NUAFC 1968-2018

1998
13 AUG 1998 , Edition 2, Page 12.
Dunedin fed all the gen on Waikato foes
By: ANDERSON Ian
Dunedin Technical are confident they know exactly
what they'll be up against in the Chatham Cup semifinal.
The home side's assistant coach, and chief scout for
their soccer match against Ngaruawahia United on Sunday, is
former Waikato United stalwart Darren Melville.
Melville, who moved south in 1996, also co-coached
the 1993 Ngaruawahia side with Ray Pooley to promotion in
the Northern League.
He has gradually wound down his distinguished
playing career and is likely to be a substitute on Sunday, but
his knowledge of the Ngaruawahia side could prove
invaluable to the favoured home team.
The Technical side, unbeaten in league and cup
matches this season, also have ex Waikato United and All
White utility player Graeme Marshall and ex-Mt Maunganui
player Jeremy Seales, who will also be familiar with some of
their opponents.
Marshall, whose international career was as a
defender, has been a leading scorer for Technical this season
and should again spearhead their frontline after recovering
from a broken nose.
Melville, not surprisingly, isn't expecting anything
stunningly innovative from Ngaruawahia.
"I know all the lads and I know how they play,"
Melville said.
"We know they'll be well organised and hard to
break down. We're not taking them lightly at all."
Despite being the dominant side in Southern winter
league football for the past three seasons, Technical have
twice fallen over against Northern sides in Cup semifinals.
14 AUG 1998 , Edition 1, Page 12.
Ngaruawahia take 16-strong squad south
Jeff Coulshed takes a squad of 16 to Dunedin
tomorrow for Ngaruawahia's Chatham Cup soccer semifinal.
He will prune it after Nick Hellwig and Glen
Brown have fitness tests. The squad includes ex-All White
Brian Hayes.
Dunedin Technical coach Roger Brooks' only
concern for Sunday's match is striker Rod Fleming, who has
an ankle injury. Graeme Marshall, who has a broken nose, is
expected to play.
Ngaruawahia's trip south, which looked likely to be
a financial nightmare when they were drawn away, will be
paid for thanks to assistance from supporters and businesses.
Club president Maxine Williams said last night the club had
been overwhelmed by support after the Waikato Times led an
appeal with a $1000 donation.
Central United play Metro in the other semifinal.
Ngaruawahia: Simon Eady, Wayne Bates, Aaron
Kingi, Marcus Traill, Stu Watene, Robert Edwards, Matt
Williams, Scott Granville, Andy Bell, Nick Hellwig, Glen
Brown, Kerry Hawkes, Gary Kingi, John Bell, Brian
Hayes, Roddy Rojas.
Dunedin: Rod Renfrew, Nic Longley, Alex Chiet,
Dean Wilson, Jon Harahap, Aaron McFarland, David
Johnston, Chris Morriss, Ian Bell, Rod Fleming, Graeme
Marshall, Hamish Gowans, Darren Melville, Jeremy Seales.
15 AUG 1998 , Edition 2, Page 12.
Giant-killers face their biggest foe yet
By: ANDERSON Ian
Can the soccer fairytale go one more chapter?
Ngaruawahia United have undeniably been the
Cinderella side of this year's Chatham Cup.
The Northern League division one upstarts, who have
eliminated premier division Hamilton Wanderers and Bay
Olympic in the past two rounds, almost missed the ball too.
A $10,000 bill for the semi-final trip looked likely to
rule Ngaruawahia out, but a Waikato Times-launched appeal
helped fund the shortage.
Now that the club can go in style to tomorrow's semi,
it's time to forget fairy stories and get realistic. To make the
tale even more attractive and reach the Cup
final, Ngaruawahia must become the first side to defeat
Technical this year.
The Dunedin side have been impeccable all season in
both the league and Cup and have players with international
and national league experience.
But despite Ngaruawahia's underdog hero status, they
mustn't -- and won't -- go into the tie with an inferiority
complex.
Although the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Neil
Mouncher (on holiday in England) is a blow, the visiting side
will still field a strong line-up that can nearly match
Technical.
Their strength will be at the back, with Melville
United national league duo Aaron Kingi and Stu Watene
joined by classy centre-back Marcus Traill.
In midfield, the combative workhorse Matty
Williams and former All White Brian Hayes won't be
overrun. Their lack of strike power up front has been well
documented but if they can sneak a goal early, they may be
able to rely on keeping a tight ship at the other end. Cup
matches at this stage are often about pressure and who reacts
best. If Ngaruawahia can create enough, they may just
flourish.
Ngaruawahia: Simon Eady, Wayne Bates, Aaron
Kingi, Marcus Traill, Stu Watene, Robert Edwards, Matt
Williams, Scott Granville, Andy Bell, Nick Hellwig, Glen
Brown, Kerry Hawkes, Gary Kingi, John Bell, Brian
Hayes, Roddy Rojas.
Dunedin Technical: Rod Renfrew, Nic Longley, Alex
Chiet, Dean Wilson, Jon Harahap, Aaron McFarland, David
Johnston, Chris Morriss, Ian Bell, Rod Fleming, Graeme
Marshall, Hamish Gowans, Darren Melville, Jeremy Seales.
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