Central League 2009

17.03.2009

By Gary Caffell

Wairarapa United have lost the services of ace goalkeeper Matt Borren for their debut year in the central league soccer competition.

Borren regularly travelled from Palmerston North to play for Wairarapa United in a 2008 season which saw them win the Capital Soccer's premier division title and promotion to the central league series, both for the first time in the club's history.

The consistency of his efforts in goal earned Borren selection in the Manawatu side to contest the national league competition and they are now just one step away from the grand final, having beaten Auckland 3-1 in the first of their home and away semi-final clashes over the weekend.

Not surprisingly Borren's good form has seen him attract attention from other clubs well and he advised Wairarapa United management last week that he would be playing for another central league side, Palmerston North Marist, in 2009.

It was a decision which left Wairarapa United with little time to find a suitable replacement for Borren considering they are scheduled to start their central league campaign with a match against Wellington United at the Pugh Sports Bowl on Sunday, April 5.

Currently they have promising youngster Matthew Steele as the only 'keeper in their squad and while coach Phil Keinzley has faith in his ability to rise to the occasion he says his selection was always made with an eye to the future.

"It's tough to expect a young guy with limited experience to front up to the top teams at central league level and, ideally, we wouldn't want to do that," he said.

Keinzley isn't overly optimistic, however, that solving the goalkeeping dilemma will be easily done.

"Most of the quality 'keepers around are already committed to clubs, we've put the feelers out but we haven't had any takers," he said. "It's a real headache for us, no doubt about that."

Keinzley said Borren's value to Wairarapa United was that not only was he a very competent 'keeper in general play but he was also an excellent communicator who ensured those in front of him were sticking to the game plan.

"Goalkeepers are ideally placed to see what is happening further up the field and it's a big plus if they are tactically aware," Keinzley said. "He (Borren) did a big job in that respect & a really big job."

The loss of Borren is not the only problem confronting Wairarapa United as they prepare for their introduction to central league play though.

Remedial work to replace the cricket wicket at the Pugh Sports Bowl only got under way last week and club officials are worried that the ground won't be restored to anything like top shape by April 5.

And if that is the case then there is the very strong prospect of Capital Soccer not only requiring Wairarapa United to default their opening game against Wellington United but also imposing a hefty fine on them as well.

Keinzley said Capital Soccer was "very unlikely" to accept any excuses for the remedial work starting so late as the Masterton District Council had been made aware at the end of last season that playing venues for central league matches were to be free of cricket wickets.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will be in order but, quite honestly, it's hard to like our chances," Keinzley said. "The weather is going to have to be kind, that's for sure."

It hasn't been all bad news for Wairarapa United, however, with their central league squad minus Manawatu captain Adam Cowan scoring an impressive 7-1 win over Capital premier division side North Wellington at Newlands College on Saturday.

With North Wellington having played four lead-up games, the playing surface being uneven and smaller than usual and the host club organising its own referee the omens for a Wairarapa United side making their first appearance for 2009 didn't look good and Keinzley was delighted with the way they coped.

"Obviously we were a long way from perfect but we did manage to string some good attacks together," he said. "We got seven goals and probably should have had three or four more."

Paul Gregory (3), Miriek Tvaroh (2) and Seule Soromon (2) were the goal scorers for Wairarapa United with Gregory at striker, Aaron Spierling at left half and Carl Shailer at fullback all having big games. Keinzley said while Wairarapa United had few issues from an attacking viewpoint there were some hassles on defence and the positional play was not always up to standard. "It did give us plenty to build on though and that's pleasing," he said.

Wairarapa United are hoping to play fellow central league side Western Suburbs in another pre-season fixture this coming weekend . Confirmation or otherwise is expected today

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