Late Goal Deny's FC A Point

For the third time this season Christchurch United needed to score deep in added time to maintain their unbeaten run, this time it was against FC Twenty11 1 - 0. Cashmere Technical started well against Ferrymead Bays going on to win 6 - 2. Coastal Spirit edged Selwyn 3 - 2, Dunedin City Royals came from behind to take out the derby against Green Island 4 - 2. Bottom placed Nomads picked up a valuable point away to Nelson Suburbs in a 1 - 1 result.

United now have 24, Technical and Royals are on 19, Coastal are now up to fourth on 13 with Bays on 10. Suburbs have 9 points with Green Island, Selwyn and FC all remaining on 6 while Nomads are on 4.  

Jago Godden was the 'hero' for United when scoring in the sixth minute of added time to end FC valiant defensive effort, who like Nomads and Selwyn, ended the game empty handed. United had the bulk of the scoring chances, many that ended with the ball going well wide or over the goal post. FC keeper, Finnbharr Mounty, suffered an ankle injury late in the first half, but with no reserve keeper on the bench soldiered on bravely for the rest of the game. FC looked to break quickly whenever they could but went a player down in the 90 + 2 minute when defender Dylan Bennett received a second yellow. The vital goal come from a great long ball from Eoghan Stokes who found Godden unmarked by the far post who controlled the ball well before scoring his first SL goal of the season. 

Technical were two goals up after just 6 minutes against Bays with Caleb Cottom opening the score before Garbhan Coughlan finished well. Bays then lost Chester Gaskin and Jackson Borella to injury in quick succession before 17 minutes were up. Omid Rajabi then reduced the margin from the penalty spot after Luke White was clipped down. Coughlan then restored Technicals two goal margin on the half hour with Sam Richard extendeing the lead just before the break. An ankle injury to Bays central defender Alex Meaclem meant he did not come out after the break. Defensive lapses then allowed Technical's Lachie McIsaac and Zander Edwards to score before Fintan Joseph scored a late consolation for Bays.  

With rain falling out at Foster Park it was a tight affair between Selwyn and Coastal in the early stages but the game turned just before the break when Coastal scored three times in the space of just six minutes. Liam Cotter returned after a two-game break to open the scoring in the 35th minutes and then doubled the lead two minutes later. Selwyn captain, Jack Allatt, then conceded a penalty when bringing down a player. Mohamad Taqizada stepped up to slot the ball passed keeper, Joshua Suzana, having his first start SL of the season. Selwyn had to make all the running after the break and Jak Stevenson repling almost immediately when play resumed. Coastal keeper, Ellis Hare-Reid, back after injury was called on to make several good saves before he was beaten again by Stevenson in the 88th minutes but Selwyn could not find a third to salvage a draw. 

Green Island took an early lead against the Royals when Stefan Milidrag headed home from a free-kick after just three minutes. The lead was short-lived when Ollie Petersen scored for Royals. Tyer Muir then put the Royals in front with Petersen then extending the margin just before the break. Green Island were the first side to score after the break when Adam Hewson made the most of a defensive error to bring it back to 3 - 2. Once again, the Royals reply was almost immediate, and Hayden Aish finished well after being allowed to make an unchallenged run to complete the scoring on the hour for the Royals third win on the bounce. 

The final game was played in sunny conditions in Nelson with the home side going ahead after they were awarded a penalty which was taken by Jordan Yong. The young Nomads keeper, Regan Frame managed to block the initial effort but Yong scored from the rebound in what turned out to be the only goal of an entertaining first half. Early in the second half, Nomads were awarded their first penalty of the season which Decklan Hickford stepped up to take. Keeper Cory Wilson managed to parry the ball but Hickford reacted quickly to level the scores. Suburbs had the better of the chances but ended up with their third draw of the season. Nomads secured a vital point, their first on the road this season.  

In the next round, which will mark the midpoint of the SL, Technical host United in the game of the round, FC met Suburbs, Green Island entertain Bays, with Nomads having the home advantage over Selwyn. On Sunday Royals travel north to face Coastal.  

Results / Scorers - Round 8 of 18  

Christchurch United 1 (Jago Godden)
FC Twenty11 0
HT 0 - 0 

Dunedin City Royals 4 (Olie Petersen 2, Tyler Muir, Hayden Aish)
Green Island 2 (Stefan Milidrag, Adam Hewson)
HT 3 - 1  

Ferrymead Bays 2 (Omid Rajab -pen, Fintan Joseph)
Cashmere Technical 6 (Garbhan Coughlan 2, Caleb Cottom, Sam Richards, Lachie McIsaac, Zander Edwards)
HT 1 - 4 

Nelson Suburbs 1 (Jordan Yong)
Nomads 1 (Declan Hickford)
HT 1 - 0  

Selwyn 2 (Jak Stevenson 2)
Coastal Spirit 3 (Liam Cotter 2, Mohamad Taqizada - pen)
HT 0 - 3 

Title and Qualifying Spots to Be Decided in Final Round 

There will be plenty riding on the final round of the Women's South Island Qualifying League (WSIQL) after results in the penultimate round on Saturday. Coastal Spirit SAS continued on their winning ways when defeating FC Nomads 3 - 0. Universities moved into Southern League contention when defeating Nelson Suburbs 2 - 0 with the final game seeing Cashmere Technical account for Halswell Christchurch United 5 - 0. Selwyn had the weekend off with the bye.

Coastal now have 15 points, three-clear of Technical, with Universities now moving into third on 7. Suburbs, Nomads (who have completed their games) and Selwyn are all on 6 with Halswell on 1. 

The rules for the WSIQL does not use goal difference to determine final places, with head-to-head results being used. With Technical hosting Coastal in the final round, a Tech win would see them top the table. The top four sides then go on to qualify for the inaugural South Island League. Universities need just a draw against Halswell to make the top four. It is a case of winner-take-all when Suburbs have the home advantage over Selwyn. 

Coastal made it five wins on the bounce against the FC Nomads side who were still suffering from injuries with five 15-year-olds getting game time. Mel Cameron gave Coastal an early lead with Britney-Lee Nicholson then scoring twice more in the space of six minutes to extend the lead midway into the first half. FC Nomads then defended well, with keeper Amber Bennett producing several great saves, to keep Coastal scoreless for the remainder of the game while also having several chances on goal themselves.  

While it was not entirely one way traffic between Technical and Halswell, Technical were always in control after Emma Kench and Aime Phillips found the back of the net on the opening five minutes. Kench then added her second on the half hour. Phillips bagged here second just after the break and then set up substitute, Leanna Ryan for the final goal. 

In what was a even contest, Universities made the most of their scoring chances with Jasmine Donald finishing well to put the students ahead after 26 minutes. Molly Elliott then doubled the lead direct from an angled free-kick 25 metres out just before the break. Suburbs who have limited game time on turf had several good chances into the second half including one shot which rattled the crossbar.   

Results / Scorers - Round 6 of 7

Cashmere Technical 5 (Emma Kench 2, Aimee Philips 2, Leanna Ryan)
Halswell Christchurch United 0
HT 3 - 0 

FC Nomads 0
Coastal Spirit SAS 3 (Mel Cameron 2, Britney-Lee Nicholson)
HT 0 - 3 

Universities 2 (Jasmine Donald, Molly Elliot)
Nelson Suburbs 0
HT 1 - 0 

Selwyn - the bye 

Halswell Drop First Points 

Halswell dropped their first points of the season in the New World Premiership when going down to Cashmere Technical Reserves 2 - 1. The defeat allowed Parklands to return to the top of the table on goal difference when defeating neighbours Burwood 2 - 0. Universities closed in on the top two when edging the Nomads Reserves 1 - 0. Universities are now the form team with four wins on the trot. Waimak made it two wins on the bounce for the first time this season when coming from behind to account for Western 4 - 1.  

With a third of the 21 rounds now completed, Parklands and Halswell both have 16 points, Universities 14, and Tech. Reserves on 13. Waimak now have 11, with Nomads Res. 6, Burwood 4 and Western yet to secure a point.

In Round 8, Halswell and Parklands go head-to-head, Universities are away to Burwood, Tech take on Waimak with Nomads meeting Western. 

Results / Scorers - Round 7 of 21

Burwood 0
Parklands 2 (Miles Gruschow, Jesse Robson)
HT 0 - 1 

Halswell United 1 (Leon Houston)
Cashmere Technical Reserves 2 (Garbriel Gallway 2)
HT 1 - 2 

Universities 1 (Charlie Peacocke)
Nomads Reserves 0
HT 1 - 0 

Waimak 4 (Mitchell Quigley, Bailey McCleary, Luke Fraser, Danny Loney)
Western 1 (Parker Bradford)
HT 2 - 1

Article added: Monday 22 May 2023