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

For the full draw and more information please click here

Hawke’s Bay United vs Hamilton Wanderers
Bluewater Stadium, Napier
Sunday 11 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HBvHW

Referee: B O’Connell
Assistant Referees: M Rule, T Pedley
Fourth Official: A Riley

Squads

Hawke’s Bay United: 1. Mackenzie Waite (GK), 2. Anders Eriksson, 3. Liam Schofield, 4. Cameron Lindsay, 5. Joseph Zupo, 6. Daniel Allan, 7. Cory Chettleburgh, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Sam Mason-Smith, 10. Sho Goto, 14. Birhanu Taye, 17. Jordan Lamb, 21. Bjorn Christensen, 22. Karan Mandair, 23. Jorge Akers, 26. Alexander Britton (GK)
Coach: Brett Angell

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, 13. Tommy Semmy, 14. Paul Clout, 15. Joseph Terry, 18. Steffano Riley, 20. Derek Tieku, 23. Jackson Hawke (GK)
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Lowdown

Hamilton became the surprise package of the early weeks after starting with consecutive victories – doubling their win tally from the previous season – but were brought back down to earth last weekend with a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Southern. They will be keen to prove that normal service has not resumed and that they are indeed a much-improved outfit by returning to winning ways as quickly as possible. But Hawke’s Bay will certainly be targeting all three points themselves after earning just one draw so far as they look to break into the play-offs after a one-year absence. The Bay’s biggest concern appears to be defensively as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in all their matches and have already leaked nine goals. The return to the scoresheet of Sam Mason-Smith, who struck in a 2-1 loss at Auckland City last week, is a big boost at the other end as he has traditionally been a major source of goals but Wanderers have their own lethal attacking weapon in Tommy Semmy, who could prove too much for the home side’s porous defence to cope with.

Quotes

Ricki Herbert (Hamilton Wanderers coach): “It’s another big game, we played Hawke’s Bay in the lead-up to the season and they’re very solid. They’re probably a bit like us in that there are a lot of new players at the club and I’m sure Brett is still working through what his best 11 could be. But it looked like a very resolute, strong performance in their last game against Auckland. We come out of a disappointing weekend where we probably didn’t get to the heights we feel we should but the boys are working hard and hopefully we get our season going again with another three points.”

Team Wellington vs Southern United
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Sunday 11 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TWvSU

Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh
Assistant Referees: G Sheehan, E Cook
Fourth Official: S Reilly

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

Southern United: 1. Liam Little (GK), 2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Jared Grove, 4. Stephen Last, 5. Erik Panzer, 6. Danny Ledwith, 7. Omar Guardiola, 8. Tony Whitehead, 9. Garbhan Coughlan, 10. Abdulla Al-Kalisy, 11. Benjamin Wade, 12. Sam Pickering, 15. Blake Weston, 16. Stewart Catto (GK), 18. Markus Fjortoft
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Lowdown

After a frustrating start to the season that brought a loss and then a postponement, Southern finally got their campaign up and running with a satisfying 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Hamilton last week. The character of Paul O’Reilly’s squad was evident in that victory as their preparations were greatly disrupted by a cancelled flight. They will need to show those qualities again on Sunday in abundance as a trip to Team Wellington is one of the most challenging tests in the competition. Even if a win proves beyond them, O’Reilly will be anxious to at least find the net as his side are the lowest scorers in the league with just one goal, albeit having played less games than all other sides. In contrast, Wellington are topping the scoring charts with 12 – an average of three goals per game – so Southern will need to be very tight defensively. Wellington have improved in that area themselves, conceding only one goal in three matches after having four put past them by Auckland City on the opening day.

Quotes

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “We are expecting a tough challenge against a very well organised Southern United side. In Paul O’Reilly, they have a fantastic coach who has made a really big impact on the club over the past few seasons. Once again, they have recruited very well and will no doubt come with a lot of confidence after last week’s away win against a high-flying Hamilton Wanderers.”

Stephen Last (Southern United): “We’re really looking forward to it, we had a good result last weekend so hopefully we’ll be able to bring that same sort of performance. Team Wellington are a big side but we played them up there last year and it was nil-all. They’ve got some good players but we’ll be going into it well prepared and the mood in the camp is really good. We’ll be going up there with a positive mindset to try and get a good result.”

Waitakere United vs Tasman United
Trusts Arena, Auckland
Sunday 11 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WUvTU

Referee: P Linney
Assistant Referees: M Batoor, L Agnew
Fourth Official: C Trent

Squads

Waitakere United: 1. Danyon Drake (GK), 2. Luke Jorgensen, 4. Ben Gordon, 5. Alec Solomons, 7. Oscar Browne, 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, 28. Nick Draper (GK)
Coach: Chris Milicich

Tasman United: 20. Nick Stanton (GK), 2. Sam Ayers, 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, 13. Daniel McClay, 14. Ryan Worrall, 19. Chester Gaskin, 21. Jordan Yong, 23. Keegan Smith (GK)
Coach: Andy Hedge

Lowdown

Waitakere hit back after a disappointing start to the season in fine style last week, going on the goal rampage against a 10-man Phoenix to win 5-1. The challenge now is to prove their first win does not become a false dawn and the draw has been relatively kind to them in that regard, dishing up a home game against a side yet to register a point. To be fair to Tasman, they have been handed a difficult first few matches, playing three of the top four sides in the opening weeks. They will see this as one of their best opportunities yet of getting off the mark and they will be keen to take some confidence into what has now become a massive fixture at home to the Phoenix – the only other side without a point to their name – a week later. Waitakere were inspired by an accomplished display from Oliver Bassett in their impressive win over the ‘WeeNix’ and the midfielder, who made a couple of appearances in the English professional game for Yeovil Town, is emerging as a key figure.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Canterbury United 
Newtown Park, Wellington
Sunday 11 November, 3pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WPvCU

Referee: AM Keighley
Assistant Referees: A Clarke, C Bennett
Fourth Official: A Davenport

Squads

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Zac Jones (GK), 2. Boyd Curry, 4. Liam Moore, 5. Kurtis Mogg, 7. Callan Elliot, 8. Tacettin Kumsuz, 9. Calvin Harris, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 12. Oliver Valentine, 17. Benjamin Waine, 19. Maximilian Batchelor, 20. Alexander Paulsen (GK), 21. Owen Smith, 25. Noah Tipene-Clegg, 31. Caleb Emmens
Coach: Paul Temple

Canterbury United: 22. Conor Tracey (GK), 2. Dan Terris, 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, 15. Andreas Wilson, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 20. Jacob Richards, 21. Seth Clark Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Lowdown

While the main focus of the Phoenix reserves is on player development, they will not be happy at propping up the table and coach Paul Temple will be keen to instil a winning mentality as well as improving his youngsters’ footballing skills. They have not fared well at either end of the pitch with their 11 goals conceded giving them the league’s worst defensive record while Calvin Harris, who has struck twice, is the only player to have found the net. Canterbury will therefore be confident of taking something from their trip to the capital but do not have a dominant start to the season to draw from after picking up four points from their opening three matches – at least a couple short of what coach Willy Gerdsen would have hoped for. There may be a long way to go but the current leading trio of Eastern Suburbs, Team Wellington and Auckland City all seem odds on for a berth in the play-offs and the competition for the other place will be fierce so Canterbury must take maximum reward from games like this if they are to push for the title.

Quotes

Paul Temple (Wellington Phoenix coach): “Canterbury are always very well organised and competitive. It’s always a tough game against them and we haven’t had a lot of joy against them in previous years. I expect them to play a certain way, set up really well defensively and be good in the transition so we’ll have to be at our best to get anything from the game. But it’s another good challenge for this young team.”

George King (Canterbury United): “It was our first loss of the season last weekend and that was tough to take but it’s pretty rare for a team to go unbeaten throughout a season. You always want to bounce back when you lose so we’re absolutely buzzing to go this week. Our preparation has gone really well and I think we’ve trained harder this week than we have most weeks to be fair. There’s no easy games in this league so we’re not taking anyone for granted. They might be bottom but who’s to say they won’t come out and beat some of the better teams in this league.”

Eastern Suburbs vs Auckland City
Riverhills Park, Auckland
Sunday 11 November, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #ESvAC
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: N Waldron
Assistant Referees: S Merriman, R Al Rabea
Fourth Official: A Wilson

Squads

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Andrew Withers (GK), 2. Alex Clayton, 3. Kelvin Kalua, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Harrison Edge, 7. Tim Payne, 10. Andre de Jong, 11. Mohamed Awad, 12. Kingsley Sinclair, 14. Elijah Just, 15. Dalton Wilkins, 16. Dominic Wooldridge, 19. Tinashe Marowa, 21. Justin Biega (GK), 23. Campbell Strong, 24. Jack Duncan
Coach: Danny Hay

Auckland City: 1. Enaut Zubikarai (GK), 3. Takuya Iwata, 4. Mario Bilen, 5. Angel Berlanga, 6. Brian Kaltak, 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

Lowdown

With Eastern Suburbs having made a flying start to the season and Auckland City the long-term benchmark in the league, this is undoubtedly the match of the round. Fittingly, the SKY Sport cameras will be on hand to capture the action as Suburbs look to prove just how serious their title credentials are by claiming arguably the biggest scalp on offer. While their three successive victories have put them top of the table, cynics would point to the fact that Suburbs are yet to play a team in the top four and question whether they have been truly tested yet. Tests don’t come much tougher than Auckland City though so those questions are certainly set to be answered. Auckland are the only other side to have won all of their matches so at least one perfect record will no longer be intact by the end of the weekend. Suburbs would make history with a positive result as they have lost all four of their encounters with the defending champions since entering the league two years ago.

Quotes

Danny Hay (Eastern Suburbs coach): “They’re a very good side, there’s no doubt about it. Once again this year, they’ve signed well and have a lot of quality throughout their team. Ramon is a very good coach, they’re a very strong club and have been for a number of years – they’ve led the way in terms of football in this country. So we know they’re going to be very tough again but we’re rolling along fairly well ourselves so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Article added: Friday 09 November 2018