The quest for silverware continues for many of Capital’s football clubs as knockout competitions reach their quarterfinal stages.

Two teams take on Auckland opposition in the Chatham Cup, while local teams battle it out in the last eights of the Kelly Cup and Executive Plate in Wellington.

In the Chatham Cup, Western Suburbs have the unenviable task of taking on defending champions Onehunga Sports at their homeground of Waikaraka Park on Saturday afternoon.

But Wests will go into the match confident, having lost just once this season, 1-0 to Miramar Rangers on April 28. Since then they have gone 14 games unbeaten, including four wins in the Cup.

Wairarapa United have had a more up-and-down season in the league, but have made it to the quarterfinal stage of the Cup for the second year running.

They host 2016 champions Birkenhead United at Memorial Park in Masterton on Saturday evening.

Both Wests and Wairarapa fell at this hurdle last year to Auckland opposition.

Over on the women’s side, the Kelly Cup features some competitive matchups, with three all-W-League clashes.

Upper Hutt City hosts a much-improved Seatoun side at Maidstone Park, while Western Suburbs will look to claim a major scalp when they face Wairarapa United at Endeavour Park.

Undefeated W-League leaders Wellington United play Palmerston North Marist, while Women’s Premier League champions Waterside Karori take on Petone in the all-WPL match in the round.

The Executive Plate also reaches the quarterfinal stage with North Wellington playing Tawa, Petone’s reserves meeting the Island Bay United Sharkettes, Victoria University’s seconds facing Marist and North Wellington Churton Park up against the Stop Out Legends.

There will be league action in the Central League as well.

Notably, Napier City Rovers will look to extend their lead over Wests when they take on Lower Hutt City at Fraser Park.

Havelock North Wanderers will attempt to get off the bottom of the ladder when they host Wellington Olympic at Guthrie Park on Sunday.

Miramar Rangers and Stop Out meet in the other match.

Survival remains the big focus in the Capital Premier division.

Lower Hutt City must beat Tawa at Fraser Park on Saturday otherwise they will be relegated.

There remains a strong possibility two teams will go down, so Olympic’s reserves, Kapiti Coast United and Island Bay United will all be chasing wins to ensure that is not them, should it eventuate.

That makes the clash between Island Bay and Kapiti at Wakefield Park on Saturday of the utmost importance with just two points separating those sides.

Olympic play a Petone team with very little to play for, other than pride, at Petone Memorial Park.

Other matches see champions North Wellington take on second-placed Upper Hutt City, while Wests’ reserves play Miramar’s reserves.

Fixtures

Chatham Cup (Saturday)

Western Suburbs v Onehunga Sports, Waikaraka Park, Auckland, 2pm

Wairarapa United v Birkenhead United, Memorial Park (Masterton), 5pm

Central League

Saturday

Lower Hutt City v Napier City Rovers, Fraser Park, 2pm

Miramar Rangers v Stop Out, David Farrington Park, 2.30pm

Sunday

Havelock North Wanderers v Wellington Olympic, Guthrie Park, 1pm

Capital Premier (Saturday)

Lower Hutt City v Tawa, Fraser Park, 2.30pm

Western Suburbs v Miramar Rangers, Endeavour Park, 2.30pm

Upper Hutt City v North Wellington, Maidstone Park, 3pm

Petone v Wellington Olympic, Petone Memorial, 3pm

Island Bay United v Kapiti Coast United, Wakefield 1, 3.30pm

Kelly Cup

Saturday

Western Suburbs v Wairarapa United, Endeavour Park, 12pm

Wellington United v Palmerston North Marist, Newtown Park, 12pm

Upper Hutt City v Seatoun, Maidstone Park, 12pm

Sunday

Waterside Karori v Petone, Wakefield 2, 1pm

Executive Plate (Sunday)

North Wellington v Tawa, Alex Moore Park, 12.30pm

Petone reserves v IBU Sharkettes, Petone Memorial, 1pm

Victoria University reserves v Marist, Boyd Wilson, 1pm

North Wellington Churton Park v Stop Out Legends, Alex Moore Park 2.30pm

Article added: Friday 03 August 2018