16 AUG 1998 , Edition A, Page 14.
HOW THEY STAND
By: YOUNG Geoff
KENNY WHEELER has been the man behind the team at Metro through some dark days. Now the jack of all trades at Phyllis St is hoping for some extra light to enter the Auckland club in the form of the Chatham Cup.
Metro, top of the Northern Premier League on goal-difference, takes on holder Central United in the semifinals at United’s Kiwitea St home today, with the other semifinal at the Caledonian Ground, where the southern hope, Dunedin Technical, tackles cup giantkiller Ngaruawahia United.
Metro, which turns 100 next year, will be hoping to go one better than its 1946 effort, when it was beaten in the semifinals by Marist of Wellington.
When Wheeler, a former Metro and Green Bay/Titirangi player, took over as manager at Metro nine years ago, the team was in the top bracket, but then had a slump and wallowed in Division One before rising again to become a Premier force again.
“Our good fortune coincided with the arrival of Sean Hird as coach,” Wheeler says. “He’s worked marvels and I can honestly say if he hadn’t come we wouldn’t be as strong as we are. He brought in Steve Nickson (prolific goalscorer) and Jimmy Colliagan (now at Oratia) and they made a real difference.”
All White Noah Hickey made a difference for Central in its quarterfinal tie against Western Suburbs. The speedster ran 75m to score an amazing solo goal to virtually kill off Suburbs.
However, Hickey, who has a leg injury, is a doubtful starter for the holders. “We’ll miss him if he can’t play,” player-coach Terry Torrens said, adding that his other stars, like the Urlovic brothers up front, were fit.
Central has had a tougher run to the semis than it did in 1997, said Torrens. “The only easy tie was against Papakura (6-2 at home), but other than them we’ve had to travel to Whangarei and Tauranga and only just got through (2-1 against Northland and Tauranga City) against lower opposition.
“We had Matt Urlovic sent off in Tauranga and survived and Matt Fowler against Western Suburbs, so we’ve had quite a torrid time. Metro have some handy players and they’ll be tough.”
Metro has met Central twice this season for 5-0 and 4-1 victories.
Roger Brooks, Dunedin Technical’s coach, realises Ngaruawahia is the darling of the competition — but would never swap places.
“They’ve had all the publicity and we’ve hardly been mentioned,” Brooks said. “But I prefer it that way. I’d rather be playing Ngaruawahia than be drawn away to the favourites like we have for the last two seasons.”
Brooks is expecting a bumper crowd at the Caledonian, with all but striker Rodney Fleming (ankle) fit.