North End threatens Massey in fight for second-best

FOOTBALL: Will North End usurp Massey University and claim bragging rights as Palmerston North’s second-best men’s team this year?

That is the question going into the final couple of games in this season’s Federation League.

Third-placed Massey are hosting–weather permitting–Palmerston North Marist on Saturday while North End trek to Gisborne Thistle.

At present North End lie two points behind the students but with a game in hand, so the issue is still undecided.

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Massey were on the wrong end of a high-scoring encounter with Marist in the league the first time they played this season, going down 5-3.

And before that, Marist beat the students in the Chinese Cup and the Chatham Cup.

Then there was last weekend, when Marist put eight past Napier City Rovers reserves while Massey conceded six against North End.

So Marist must be favourites against Massey on Saturday, even if the game is played on a heavy grass ground and not the artificial turf they prefer.

Coach of the students Donald Piper agreed the side would need to improve in a big way if they were to get close to Marist on Saturday.

“My message this week is that there is still plenty to play for and it would be disappointing not to see the effort they have put in during the season rewarded.”

Piper said like other clubs, sickness and the weather had played havoc with the players.

“It’s been a difficult week.”

Massey will be missing Matt Hilson and Kurtis Medcalf but otherwise should be at full strength for the game.

Marist coach Juliano Schmeling said playing on the Massey grass would be a “challenge”.

“We just need to keep momentum and do what we’ve been doing.”

He said it was pleasing to see Marist scoring goals last weekend. “We’ve been creating all year but haven’t always scored from it.”

The side will be boosted by the return from suspension of midfielder Luke Minshull but is still missing Luke Palfreyman.

North End ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over Thistle in the first round of the league this season.

But coach Scott Robson is wary of players turning out on Saturday for the home side who couldn’t travel for that game.

However North End were “pretty confident” after their six-goal haul last weekend.

“More of the same” at Gisborne would be ideal, he added.

“This will be only the second time this year we’ll be fielding the same squad.

“Last week we showed we could keep possession and control the game.”

Which was the plan again against Gisborne this weekend as well, he added.

Thistle are tied at the foot of the league ladder with Levin, both sides having won just one game this season so far.