15 AUG 1998 , Edition 2, Page 12.
Giant-killers face their biggest foe yet
By: ANDERSON Ian
LOVE’S SKIN DEEP: Ngaruawahia’s assistant managers Emmett Connolly and Ricky Duffull have shouldered the responsibility
for helping publicise their club by visiting a tattooist.
Can the soccer fairytale go one more chapter?
Ngaruawahia United have undeniably been the Cinderella side of this year’s Chatham Cup.
The Northern League division one upstarts, who have eliminated premier division Hamilton Wanderers and Bay Olympic in the past two rounds, almost missed the ball too.
A $10,000 bill for the semifinal trip looked likely to rule Ngaruawahia out, but a Waikato Times-launched appeal helped fund the shortage.
Now that the club can go in style to tomorrow’s semi, it’s time to forget fairy stories and get realistic. To make the tale even more attractive and reach the Cup final, Ngaruawahia must become the first side to defeat Technical this year.
The Dunedin side have been impeccable all season in both the league and Cup and have players with international and national league experience.
But despite Ngaruawahia’s underdog hero status, they mustn’t — and won’t — go into the tie with an inferiority complex.
Although the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Neil Mouncher (on holiday in England) is a blow, the visiting side will still field a strong line-up that can nearly match Technical.
Their strength will be at the back, with Melville United national league duo Aaron Kingi and Stu Watene joined by classy centre-back Marcus Traill.
In midfield, the combative workhorse Matty Williams and former All White Brian Hayes won’t be overrun. Their lack of strike power up front has been well documented but if they can sneak a goal early, they may be able to rely on keeping a tight ship at the other end. Cup matches at this stage are often about pressure and who reacts best. If Ngaruawahia can create enough, they may just flourish.
Ngaruawahia: Simon Eady, Wayne Bates, Aaron Kingi, Marcus Traill, Stu Watene, Robert Edwards, Matt Williams, Scott Granville, Andy Bell, Nick Hellwig, Glen Brown, Kerry Hawkes, Gary Kingi, John Bell, Brian Hayes, Roddy Rojas. Dunedin Technical: Rod Renfrew, Nic Longley, Alex Chiet, Dean Wilson, Jon Harahap, Aaron McFarland, David Johnston, Chris Morriss, Ian Bell, Rod Fleming, Graeme Marshall, Hamish Gowans, Darren Melville, Jeremy Seales.
LOVE’S SKIN DEEP: Ngaruawahia’s assistant managers Emmett Connolly and Ricky Duffull have shouldered the responsibility for helping publicise their club by visiting a tattooist.