waikato pre-seaon games

I think your right.  They are very good signings,  I'm still not convinced of the overall quality of the squad.  When Bunce last played it was like watching a man playing with boys (football) and there are four or five other quality players there.  But it must be just a bit disappointing for the Waikatio supporters to see the same names that have failed to deliver in the past and havn't really made an impact on the northern league in the last couple of seasons.  I will look foward to watching the promising youngersters like Samson and Scott and can't wait to see if Sam Wilkinson finally starts to mature as a player.  Waikato are due a goodyear after being the bolters in year one but as all All Black fans know,  just because your due doesn't mean you'll do well. 

Waikato FC laboured to a 1-0 win over a Federation XI in Cambridge this afternoon.

It was a pedestrian effort against a side which featured national league players of yesteryear such as Andy Birchenough, Duncan Lowry, Ged Parkinson and Gary Darkes.

Only goal came from a Steven Holloway header in the 34th minute when he flicked home from close range after a rare quick-footed Waikato move down the middle.

Waikato mostly concentrated on keeping possession at the back and in the middle, thus preferring the square ball rather than ever getting in behind the federation XI with early balls. They created few real chances, though the ball was cleared off the goal line from substitute Shaun Van Rooyen�s shot late in the second half. Waikato lost quite a bit of impetus when right back David Samson was taken off at half time and most of their shooting from distance was poor.

Rob Gill had a quiet game while Welsh import Dale Williams still has a lot of work to do to get his fitness and speed up to scratch. Matt Williams and Hone Fowler were the pick of the Waikato players.

Waikato were seldom ever under much pressure, but the result was a victory of sorts for the standard-bearers of Waikato�s federation league. I�d argue the federation team arguably left the pitch with the greater credibility. They haven�t been training together for weeks. Still, Waikato will have appreciated the work out, though appeared to have gone backwards from last week.

Waikato�s starting XI: Dan Robinson, David Samson, Hone Fowler, Che Bunce, Stu Watene, Sam Wilkinson, Matt Williams, Jakob Sinkora, Dale Williams, Rob Gill, Steven Holloway.

Subs included Boomer Kotchin, Tom Edwards, Scott Campbell, Joe Simpkin, Nathan Holten.