed to get themselves any competition points in the Western Premiership, and with just a couple of rounds left to reclaim their early season lift in form, they will be hoping today's match against North End will be a chance to prove their preparations for 2017 are on the right track.

With the first team out, the ability to draft in three senior players to bolster their ranks will certainly provide the Reserves with strength down the spine of their team.

It is a strength which will hopefully be enough for them to reverse the horror 8-1 drubbing dished out by North End the last time the two teams met.

Key players likely to be drafted in include the midfield maestro Ryan Holden, who would provide a calming and creative influence in the middle of the park, and the likes of Scott Burney, whose experience will rub off on the younger players, enabling them to unleash their talents on the visiting side.

The task will not be an easy one, but with plenty of home support along, with their recent improvements in playing style, they might just do enough to cause an upset in front of their loyal club supporters.

While the Reserves will be entertaining those on the sidelines at 12.30pm, the surrounding fields of the magnificent Wembley Park will be abuzz with Charity Cup Group B matches, as three teams jostle for the top spot which will grant them a berth in the knockout finals against one of the two Athletic premier teams.

Castlecliff United host the City Hammers, with the Hammers looking for a win to keep them at the top end of the table and a Cup finals berth within reach, while the Athletic Cosmos will be looking to grab a mark in the win column over the Rivercity Chiefs - who have yet to pick up their first points in the competition.

The final game of the round is a Marist derby between the table topping Marist Bhoys and the second placed Marist Celtic.

Celtic will be hoping to take the win and move themselves back up the table, while the Bhoys will be looking for the right to keep singing back in the changing bays, and keep their grasp on the top spot firm.