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

Waitakere United vs Eastern Suburbs
McLennan Park, Auckland
Saturday 1 December, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WUvES

Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh
Assistant Referees: L Agnew, R Al Rabea
Fourth Official: C Mills

Squads

Waitakere United: 1. Danyon Drake (GK), 2. Luke Jorgensen, 4. Ben Gordon, 7. Oscar Browne, 8. Sam Burfoot, 9. Alex Connor-McClean, 10. Eder Franchini Pasten, 11. Sanni Issa, 14. David Parkinson, 15. Ignacio Machuca Maturena, 17. Jake Butler, 18. Lachlan McIsaac, 19. Bill Robertson, 20. Oliver Bassett, 21. Andrew Abba, 22. Nick Draper (GK)
Coach: Chris Milicich

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Andrew Withers (GK), 3. Kelvin Kalua, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Harrison Edge, 7. Tim Payne, 8. Owen Parker-Price, 9. Callum McCowatt, 10. Andre de Jong, 11. Mohamed Awad, 12. Kingsley Sinclair, 14. Elijah Just, 15. Dalton Wilkins, 17. Michael Built, 21. Justin Biega (GK), 23. Campbell Strong 24. Jack Duncan
Coach: Danny Hay

Lowdown

Eastern Suburbs appear to be the side best equipped to challenge the established title-contending order of Auckland City and Team Wellington but their losses to that pair in recent weeks have called into question their ability to compete at the very highest level. They will therefore be keen to make a statement in this Auckland derby by returning to winning ways and will be favoured to do so as Waitakere conceded four unanswered goals last week at Hawke’s Bay – a side who had yet to win a match.

Team Wellington vs Canterbury United
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Saturday 1 December, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TWvCU

Referee: N Waldron
Assistant Referees: G Sheehan, C Bennett
Fourth Official: P Linney

Squads

Team Wellington: 1. Scott Basalaj (GK), 2. Justin Gulley, 3. Scott Hilliar, 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. Alexander Palezevic, 18. Aaron Clapham, 21. Hamish Watson, 22. Marcel Kampman (GK), 24. Mario Ilich
Coach: Jose Figueira

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, 13. Max Collingwood (GK), 14. Sean Liddicoat, 15. Andreas Wilson, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 21. Seth Clark
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Lowdown

Team Wellington hit a bit of a speed bump a fortnight ago in being held to a draw by the then-winless Hawke’s Bay at home but they bounced back in exactly the manner Jose Figueira would have wanted last week, becoming just the second team to beat Eastern Suburbs. A visit by Canterbury is always a tricky proposition though, as Auckland found out when they were a goal down to a 10-man Dragons on their own patch. But Canterbury clearly need to improve their game management as they went on to lose that match and could then only draw last week after being 3-0 up against Hamilton. This is Wellington’s last match before they depart for the FIFA Club World Cup.

Quotes

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “Last week it was great to see all elements of our game come to the fore. Whilst we didn’t quite have the lion’s share of possession we normally have, we constructed many quality attacks, as well as showing real team application and ethic. Canterbury have shown over many seasons just how tough of an opponent they can be. Built on a hard-working and well-organised structured team play, they also possess many players who can open up a game in an instant.”

Stephen Hoyle (Canterbury United): “We’re still positive and we’re building for this weekend because it’s a big game. I think it’s good after a game like that to challenge yourself against the best in the country and they’re one of those sides. So it’s very important that we keep being positive and drive on for this weekend. I think we need to remember how good and how on top we were for 60 minutes last week, cut out the period that cost us three points and be consistent over the full 90 minutes.”

Tasman United vs Hawke’s Bay United
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Sunday 2 December, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvHB

Referee: AM Keighley
Assistant Referees: C Gruschow, R Preston
Fourth Official: R Malcolm

Squads

Tasman United: 1. Keegan Smith (GK), 2. Sam Ayers, 3. Edward Sillars, 5. Fox Slotemaker, 6. Bertie Fish, 7. Corey Larsen, 8. Matt Tod-Smith, 10. Kiernan Hughes-Mason, 11. Alex Ridsdale, 12. Ahmed Othman, 13. James McClay, 14. Ryan Worrall, 15. Max Winterton, 18. Ben Kiore, 20. Nick Stanton (GK), 21. Jordan Yong
Coach: Andy Hedge

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, 11. Maxime Oliveri, 14. Birhanu Taye, 21. Bjorn Christensen, 22. Karan Mandair, 23. Jorge Akers, 26. Alexander Britton (GK)
Coach: Brett Angell

Lowdown

Tasman United’s poor start to the season was to be expected in some ways as there is a fresh face at the helm and many new combinations to bed in. But Andy Hedge would still have hoped to have far more points on the board at this stage and now needs to swiftly mastermind a change in fortunes if they are to have any chance of pushing for the play-offs. He will see the visit of Hawke’s Bay as very much a winnable game as they are only two points ahead but Brett Angell’s men have improved greatly in recent weeks, holding Wellington to a draw before comfortably beating Waitakere.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Southern United
Newtown Park, Wellington
Sunday 2 December, 3pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WPvSU

Referee: A Riley
Assistant Referees: M Whitehead, T Pedley
Fourth Official: E Cook

Squads

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Zac Jones (GK), 2. Boyd Curry, 3. Dino Botica, 4. Liam Moore, 5. Kurtis Mogg, 6. Gianni Stensness, 8. Tacettin Kumsuz, 9. Calvin Harris, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 13. Noah Tipene-Clegg, 16. Ronan Wynne, 17. Benjamin Waine, 19. Maximilian Batchelor, 21. Owen Smith, 25. Stephen Sprowson
Coach: Paul Temple

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

Lowdown

After a stop-start opening to their season, Southern appear to be settling into some consistency, picking up four points from the last two matches. Paul O’Reilly will be aiming to use that as the foundation for a lengthy undefeated run and will certainly expect it to be extended for at least one more match as the Phoenix are the only side yet to register a point. Southern will be without their big signing of the off-season though as Markus Fjortoft is suspended after being sent off in last week’s South Island derby win over Tasman.

Quotes

Paul Temple (Wellington Phoenix coach): “Paul has done an outstanding job at Southern, they’ve really turned their club and culture around. They’re very well organised and efficient and have some good players at their disposal. They’re capable of beating anyone on their day, as they’ve proved in the last two seasons. It’s going to be a real battle, not only physically but tactically, so we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Ben Deeley (Southern United): “It will be exciting to get back out there coming off a good win against Tasman, now we have to build on that and get ready for another good fixture. The Phoenix will be well up for it and we need to be prepared for that. The Tasman game was quite tough at times but we got there in the end and we’ll be looking to get another three points to build for the rest of the season.”

Hamilton Wanderers vs Auckland City
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton
Sunday 2 December, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HWvAC 
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: P Linney
Assistant Referees: M Batoor, A Lamberth
Fourth Official: CK Kawana-Waugh

Squads

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matt Oliver (GK), 2. James Hoyle, 5. Stafford Dowling, 6. Agustin Contratti, 8. Brad Whitworth, 9. Martin Bueno, 10. Rhys Ruka, 12. Bayley Foster, 13. Tommy Semmy, 14. Paul Clout, 15. Joseph Terry, 18. Steffano Riley, 21. Will Stephen, 22. John Clout, 23. Jonathan Mannes (GK)
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Auckland City: 1. Enaut Zubikarai (GK), 2. Hayden McHenery, 3. Takuya Iwata, 4. Mario Bilen, 5. Angel Berlanga, 6. Brian Kaltak, 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

Hamilton Wanderers have so far fielded one of the most settled sides in the league with Ricki Herbert making few changes to a line-up that has deservedly earned a place in the top four. Their squad depth will be tested this weekend though as Derek Tieku and Jordan Shaw will both be missing after seeing red in a remarkable 3-3 draw at Canterbury last week. Wanderers showed commendable spirit to fight back from three goals down in that game and will need every ounce of those qualities against Auckland as the Navy Blues are still the only side to boast a perfect record.

Quotes

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): “This could be a dangerous game if we don’t understand our positioning in the attacking third. They’re getting good results and last week they were 3-0 down and came back to 3-3. That tells you about the spirit of their team and what they want to do and they’ll be very motivated to beat us.”

Article added: Friday 30 November 2018