Fears that Matt Joy might have broken his leg last weekend against Wellington have been allayed but the Southern United centreback will not play against Canterbury tomorrow.
It was a game to savour between Southern United and Team Wellington as spectators were treated to a 2-2 draw that might have ended up 6-6, there were so many goal-scoring chances in yesterday's ASB Premiership football match.
Southern United's recent erratic form has the club's coaches perplexed as they prepare their squad for another important game against Wellington tomorrow.
Hawkes Bay delivered a reality check with a devastating 6-1 win over Southern United in a premiership match at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
More than a few ''experts'' were left scratching their heads when Southern United last week beat league-leading Waitakere in Auckland, 3-1.
Nelson beat the Southern United Youth team 2-0 in a National League match, played in wet, wintry conditions at Dunedin's Tahuna Park.
Southern United upset the form book with a 3-1 win over top side Waitakere, despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half of the ASB Premiership match in Whenuapai yesterday.
Could a goalkeeper really be playing centre half when Southern United plays Waitakere tomorrow in an ASB Premiership football match in Auckland?
The first win this season for Southern United in the ASB Premiership had players raking round looking for tin-openers.
Andrew Ridden broke the deadlock with a fine goal after 41 minutes to set up Southern United's first win of the season as it beat Wanderers SC 2-1 at North Harbour Stadium yesterday and vacated the competition's bottom slot.
Refreshed from a week away from national league competition, Southern United travels north tomorrow to play Wanderers SC at North Harbour Stadium.
Two late goals were not enough for Southern United as Waikato-BOP used home advantage to hold on for a 4-2 win in Cambridge on Saturday.
The challenge of improvement for the beleaguered Southern United club has shifted from dressing room to boardroom, as chairman Phil Cunningham appeals for new blood to take control.
Ten consecutive losses would test the spirit in any team but, surprisingly, the atmosphere in Southern United's dressing room is quite buoyant.
A late fitness test today will determine whether key midfielder Patrick Ebanda will be available for Southern United's match against Canterbury in Invercargill tomorrow.
Southern United should have access to all of its playing squad for tomorrow's important game in Wellington.
Southern United coach Luiz Uehara is not a fan of football statistics, and maybe just as well.
Southern United lost 3-0 to Waitakere at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday, but there were enough promising signs to keep United coach Luiz Uehara almost happy with his team's performance against the four-times winner of recent grand finals.
Key defender Matt Joy is not available for Southern United in its opening game of the season against Waitakere tomorrow.
An own goal inside 15sec was not the start coach Luiz Uehara wanted in Timaru, where a strong Canterbury team comfortably beat Southern United 5-1.
