Match week seven of the ISPS Handa Premiership takes place on Sunday, check out what’s in store with the official preview.

Southern United vs Tasman United
Sunnyvale Park, Dunedin
Sunday 25 November, 1pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #SUvTU

Referee: P Linney
Assistant Referees: A Verolino, C Marsh
Fourth Official: D Woulahan

Squads

Southern United: 1. Liam Little (GK), 2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Rory Findlay, 4. Stephen Last, 5. Erik Panzer, 6. Danny Ledwith, 8. Tony Whitehead, 9. Garbhan Coughlan, 10. Abdulla Al-Kalisy, 12. Sam Pickering, 13. Jared Grove, 14. Benjamin Wade, 15. Blake Weston, 16. Stewart Catto (GK), 18. Markus Fjortoft
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Tasman United: 1. Keegan Smith (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, 15. Max Winterton, 18. Ben Kiore, 20. Nick Stanton (GK)
Coach: Andy Hedge

Lowdown

Tasman will head south on a high after picking up their first win of the season and will fancy their chances of adding to that against a Southern side that has also tasted victory on only one occasion. The key to Tasman getting off the mark came in the finding of their shooting boots – they had previously scored only twice before putting three past the Phoenix – and Andy Hedge will be hoping that turns into a hot streak in Dunedin. But that won’t be easy against Southern, who have carved out a miserly record under the tutelage of Paul O’Reilly. They conceded fewer goals than any other team outside the play-offs last season and seem to have formed a tight defensive unit again. Outside of a 3-1 loss to Team Wellington, goalkeeper Liam Little has picked the ball out of his net just twice. They are still not firing on all cylinders at the other end though, Abdulla Al-Kalisy’s goal in a 1-1 draw at Waitakere last week was just their third of the campaign.

Quotes

Tony Whitehead (Southern United): “We’ve been training well this week and are looking forward to the weekend because it’s our first home game after the Auckland City game was called off. Hopefully we can build on the Waitakere game, that was a good point away from home so we need to build on that performance and hopefully get three points.”

Hawke’s Bay United vs Waitakere United
Bluewater Stadium, Napier
Sunday 25 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HBvWU

Referee: C Mills
Assistant Referees: E Cook, A Lamberth
Fourth Official: Ashley Wilson

Squads

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

Waitakere United: 1. Danyon Drake (GK), 2. Luke Jorgensen, 3. Kohei Matsumoto, 4. Ben Gordon, 8. Sam Burfoot, 9. Alex Connor-McClean, 10. Eder Franchini Pasten, 11. Sanni Issa, 12. Matthew Conroy, 14. David Parkinson, 17. Jake Butler, 18. Lachlan McIsaac, 19. Bill Robertson, 20. Oliver Bassett, 23. Tawanda Marowa, 28. Nick Draper (GK)
Coach: Chris Milicich

Lowdown

Hawke’s Bay have had a disappointing start to the season but showed good character to bounce back last week, earning a draw at the home of Team Wellington – one of the toughest places in the league to secure a positive result. It was only the second point of their campaign and Brett Angell will hope his charges can take the confidence gained from competing so well against a title contender and use it as a launching pad for an improved set of results. He will certainly be targeting all three points against Waitakere as they have won just two of their five games and have kept only one clean sheet. But the west Aucklanders will likewise feel they are capable of picking up a win and it would be an important three points as they could force themselves into the top four. Away sides ruled in the meetings between these two last season, Waitakere upsetting the Bay on their own patch before Angell’s side squared the ledger with a win of their own in the big smoke.

Canterbury United vs Hamilton Wanderers
English Park, Christchurch
Sunday 25 November, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #CUvHW 

Referee: C Berg
Assistant Referees: I Trevis, J Henderson
Fourth Official: B O’Connell

Squads

Canterbury United: 1. Edward Ashton (GK), 2. Dan Terris, 3. Aaron Spain, 5. Tom Schwarz, 6. Gary Ogilvie, 7. George King, 8. Luke Tongue, 9. Maksym Kowal, 11. James Pendrigh, 14. Sean Liddicoat, 15. Andreas Wilson, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 20. Jacob Richards, 21. Seth Clark, 22. Conor Tracey (GK)
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

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

Lowdown

Canterbury were eventually on the receiving end of a comprehensive defeat against Auckland City last weekend but the scoreline didn’t quite tell the full story. The Dragons were actually 1-0 up for nearly all of the first half but the complexion of the game changed when Adam Thurston was dismissed and it was always going to be difficult to contain a side of Auckland’s class with only 10 men. Competing so strongly against one of the best teams in the competition for a half will give them confidence going into this weekend though and the visit of fellow play-off contenders Hamilton is an important match for both sides. They each have their hearts set on a berth in the semi-finals and Hamilton are currently in possession of fourth place while Canterbury are only two points behind. Wanderers therefore need the points to hang on to the coat tails of the top three while a Canterbury win would lift them above Hamilton. The hosts will be without Thurston due to suspension while Wanderers have had a very settled line-up so far.

Quotes

James Pendrigh (Canterbury United): “We haven’t really talked too much about Hamilton, we’ve really just been focusing on ourselves. We want to bring the same intensity we brought in against Auckland City, just with the pressing and how we keep the ball in their defensive third. If we can bring that same intensity then I’m sure we’ll be fine when it comes to Sunday.”

Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Auckland City
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Sunday 25 November, 3pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WPvAC

Referee: Allan Wilson
Assistant Referees: G Sheehan, T Pedley
Fourth Official: C Bennett

Squads

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Zac Jones (GK), 3. Boyd Curry, 4. Liam Moore, 5. Kurtis Mogg, 7. Callan Elliot, 8. Tacettin Kumsuz, 9. Calvin Harris, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 13. Noah Tipene-Clegg, 14. Oskar van Hattum, 16. Ronan Wynne, 17. Benjamin Waine, 19. Maximilian Batchelor, 20. Oliver Sail (GK), 21. Owen Smith
Coach: Paul Temple

Auckland City: 1. Enaut Zubikarai (GK), 2. Hayden McHenery, 3. Takuya Iwata, 4. Mario Bilen, 5. Angel Berlanga, 6. Brian Kaltak, 7. Cameron Howieson, 9. Javier Lopez, 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 Auckland City having lost a huge amount of experience and talent, there was talk of whether they would be as strong as in previous seasons ahead of the new campaign. But any such thoughts have now been put to bed after five consecutive wins. They are the only side to still boast a perfect record and it would take a brave man to bet against that run continuing this weekend. The start the Phoenix second string have made couldn’t contrast more sharply with that of City’s and they are still in search of their first victory. They came close last week at Tasman, where a Benjamin Waine double wasn’t quite enough as they were edged out 3-2. Coach Paul Temple will be disappointed if they again score more than once but fail to take anything from the game.

Quotes

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): “We’re up against a talented side, they have good individual players. You can see that in a player like Willem Ebbinge who is a talented player and Liberato Cacace who has come through their ranks. They’re talented and on their day they can give you a hard time because they move the ball very efficiently.”

Eastern Suburbs vs Team Wellington
Riverhills Park, Auckland
Sunday 25 November, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #ESvTW
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: AM Keighley
Assistant Referees: C Trent, C Tseng
Fourth Official: M Batoor

Squads

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Andrew Withers (GK), 2. Alex Clayton, 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), 24. Jack Duncan
Coach: Danny Hay

Team Wellington: 1. Scott Basalaj (GK), 2. Justin Gulley, 3. Scott Hilliar, 4. Mario Ilich, 5. Liam Wood, 6. Taylor Schrijvers, 7. Eric Molloy, 8. Henry Cameron, 10. Nathanael Hailemariam, 11. Mario Barcia, 12. Andy Bevin, 14. Jack-Henry Sinclair, 16. Angus Kilkolly, 18. Aaron Clapham, 21. Hamish Watson, 22. Marcel Kampman (GK)
Coach: Jose Figueira

Lowdown

After suffering their first defeat of the season to Auckland City a fortnight ago, Eastern Suburbs needed to be careful the wheels didn’t then start to fall off and they made sure that wouldn’t be the case in impressive fashion, winning 2-0 away against a Hamilton side that had been defeated only once. With Team Wellington being held to a draw, that win allowed Suburbs to move within a point of second place and they will leapfrog their rivals with another victory in the televised game on Sunday evening, which is undoubtedly the match of the round. Wellington have been the only side to seriously threaten the dominance of Auckland City in recent years so they must be concerned at the rise of Suburbs and a win for the visitors would be a timely reminder that Suburbs still have plenty of work to do to break that Auckland City-Team Wellington monopoly.

Quotes

Danny Hay (Eastern Suburbs coach): “Wellington are the current OFC Champions League champions and we know they’re a very good side. They’re well-coached under Jose as well so we know it’s going to be a real challenge but it’s something we’re really looking forward to. The boys have trained well this week coming off the back of a good performance against Hamilton. It’s another TV game which is another opportunity to show how good our young side is.”

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “Eastern Suburbs have had a very strong start to the season and we’re fully expecting them to be challenging at the top end of the table and play-off places. They’re an energetic and intense team, who with their aggressive approach with the ball thrive in transitional moments and attacking very quickly. They have added players who are technically gifted and able to open up matches.”

Article added: Saturday 24 November 2018