Loss has Harris questioning region's strength of game

SOCCER
Being beaten, 4-1, by Petone at Memorial Park on Saturday, has left Red Sox Manawatu coach Dave Harris with major concerns about the strength of the game in the Central region.

Red Sox Manawatu now has little hope of making it to the Central League playoff against Taranaki, as it must beat Petone by four clear goals in the second away leg next Saturday.

Harris believes there aren't enough competitive games in the Western or Pacific championships to prepare teams to face Wellington or bottom Central League teams.

"We just don't get the week-in hard games in the Western premiership - there's too many games where the top sides just turn up to win," Harris said.

"There's been some talk about combining the top four teams from our league with the top four from Hawke's Bay.

"They need to do it if we want a side ready for the playoffs."

While Petone and Red Sox looked reasonably evenly matched, Harris believes the visitors had the edge because of their tough Wellington club competition.

"They play tough games whenever they get on the pitch - there's no free points going," Harris said.

"We had the same number of chances, but they were quicker at getting into position defending, whereas we waited for them to move before we chased them."

Red Sox got off to a bad start, conceding two goals through Paul Whitmarsh and an unfortunate own goal when a cross flicked off defender Scott Mudgway and looped over goalkeeper Steve Rodwell.

A dubious refereeing decision at the beginning of the second spell, when Kevin Whitta was penalised as he and a Petone player lunged together at a loose ball didn't help, as Petone made it 3-0 from the resulting free kick.

One player who was causing headaches for Petone was speedster Nathan Morath, who regularly outpaced the players marking him, only to lack support.

Red Sox's lone goal came after a blasting shot from Morath hit the crossbar and Mark Tesar was on hand to follow up.

Tesar was later sent off for a second booking, the first one for a supposed intentional handball as he went to grab the ball and take it back to halfway.

Petone sealed the win with a second goal from Whitmarsh near the end.

Players to excell for Red Sox were Whitta, Morath and Tesar, while Rodwell pulled off five spectacular saves.

- © Fairfax NZ News