Match Preview

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.