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The Warkworth men's football team will look to press on set pieces this season as part of their revised attacking football strategy.
The Warkworth AFC Men’s First Team are looking at their culture to climb the ladder in their NFF competition this season.
The side, which finished eighth out of 12 last season, is under the management of Cam Gray, who is looking to play positive attacking football and address the spirit of the side.
The team started the season with a goal-less draw followed by a loss and then a win where the team netted six goals.
“We’ve played extremely well,” Cam says. “Some teams have been caught off guard with the way we have pressed on attack. We don’t sit back and hold anymore.”
But the game plan has lead to some large defeats including a 3-0 loss to the Glen Eden Rangers when Cam decided to play three at the back when the score was 1-0.
“It was a very flat performance where the Warkworth men were brought back down to earth as they were run ragged by the opposition,” he says.
He said the side was also out-played in its 4-0 loss to Bucklands Beach.
“But it’s great that they are coming to play and enjoying it. The mood has absolutely changed. It’s extremely positive. The team is socialising together more and is a much tighter-knit group than in previous years.”
The return of players Adam Thomson and Matt Taylor has added to the side’s performances and Cam noted the impacts that central-midfielder Ken Lynch and centre-back Scott Taylor have had on the field.
The team has had a couple of long-term injuries, which has set them back.
“It’s crippling as the Warkworth club doesn’t have the depth, even drawing from the reserve side, to always comfortably fill those spaces.”
The Warkworth team is into round two of the Chatham Cup after a 3-1 win over Bohemian Celtic.
“The quality of the opposition in the Cup makes it a great experience for some of the younger players to see where the standard is for men’s football.
“The boys are excited to have returned to Shoesmith Domain.”
The coach would like to see the team finish in the top four as a realistic goal after last season’s placing.
Their next home fixture is against Waiheke United at Shoesmith Domain on Saturday, May 28, kick-off at 2.45pm.
