Boath out for key match

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 28

Boath out for key match

By DAVID LEGGAT The anticipated mid-field battle between New Zealand’s two most recent soccer captains, Steve Sumner and Allan Boath, is unlikely to take place in Christchurch Mogal United’s Rothmans League match against Manurewa at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Sunday. Boath, the present national captain, is a very doubtful starter owing to the thigh injury he suffered in South Korea a fortnight ago. Sumner, the player Boath replaced as the New Zealand captain, earlier this year, will be the key figure in Manurewa’s plans to wrest at least a point from the match, as it has on two of its last three visits to

Christchurch. Graeme Archer and Johann Verweij, United’s two other players with injury worries, are expected to be fit for the match, which should be entertaining, and certainly the crowd will be hoping for a repeat of the 4-4 draw three years ago. United’s manager, Mr Terry Conley, has no intention of altering his team from that which did well to beat McKee Nelson United last week-end. However, he will be looking for improvements in his defence, which has been guilty of conceding some soft goals this winter.

This should be no more than fine tuning, as United’s league position indicates

clearly that its strength lies in its attack. While it must play to that strength, Mr Conley has always been a firm advocate of defensive tightness. He has seen mistakes from his back-line go unpunished in the first half of the league, and he wants them rectified.

“If you keep making mistakes, eventually someone is going to hammer you,” he said. He is not certain what to expect from a Manurewa side which has produced some good results since drawing 1-1 with United on April 10. “We are more concerned with what we are going to do,” said Mr Conley. “If we play as well as we can, there should be no problems.”

The remaining five matches on Sunday are Mount Wellington v. Dunedin Technical, Gisborne City v. Napier City Rovers, Hanimex-North Shore v. National Mutual Miramar, Wellington Diamond United v. McKee Nelson United and Dunedin City v. Papatoetoe. Shamrock’s bid for the Hertz League title will be sternly tested by CashmereWanderers at English Park tomorrow. Rangers, its closest rivals, will play Western at Western Park; Halswell United will face Woolston W.M.C. at Halswell Domain; Christchurch United will meet New Brighton, and Nomads United will play South Canterbury United.