First National League Spot Claimed 

Christchurch United have claimed a spot in the National League after defeating Ferrymead Bays 3 - 0, with Cashmere Technical now just a win away from securing the other qualification spot from the Southern League (SL) when overcoming Selwyn 3 - 1. Coastal Spirits hopes of finishing in second place suffered a major blow when going down to Nelson Suburbs 3 - 2. Nomads continued their good form in the second half of the season when edging Green Island, 2 - 1. Dunedin City Royals romped to their biggest win of the season, 7 - 0 over FC Twenty11 who are now at very short odds to finish in bottom and face automatic relegation.

United now have 40 points, eight-clear of Technical, with Royals now in third place on goal difference over Coastal with both teams on 25. Suburbs and Bays have 22, Nomads 17, Green Island 12, Selwyn 10 and FC on 6. 

In what was a very competitive game, United went to break ahead when Daniel MacLennan bundled the ball home in the 42nd minute. Both keepers then had saves before United doubled their advantage when MacLennan scored with a good finish from a tight angle. Bays continued to test the United defence, but MacLennan ensured the win when scoring again. With eight to play, in a repeat of his second strike, he completed his first SL hat-trick. The game reached boiling point with three minutes to play, which ended with three players shown a yellow card, including a second for Bays's Jimmy Deehan. 

Technical had Yuya Taguchi back for his first start since returning to Christchurch. His undoubted class certainly added the spark that has been missing at times this season. A double from Lyle Matthysen in the space of five minutes saw Technical go two up after 20 minutes. Selwyn turned the ball over on near the half-way and in a flowing move that involved Taguchi, saw the ball end up with Garbhan Coughlan who's powerful shot gave Selwyn keeper, Pieter-taco Bierema no chance. The second half was more even with Selwyn pulling a goal back when Jamie Carrodus was not closed down and he scored with a good strike from outside the area with Technical then failed to make the most of several clear chances. 

The Royals set the pace from the first minute when Hayden Aish scored the fastest goal of the season. Several defenders held off and he fired the ball home after just 40 seconds. The poor defending continued with Connor Neil scoring twice before Ben Stanley added a fourth in the 21st minute. This was just after FC's first chance hit the crossbar and late in half a FC shot was hit straight at Royal's keeper, Alex Boomer. Royals finished strongly with both Hugh Jack and Dafydd Sptatt coming into game off the bench with En Watanabe adding the final goal in added time.  

As expected, it was going to be a tight contest between Green Island and Nomads. Green Island went ahead when a shot was deflected home by a Nomads player trying to clear the ball midway into the opening half. Nomads then drew level minutes later when Lorenzo Gauci scored his first SL goal of the season. The tight tussle continued with Nomads securing the three points when Luca MacLeod-Watts found the back of the net with four minutes to play. 

In a game which both keepers, Coastal's Ellis Hare-Reid and Suburbs Corey Wilson, produced several stunning at crucial times. Suburbs, after strong start, told the lead when a shot from Ben Polak caught Hare-Reid flat footed on the half hour. The sides went to the break level after Liam Cotter was put clear in space and lifted the ball over Wilson and into the net. A good finish by Omar Cameron put Coastal ahead in the 47th minute before Josh Creswell drew Suburbs level minutes later. Coastal then went a player down when a needless rash challenge saw Roque Salinas receive a straight red in the 67th minute. The drama continued when Suburbs received a penalty for hand ball with 15 minutes to play which Suburb's captain, Alex Ridsdale took. Hare-Reid looked to have stopped but the ball somehow it went up over his body and into the net. In added time Hare-Reid went up field for corner and when the ball was cleared the keeper raced back and drag down a Suburbs attacker in a rugby style tackle just outside his goal area. He received a yellow card but Suburbs failed to score from the free-kick.   

Royals host Technical in the key match-up of Round 16, with Selwyn entertaining Green Island, Bays take on FC and Nomads square off against Coastal - these four games will be played on Saturday. On Sunday United head north to take on Suburbs.  

Southern League - Round 15 of 18

Cashmere Technical 3 (Lyle Matthysen 2, Garbhan Coughlan)
Selwyn 1 (Jamie Carrodus)
HT 3 - 0 

Christchurch United 3 (Daniel MacLennan 3)
Ferrymead Bays 0
HT 1 - 0 

Coastal Spirit 2 (Liam Cotter, Omar Cameron)
Nelson Suburbs 3 (Ben Polak, Josh Creswell, Alex Ridsdale)
HT 1 - 1 

FC Twenty11 0 
Dunedin City Royals 7 (Connor Neil 2, Hayden Aish, Ben Stanley, Hugh Jack, Dafydd Spratt, En Watanabe)
HT 0 - 4 

Green Island 1 (own goal)
Nomads 2 (Lorenzo Gauci, Luca MacLeod-Watts)
HT 1 - 1 

Leaders Continue Unbeaten Run

Cashmere Technical maintain their unbeaten run in the Women's South Island League when overcoming a spirited Universities of Canterbury (UC) side 2 - 0. Coastal Spirit SAS defeated Nelson Suburbs 5 - 0 with the two Dunedin sides, Otago University (OU) and Dunedin City Royals sharing the points in a midweek clash 2 - 2. 

Technical now have 19 points, Coastal are now in second place on goal difference, with both on 13, with OU 7, UC 4 and Suburbs 1, with Coastal and OU having a game in hand. 

Leanna Ryan scored early to give Technical the lead before Jonelle Arthur then extended the lead just before the break. Both sides had chances into the second half but could not add to the score line. Technical now backup on Tuesday evening against Coastal in the second semi-final of the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup.  

The goal drought continued for Suburbs with Mel Cameron putting Coastal ahead before two goals in the space of two minutes to Britney-Lee Nicholson and Isla McPherson put Coastal in control after 23 minutes. Nicholson went on to complete her hat-trick after the break. 

Goals to Maddy McCormick in the 10th and Amy Hislop 12th saw OU skip out to the early with no further scoring before the break. The Royals dominated the chances after the break with Shontellle Smith bagging a double to earn the Royals a share of the points. 

In Round 8, OU host UC on Saturday with Suburbs having the home advantage over Technical. The scheduled game between Coastal and Royals now deferred due to Coastal playing Western Springs in Auckland on Sunday in the Kate Sheppard Cup Semi-Final. 

Results / Scorers - Round 7 of 10

Nelson Suburbs 0
Coastal Spirit SAS 5 (Britney-Lee Nicholson 3, Mel Cameron, Isla McPherson)
HT 0 - 3 

Otago University 2 (Maddy McCormick, Amy Hislop)
Dunedin City Royals 2 (Shontelle Smith 2)
HT 2 - 0 

Universities of Canterbury 0
Cashmere Technical 2 (Leanna Ryan, Jonelle Arthur)
HT 0 - 2 

Leaders Close In On Premiership Title

Universities closed in on the New World Men's Premiership title after they came from behind at half-time to defeat Waimak 4 - 1, as second placed Halswell dropped vital points when drawing with Burwood 2 - 2, after Burwood had gone 2 ahead in the 52nd minute. There was also a 2 - all result between the reserves sides of Cashmere Technical and Nomads, with Nomads also having to come back from a two-goal deficit. The final game saw Parklands get up over Western 2 - 0. 

Universities now have 40 points, ten-clear of Halswell with Technical on 29 and Nomads 27, with the latter two sides both having a game in hand. Waimak have 26, Parklands now on 23, Burwood 16 and Western, who are now cannot avoid the 'wooden spoon' still to claim a point. In the coming round Universities are away to Western, Technical face Parklands, Nomads take on Halswell with Waimak hosting Burwood.  

Results / Scorers - Round 17 of 21

Burwood 2 (Hugo Toye, Joe Davies)
Halswell 2 (James Price, Isaac Williams - pen)
HT 1 - 0  

Cashmere Technical Reserves 2 (Blake Bamford, Alex Ballard)
Nomads Reserves 2 (Jacob Killick, Luke Whiteside)
HT 0 - 0 

Parklands 2 (Miles Gruschow 2 - incl pen)
Western 0
HT 0 - 0 

Universities 4 (Jackson Hughes, Luke Whitwell, Hunter Hine, Charlie Peacocke)
Waimak 1 (Adam Harrison)
HT 0 - 1  

United Under 20's A Point Away From Title

The Christchurch United Under 20's side, yet to drop a point after 14 games in the New World Men's Championship, moved within a point or securing the title after defeating their closest rivals Selwyn 5 - 1, after leading 4 - 1 at the break. The Ferrymead Bays Reserve side defeated the Universities 3rd XI by 5 - 1 with the Universities 2nd XI edging the Bays Keen Lads 2 - 1. FC Twenty11 defeated the Coastal Spirit SAS U20's by the same margin. In the bottom of the table clash between Waimak and Halswell, the Hawks picked up their first point when drawing 1 - 1.

With four rounds to play United have 42 points with both Bays Reserves and Selwyn on 28. UC 2nd XI move to 27, Coastal 23, Keen Lads 21, FC 13, UC 3rd XI 12, Waimak 5 and Halswell 1. Both Bays Res. and UC 3rds still have a game in hand. 

Results - Round 16  

Christchurch United U20's 5
Selwyn 1
HT 4 - 1 

Coastal Spirit U20's 1
FC Twenty11 2
HT 0 - 1 

Ferrymead Bays Reserves 5
Universities 3rd XI 1
HT 5 - 1 

Universities 2nd XI 2
Ferrymead Bays Keen Lads 1
HT 1 - 1 

Waimak 1
Halswell 1
HT 0 - 1 

Close Race For Women's Premiership

Just two points separate the top four sides in the New World Women's Premiership with two rounds to play. Joint leaders, FC Nomads defeated Halswell Christchurch United 3 - 0, with Universities Maroon edging Selwyn 2 - 1, to stay level with Nomads. The final game saw Halswell Green moving into third place when defeating Cashmere Technical 3 - 0.

FC Nomads and Universities are both on 14 points, Halswell Green one behind 13 with Halswell ChCh United on 12. Technical have with Selwyn on 4. Both Halswell Green and Selwyn having played one more game.  

Results - Round 8 of 10

FC Nomads 3
Halswell Christchurch United 0
HT 2 - 0 

Halswell Green 3
Cashmere Technical 0
H T 0 - 0 

Selwyn 1
Universities Maroon 2
HT 0 - 0

Article added: Monday 07 August 2023