Make-or-break time for Waikato FC - veteran

It's already make-or-break time for Waikato FC soccer side, according to one of their senior players.

Former English semi-professional Jason Chewins said the short New Zealand Football Championship meant a win tomorrow against YoungHeart Manawatu at Ngaruawahia was crucial.

"This league is so short you just have to pick up points," he said.

"We've had a win and two losses; two wins and two losses isn't brilliant, but it's not too bad, a win and three losses isn't a good start at all."

Chewins said the season was too short to regain many lost points and the side needed to start making their mark in the competition.

The 39-year-old ex-Aldershot Town player, who now turns out in the Northern League for Cambridge United, said while the team had conceded nine goals the defence wasn't in trouble.

Chewins lines up at left back and said the two goals they conceded against Canterbury were the Cantabs' only two shots of the second half. "One was a screamer and one was a penalty; we played pretty well."

And the five against Auckland City in the opening round?

"That was disappointing ... Auckland are just a different class."

Chewins said although no goal was good to concede, at least the side weren't getting run over in the middle of the pitch.

Fullbacks Chewins and David Samson will likely join up with player coach Che Bunce and Richard Beard in the back four with a tough job of stopping Campbell Banks and Seule Soromon, who leads the competition's Golden Boot race.

Another option would be for Bunce to move himself up front to join Dan Peat as strikers and move the speedy Charlie Hoyle – who was unlucky to get relegated to the bench after the side's opening loss – back to centre back.

Michael Gwyther had formed a handy partnership with Peat up front, but his yellow card double (and subsequent red card) against Canterbury means he is suspended for tomorrow's game.

Steven Holloway would have been the ideal replacement. He topped the Northern League's Golden Boot and has scored 14 NZFC goals.

But Holloway has made himself unavailable for the side meaning Maurie Wasi, who has played as a right side midfielder in the opening three games, could get a run as striker if Bunce wants to stay at the back.

Either way, this really is a must-win game for Bunce's side.

Captain Shaun van Rooyen said the team wanted to play entertaining, winning soccer and build on the wave of momentum locally thanks to the All Whites' win last weekend.

Ngaruawahia's Alex Barlow and Wanderers' Sam Wilkinson are back in the side tomorrow.

Kickoff is at 2pm tomorrow at Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park.

- © Fairfax NZ News