Like Wairarapa United, who face Northern League champions-elect Bay Olympic in Auckland on Saturday afternoon, Caversham drew the short straw of an expensive away game and the odds are now against them lining up in their first final on August 28.
In the last ten editions of the 89-year-old knockout competition the home side has won 12 of the 20 semi-finals and, while that suggests an advantage to playing at home, Caversham coach Richard Murray believes it may not be as clear as some would expect.
“I think the stat is more even than expected because the majority of the pressure is on the home team and the away team has nothing to lose,” Murray says.
“The home team are in front of their own fans and the away side are going in there as underdogs – you’d expect to do quite well off that.
“But it goes both ways. With home advantage you know your park well, your routine doesn’t change much and your fans are in behind you. I think Napier benefitted from that in the quarter-final against Manurewa when they were two goals down and the fans helped get them home.
“We’ve got the benefit of going up the day before this time but it’s the usual story with going away – you’re not sleeping in your own bed for example. It helps that Park Island is one of the best football grounds in the country so we’re not going to mind playing there. But home ground does have its advantages.”
Caversham have been one of the most consistent Chatham Cup performers in recent years with this Sunday representing their fourth semi-final in the last six seasons but the Dunedin club have yet to reach the final.
Murray thinks the time could be right to break that hoodoo.
“Part of it is the level of competition being higher in other centres and teams being used to playing higher-quality matches week in and week out. But I also think it can be a mental thing and, while reaching the semi finals in four of the last six years is an achievement in itself, we’ve got to get over that hump at some stage and move on.”
The coach also believes the experience of a 4-0 away win over Auckland’s Onehunga Sports in this year’s quarter-finals and a heart-breaking penalty shootout loss to Bay Olympic at the semi-final stage last year will only help their chances against four-time cup winners Napier.
“Over half the side were in last year’s team so they’ve got semi-final experience under their belt, as well as ASB Premiership experience with Otago United, so I’m hoping that will be a key factor.
“It was in our hands last year – we were up 3-2 in extra-time and an error let them back in and it turned to custard in the shootout.
“The loss has given the players bit of drive. We’ve talked about it a lot as we’ve approached these cup games and, as you do with losses, you bottle up the feelings you have and use them as motivation when you go out on the park. But in the semi-finals of the Chatham Cup you shouldn’t need motivation – it’s just that extra reminder of how sick you felt after losing.”
There will also be no lack of motivation in Saturday’s semi-final between Bay Olympic and Wairarapa United at Olympic Park in New Lynn.
Bay Olympic tasted defeat in last year’s final but their Northern League win has set up a potential league-cup double while Wairarapa, who are challenging for Central League honours, are looking to extend their best-ever Chatham Cup run.
ASB Chatham Cup 2011 semi-finals
Bay Olympic v Wairarapa United
Olympic Park, New Lynn, Auckland
Saturday 12 August, 2pm
Napier City Rovers v Caversham
Park Island, Napier
Sunday 13 August, 12.30pm
Final
August 27/28
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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