Youngheart

Goal to Haynes!!!!!!!!

YoungHeart Manawatu coach Bob Sova was satisfied with his side's opening round New Zealand Football Championship win, but is aware next week will be tougher.

Manawatu got off to the perfect start this season  with a 1-0 win over Canterbury United at English Park Christchurch.

But next Saturday, Manawatu faces one of the big three when it meets Wellington at Memorial Park.

``We were definitely good for our win and could have won by more,'' Sova said. ``But we need to tidy up some areas before we play Wellington. Our draw definitely suited us ... We didn't really want to get Waitakere or Auckland first up.''

New signing Jason Hayne showed he will be a handful for opposition teams, scoring the winner with a 20-metre shot after 18 minutes. Hayne picked the ball up near halfway, ran past five or six opponents across the face of the goalbox, turned and let rip with a right-foot shot.

Sova said his side played good controlled football for the most part, though when it was put under pressure play did get scrappy, an area last season where Manawatu often leaked goals.

``When we had time we kept hold of the ball and knocked it around well. It was only for a couple of brief spells where they put us under pressure and we gave the ball away easier than I want. I could say we do lack match practice together and we'll improve on the Canterbury game.''

Sova was rapt with his defence, his organisation and his wide attacking play, three areas where Manawatu struggled last season.

Goalkeeper Chris Marsh has already proven he'll be a major asset, even though he didn't have to stop a single shot in anger. His organisation of the defence, his strength under the high ball and distribution show his skills.

``He was outstanding just in the way he kept everyone in front of him aware of what to do. And his combination with Jan [Weissenfeldt] and Pablo [Yackson] definitely gives us strength and height in the central defence.''

Sova said part of his side's plan was to move the ball quickly and Hayne benefitted from it more than most.

Midfielder Raf de Gregorio delivered quality ball to Hayne, who had the pace to surge past opponents at will. Often, though,  Hayne only had strikers Gonzalo Nieres and Park Sung-Bae to cross to.

``We do need to work at getting the midfielders into the goalbox when Jason breaks out wide ... We need more than the two strikers in there.''

Nieres had two opportunities to get his chase at retaining the NZFC golden boot under way, but both times hit wide, while Park will be better for the run having just arrived in the country.

Park's ability to hold on to the ball will be a major plus for Manawatu, which struggled to keep the ball up front last season.

Manawatu looks to have remedied the loss of the influential midfield pairing Ian Robinson and Ian Sandbrook, with de Gregorio, Adam Cowan and Matt Kennedy.