Ferrymead Bays have booked their spot in the expanded ten-team Southern League (SL) for 2022 after defeating FC Twenty11 1 - 0 to secure the top spot in the New World Southern Qualifying League. Nomads secured second place when coming out on top of Halswell 3 - 1, with Western winning 3 - 0 over Waimak. Bays finished 5 from 5 on 15 points, three clear of Nomads, with FC on 9, Halswell 6, Western 3 and Waimak on 0.

Bays came into the game knowing that a draw would be enough to top the table, with FC needing the three points to have any hope of finishing second place. Bays have the better chances of what turned out to be a scoreless opening half. The stalemate continued deep into the game until substitute Monty Joseph scored the vital goal, his first for the season, to secure Bays SL status for the next season.

Nomads went into their game against Halswell needing the win while also hoping Bays would take points off FC to claim second place overall and a possible spot in the Southern League for 2022. Declan Hickford put Nomads ahead after 16 minutes but had to wait until the 52nd minute before Hickford doubled the lead. A short time later, Liam Thompson made it 3 - 0 with his shot deflected into the net by the Halswell keeper, Connor Caswell, with teammate Toby Tulett pulling a goal back for the Hawks in the final few minutes.

After battling it out just over a month ago for the New World Men's Championship, with Western edging Waimak for the title on goal difference, the two came into the clash trying to avoid bottom place. After a tight scoreless opening half, Western's Isaac Cantrick opened the scoring just after the break, with Omar Cameron scoring twice in the 67th and 82nd to see Western safely home.   

Southern Qualifying League - Round 5 of 5

Ferrymead Bays 1 (Monty Joseph) FC Twenty11 0 HT 0 - 0

Halswell 1 (Toby Tulett) Nomads 3 (Declan Hickford 2, Liam Thompson) HT 0 - 1  

Waimak 0 Western 3 (Omar Cameron 2, Issac Cantrick) HT 0 - 0

Unbeaten Universities Claim Trophy

Universities claimed their first title in several years when going through the New World Championship Trophy undefeated when over coming Burwood 3 - 1, with the other game seeing St Albans Shirley (SAS) finishing on a winning note when edging Mid Canterbury 3 - 2, with Parklands having the 'bye'. Universities finished on top with the perfect 12 points, Parklands 9*, Burwood 6, SAS 3 and Mid Canterbury scoreless. 
*Parklands Round 1 game against Mid Canterbury was won by Mid Canterbury 4 - 1, but the Ashburton side had in ineligible on the team sheet with Parklands awarded the game 3 - 0 late last week.

Adam Doherty gave Universities the halftime lead, with Nathan Nichols levelling for Burwood with 15 to play. Minutes later, Doherty restored the students lead, with Matthew Shaw extending the lead in added time. Universities now back up on Tuesday at 7 pm at English Park when they take on Cashmere Technical in the first semi-final of the Blackwells English Cup. 

Mid Canterbury took the lead when Millar McLauchlan opened the scoring, with Felix Barlass drawing SAS level on the stroke of halftime. A Jacob Woods goal put SAS ahead before adding to their total via an own goal before sub, Andrew Annable reduced the margin late in the game.    

New World Championship Trophy- Round 5 of 5

St Albans Shirley 3 (Felix Barlass, Jacob Woods, own goal) Mid Canterbury 2 (Millar McLauchlan, Andrew Annable) HT 1 - 1

Universities 3 (Adam Doherty 2, Matthew Shaw) Burwood 1 (Nathan Nichol) HT 1 - 0

Parklands the bye 

Written by Gavin Searle. 
Article added: Monday 16 August 2021