Christchurch United, despite not playing over the weekend, and Cashmere Technical are now on the cusp of securing a National League berth, with both now needing just a point from their remaining fixtures to join the 'big dance' in September. Covid in the United squad meant their game against Nomads was postponed, along with the Dunedin City Royals and Nelson Suburbs clash after Suburbs connecting flight to Christchurch was cancelled.  Technical were untroubled to claim the three points when swamping Green Island 8 - 0. In the battle to avoid the 'wooden spoon' Mosgiel and Selwyn could not be separated when playing out a 1 - 1 result with Ferrymead Bays moving into third when coming from behind to defeat Coastal Spirit 2 - 1. 

Technical now top the table on goal difference, with both themselves and United on 37 points, Bays have 24, Suburbs 23, Royals have 19, with just four points now between the bottom five sides, Coastal and Nomads are on 12, Green Island 10, Mosgiel 9 and Selwyn 8. 

Kian Donkers started the goal run for Technical when scoring in the 9th minute with Aidan Barbour-Ryan then doubling the lead from the penalty spot, before Lyle Matthysen added the third ten minutes before the break. It was not all one-way traffic with both Adam Hewson and Cameron Anderson keeping the Technical defence on their toes. After the break three goals in the space of two minutes ended any hopes for Green Island, with Tom Schwarz, Fraser Angus and Garbhan Coughlan all scoring before Matthysen scored directly from a cleverly worked freekick, with Coughlan adding the final goal with a classy finish, to move to the top of the Golden Boot ladder, his 15th strike of the season.

The game between Mosgiel and Selwyn was more like a cup tie with both teams going all out from the opening whistle and after both sides had chances to open the scoring, a strike from Mosgiel's Cody Brook broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Both keepers were then kept busy going to the break. The second half was again end to end with Selwyn getting back on level terms when Jamie Carrodus scored from the penalty spot with thirty minutes to play. Both terms then had chances to secure the win but for the second time this season the sides had to settle for the draw.

Coastal went into their clash with Bays knowing that a win would go a long way to avoiding the 'drop' and they got off to a bright start when Kenshin Hayashi scored for the second time in two rounds after just eleven minutes. Bays started the second half strongly and were back on level terms when Michael White scored, the only goal of his seven strikes this season that have been scored on the road. Bays then took the lead from the penalty spot, taken by their captain Jimmy Deehan, midway into the half, to maintain Bays unbeaten run on the road this season. 

The league will take a break for the Chatham Cup, with Round 15 in the first weekend of August seeing Technical hosting Coastal, Green Island and Mosgiel squaring off in another key game to decide which side will face relegation, Nomads taking on the Royals, Suburbs entertain Bays with Selwyn having the home advantage over United. 

Results / Scorers 

Cashmere Technical 8 (Lyle Matthysen 2, Garbhan Coughlan 2, Kian Donkers, Aidan Barbour-Ryan - pen, Tom Schwarz, Fraser Angus)
Green Island 0
HT 3 - 0  

Coastal Spirit 1 (Kenshin Hayashi)
Ferrymead Bays 2 (Michael White, Jimmy Deehan - pen)
HT 1 - 0

Mosgiel 1 (Cody Brook)
Selwyn 1 (Jamie Carrodus - pen)
HT 1 - 0  

Christchurch United vs. Nomads
- postponed due to Covid

Dunedin City Royals vs. Nelson Suburbs
- postponed due to flight cancellations

Titleholders Unbeaten In South Island Women's Championship

Both Dunedin City Royals and Coastal Spirit SAS remain unbeaten in the South Island Women's Championship, the Royals scored twice late to edge Cashmere Technical 3 - 1 with Coastal too strong when accounting for Roslyn Wakari 7 - 0.  The Royals and Coastal have the maximum 6 points after Round 2 with Technical and Roslyn yet to claim a point.

Shontelle Smith gave the Royals the ideal start when opening the scoring in the 11th minutes. In what was a tight encounter both sides had chances with Technical drawing level when former Football Fern, Kate Loye found the back of the on the half hour mark to see the sides level at the break. Holly-rose Munsey was making her 1st team debut, in goal for Technical, with regular stopper, Maddi Iro away trialling with the Under 17 New Zealand camp, with the 15-year-old, Munsey pulling off several great saves to deny the Royals front runners. The chances went begging at both ends with Technical somewhat unlucky to go behind when Margi Dias broke the deadlock with ten to play and with Technical pressing for a share of the points Dias scored on the final minute of play. 

Coastal were a goal up after just three minutes when Laura Newman scored with Isla McPherson then scoring a brace followed by Mel Cameron who added a fourth to put Coastal in control going to the break. The goals continued with the busy Darsha Keogan and Lauren Dabner scoring in the space of ten minutes with Bel van Noorden adding the final goal with twenty minutes remaining.

The four sides will meet in a double header at English Park this coming Sunday with Technical facing Roslyn at 11am and Coastal and the Royals going head-to-head at 1pm.  

Results / Scorers

Dunedin City Royals 3 (Margi Dias 2, Shontelle Smith)
Cashmere Technical 1 (Kate Loye)
HT 1 - 1

Roslyn Wakari 0 Coastal Spirit SAS 7 (Isla McPherson 2, Laura Newman, Mel Cameron, Darsha Keogan, Lauren Dabner, Bel van Noorden) HT 0 - 4

Gap Opens Up At Top Of CPL

Waimak and FC Twenty11 have opened a gap on top of the New World Canterbury Premier League after Round 15 was played out on Saturday. Leader's Waimak scored in the opening minutes, via Lucas Clark. Luke Fraser then doubled the lead over Parklands with twenty to play. Parklands then put the pressure on with Peter Adcock reducing the margin before Finn Gaupset put Waimak 3 - 1 ahead in the closing minutes. FC maintained their second place when accounting for third placed Burwood, 6 - 1 with Nathan Dix completing a hat-trick. Western hopes of retaining the title look to be over when going down to Universities, 2 - 1 with Stu Campbell scoring in the 70th minute to secure the win, with Halswell having the bye.

With six games to play Waimak have 29 points, FC 27 with Burwood remaining on 22. Universities have leap frogged Western on the table, with the students now on 20, one ahead of Western. Halswell have 10 with Parklands on 3. In Round 16, Parklands host FC, Universities take on Waimak, Western play Halswell with Burwood having the bye.

Results / Scorers

FC Twenty11 6 (Nathan Dix 3, Harrison Bowman, Conor Clarke, Luke Aldridge)
Burwood  1 (Hugo Toye)
HT 3 - 1

Universities 2 (Aaron Browne, Stu Campbell)
Western 1 (Sam Ford)
HT 1 - 1

Waimak 3 (Lucas Clark, Luke Fraser, Finn Gaupset)
Parklands 1 (Peter Adcock)
HT 1 - 0

Halswell the Bye 

United Move To Top Of Table

Christchurch United moved to the top of the New World Canterbury Women's Premier League after winning their Round 2 encounter 3 - 1 over Selwyn. Sofia Tizzard put United ahead with Sara Mann adding two more before the break. Emily Andrew pulled a goal back for Selwyn midway into the second half. Nomads bounced back from their opening round loss when over running Coastal Spirit SAS reserve side 7 - 0, with Jasmine Barrett bagging four of the goals when scoring twice in either side of the break. The game between Universities and Halswell was postponed with Cashmere Technical 2nds having the break.

Article added: Monday 25 July 2022