Match week six of the ISPS Handa Premiership takes place this weekend, check out what’s in store with the official preview.

Hamilton Wanderers vs Eastern Suburbs
John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge (please note this differs from the venue originally scheduled)
Sunday 18 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HWvES

Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh
Assistant Referees: C Tseng, A Lamberth
Fourth Official: C Trent

Squads

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matt Oliver (GK), 2. James Hoyle, 3. Joe Nottage, 5. Stafford Dowling, 6. Agustin Contratti, 8. Brad Whitworth, 9. Martin Bueno, 10. Rhys Ruka, 11. Jordan Shaw, 12. Bayley Foster, 13. Tommy Semmy, 14. Paul Clout, 15. Joseph Terry, 18. Steffano Riley, 20. Derek Tieku, 23. Jonathan Mannes (GK)
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Andrew Withers (GK), 3. Kelvin Kalua, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Harrison Edge, 7. Tim Payne, 9. Callum McCowatt, 10. Andre de Jong, 11. Mohamed Awad, 12. Kingsley Sinclair, 14. Elijah Just, 15. Dalton Wilkins, 16. Dominic Wooldridge, 17. Michael Built, 21. Justin Biega (GK), 23. Campbell Strong, 24. Jack Duncan
Coach: Danny Hay

Lowdown

Eastern Suburbs fell to their first loss of the campaign last week against Auckland City and it will be interesting to see how they respond to that setback. Despite earning nothing from the match, Danny Hay’s side proved they have the quality to challenge for the title after taking the defending champions right to the wire. They may even have picked up a point if a header from captain Tim Payne had not been controversially ruled out. Like Suburbs, Hamilton’s perfect start to the season was recently interrupted – by a 1-0 defeat against Southern in their third match – but they bounced back immediately last weekend with a 2-0 win at Hawke’s Bay. This fixture was one of the games of the season last time around, Suburbs eventually running out 5-3 winners. Suburbs have pulled off a real coup with the recent signing of Callum McCowatt, one of the league’s best players last season, and he is in line to make his debut this weekend.

Quotes

Danny Hay (Eastern Suburbs coach): “We were very disappointed with how things ended up against Auckland City but they’re a good side and probably at the end of it deserved the 1-0. We want to get back into our winning ways but we know it’s not going to be easy, Hamilton have strung some really good results together. Ricki has put a strong team together and got them really well organised.”

Auckland City vs Canterbury United
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Sunday 18 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #ACvCU

Referee: M Conger
Assistant Referees: B Norman, L Agnew
Fourth Official: M Batoor

Squads

Auckland City: 1. Enaut Zubikarai (GK), 2. Hayden McHenery, 3. Takuya Iwata, 4. Mario Bilen, 5. Angel Berlanga, 7. Cameron Howieson, 9. Javier Lopez, 12. Dylan Manickum, 14. Jordan Vale, 15. Daniel Morgan, 16. Yousif Ali, 17. Reid Drake, 18. Ruben Parker (GK), 20. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, 21. Maro Bonsu-Maro, 23. Alfie Rogers
Coach: Ramon Tribulietx

Canterbury United: 22. Conor Tracey (GK), 2. Dan Terris, 3. Aaron Spain, 5. Tom Schwarz, 6. Gary Ogilvie, 7. George King, 8. Luke Tongue, 9. Maksym Kowal, 10. Adam Thurston, 11. James Pendrigh, 12. Reese Cox, 13. Lewis Gordon (GK), 14. Sean Liddicoat, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 21. Seth Clark
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Lowdown

Auckland City are now the only side in the league to still boast a perfect record after putting an end to Eastern Suburbs’ run, thanks largely to an outstanding performance from Spanish goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai. That was their first clean sheet of the campaign though, which is uncharacteristic of a side that conceded only 12 goals in the whole of last season. Ramon Tribulietx will be hoping to use the Suburbs result as the foundation of a return to that defensive solidity and there are certainly no problems at the other end. The Suburbs win was the first time City have failed to score more than one goal, which doesn’t bode well for a Canterbury defence that has not kept a clean sheet since their opening game.

Quotes

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): “Matches with Canterbury are always thrilling and competitive encounters and this promises to be no different. We are under no illusions of what to expect with high pressing and a lot of physical competitiveness, elements that make our possession style difficult but not impossible to implement.”

Willy Gerdsen (Canterbury United coach): “Last week was a game of two halves – we didn’t turn up for the first half and then had a brilliant second half, coming back from 2-0 down and deserved to win at the end. Now we’re looking to put in a performance over 90 minutes. There are no easy games in this league and going to Kiwitea Street is no exception but we’re looking forward to a great encounter.”

Tasman United vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Sunday 18 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvWP

Referee: A Riley
Assistant Referees: C Gruschow, R Preston
Fourth Official: R Malcolm

Squads

Tasman United: 1. Keegan Smith (GK), 2. Sam Ayers, 3. Edward Sillars, 4. Thomas Hickey, 5. Fox Slotemaker, 6. Bertie Fish, 7. Corey Larsen, 8. Matt Tod-Smith, 10. Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 11. Alex Ridsdale, 12. Ahmed Othman, 14. Ryan Worrall, 15. Max Winterton, 19. Chester Gaskin, 20. Nick Stanton (GK), 21. Jordan Yong
Coach: Andy Hedge

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Zac Jones (GK), 2. Boyd Curry, 4. Liam Moore, 5. Kurtis Mogg, 8. Tacettin Kumsuz, 9. Calvin Harris, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 13. Noah Tipene-Clegg, 15. Stephen Sprowson, 16. Ronan Wynne, 17. Benjamin Waine, 19. Maximilian Batchelor, 21. Owen Smith, 40. Alexander Paulsen (GK)
Coach: Paul Temple

Lowdown

The new reign of Andy Hedge has so far not quite gone to plan for Tasman, who have begun their season with four straight losses. The South Islanders were handed a tough start though, playing three of the top four sides already. Last week’s encounter with Waitakere appeared to offer their best chance yet of picking up some points so Hedge would have been hugely disappointed to fall to a 3-0 defeat. That result puts even more pressure on Tasman to finally get off the mark against the Phoenix, who are looking to do the same after also failing to earn any points so far. The visitors biggest problem has been keeping opposing strike forces out – their 14 goals against gives them the league’s worst defensive record – while Tasman have struggled at the other end, finding the net only twice.

Quotes

Paul Temple (Wellington Phoenix coach): “I expect Tasman to be really organised but they are still at the start of their journey so that is potentially one advantage for us. Whenever you travel though, it’s always difficult. They have good home support, they want to do well at home and they will be thinking it’s a fortress. We will approach the game with a positive attitude and I know they will too so hopefully it will be a really good game for those watching.”

Team Wellington vs Hawke’s Bay United
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Sunday 18 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TWvHB 

Referee: A Wilson
Assistant Referees: A Clarke, S Reilly
Fourth Official: P Linney

Squads

Team Wellington: 1. Scott Basalaj (GK), 2. Justin Gulley, 3. Scott Hilliar, 4. Mario Ilich, 5. Liam Wood, 6. Taylor Schrijvers, 8. Henry Cameron, 10. Nathanael Hailemariam, 11. Mario Barcia, 12. Andy Bevin, 14. Jack-Henry Sinclair, 16. Angus Kilkolly, 17. Alex Palezevic, 18. Aaron Clapham, 21. Hamish Watson, 22. Marcel Kampman (GK)
Coach: Jose Figueira

Hawke’s Bay United: 1. Mackenzie Waite (GK), 2. Anders Eriksson, 3. Liam Schofield, 5. Joseph Zupo, 6. Daniel Allan, 7. Cory Chettleburgh, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Sam Mason-Smith, 10. Sho Goto, 11. Maxime Oliveri, 14. Birhanu Taye, 17. Jordan Lamb, 21. Bjorn Christensen, 22. Karan Mandair, 23. Jorge Akers, 26. Alexander Britton (GK)
Coach: Brett Angell

Lowdown

The season may only be a few weeks old but Team Wellington are already 11 points better off than Hawke’s Bay, underlining just how disappointing a start the Bay have made to their campaign. After missing out on the play-offs for the first time in six years last season, the goal would have been to make sure that was just a blip but current form suggests it is part of a more long-term downturn in fortunes. A win would alter the mood dramatically though, particularly if it came this weekend against the league leaders. Wellington’s memories of their opening day loss to Auckland City have very much been banished after recording four straight wins and they’ve done it in entertaining fashion, hitting 12 goals in that time to become the competition’s top scorers.

Quotes

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “Over the past few seasons, Hawke’s Bay have been one of the most difficult sides to play against and are a regular play-off team. Brett has done a fantastic job year in, year out to build a very competitive side, and this season has made some excellent signings who bring a wealth of experience and quality.”

Waitakere United vs Southern United
Trusts Arena, Auckland
Sunday 18 November, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WUvSU
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: B O’Connell
Assistant Referees: S Merriman, R Al Rabea
Fourth Official: C Mills

Squads

|Waitakere United: 1. Danyon Drake (GK), 2. Luke Jorgensen, 3. Kohei Matsumoto, 4. Ben Gordon, 5. Alec Solomons, 8. Sam Burfoot, 9. Alex Connor-McClean, 10. Eder Franchini Pasten, 12. Matthew Conroy, 14. David Parkinson, 17. Jake Butler, 18. Lachlan McIsaac, 19. Bill Robertson, 20. Oliver Bassett, 21. Andrew Abba, 22. Nick Draper (GK)
Coach: Chris Milicich

Southern United: 1. Liam Little (GK), 2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Rory Findlay, 4. Stephen Last, 5. Erik Panzer, 6. Danny Ledwith, 7. Nick Treadwell, 8. Tony Whitehead, 9. Garbhan Coughlan, 10. Abdulla Al-Kalisy, 11. Benjamin Wade, 12. Sam Pickering, 13. Jared Grove, 14. Tim O’Farrell, 15. Blake Weston, 16. Stewart Catto (GK)
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Lowdown

With both sides having play-off ambitions but currently making up the numbers in mid-table, this is a significant game in terms of their season prospects. Another loss would leave that team with a lot of work to do to break into the top four but a win for either could put them right on the cusp. There is therefore much at stake and a draw would not make much difference so both sides are likely to adopt a positive approach. Southern will head north with confidence after proving they can get a result in these parts, winning 2-1 at Trusts Arena in dramatic fashion last season with a pair of Danny Furlong goals in additional time. Anything similar would put Southern promisingly placed as they have at least one game in hand on all other sides.

Quotes

Conor O’Keeffe (Southern United): “Last week was disappointing but we have to bounce back and we’ve had a good week of training. The focus is on getting a good result but Waitakere have had a couple of good results so it’s going to be difficult. We just have to focus on ourselves and make sure we put in a good performance.”

Article added: Saturday 17 November 2018