By Luke Austin
League leaders Wellington Olympic should continue to set the pace in the Central League with a home game against winless newcomers Whanganui Athletic.
But which sides stand the best chance of at least staying within reach of the defending champions?
Round 4 of the Central League kicks off at 2.30pm on Saturday as North Wellington host Waterside Karori and Stop Out travel to Miramar Rangers.
Karori will be bitterly disappointed, having seen their 2-0 lead turn into a 3-2 loss to Stop Out last week and they need to come up with a result to gain their first points of the season.
They face a North Wellington side brimming with confidence after their big 5-0 win on the road against Whanganui Athletic.
The action continues on Saturday with the Phoenix Reserves facing Petone and Wellington Olympic welcoming Whanganui to Wakefield Park.
Whanganui sit at the bottom of the table and face a huge challenge against Olympic who will be favourites for a fourth consecutive win and cement their spot at the top of the table.
The final game of the round takes place at 2pm on Sunday as Western Suburbs travel to Napier City Rovers.
Game of the week
The stats suggest there will be goals aplenty when the Phoenix Reserves and Petone meet this Saturday — the sides have scored 17 between them in the three rounds of play.
Both sides are on six points and need a win to stay within touching distance of leaders Olympic.
Player to watch
North Wellington’s experienced Japanese winger Anto Okamura has impressed since his arrival at the club this season and scored his first two Central League goals last week.
He will be raring to go again this weekend against Karori and is will definitely one to keep an eye on for fans travelling to Alex Moore Park.
Bold prediction
Wellington Olympic attacker Kailan Gould scored a 90th-minute winner last weekend against the Phoenix Reserves in his first start of the season.
Gould has been a key member of the Olympic side that has enjoyed so much success in recent years, and I’m predicting that he will find the back of the net again this Saturday against Whanganui Athletic.
Here’s the fixtures for the weekend:
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday April 15, 2023
North Wellington v Waterside Karori
Alex Moore Park, Johnsonville, 2.30pm
READ MORE: Here’s the match programme >>>>
Miramar Rangers v Stop Out
David Farrington Park, Miramar, 2.30pm
READ MORE: Here’s the match programme >>>>
Wellington Phoenix Reserves v Petone
Fraser Park, Lower Hutt, 3pm
Wellington Olympic v Whanganui Athletic
Wakefield Park, Island Bay, 3.45pm
READ MORE: Here’s the match programme >>>>
Game to be played on Sunday April 16, 2023
Napier City Rovers v Western Suburbs
Bluewater Stadium, Napier, 2pm
Luke Austin
Luke Austin is a Wellington-based football fan and volunteer, who plays for Island Bay, and follows the Central League.
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