There are several key match-ups over the weekend as the Southern League (SL) starts the second half of the season, with teams currently outside the top two looking to put together a solid haul of points in the coming weeks to keep the pressure on the two top if they lose form. On Saturday, second-placed Cashmere Technical take on neighbours fourth-placed Ferrymead Bays at Garrick Memorial Park at 2:45 pm, with Bays coming in the game-high in confidence after knocking Christchurch United out of the Chatham Cup last weekend. At the same time, at Foster Park, in a game that is likely to have a big say at the other end of the table, bottomed placed Selwyn hosts Nomads, who are two points clear of their rivals. At 1.30 pm Green Island hosts Nelson Suburbs at Sunnyvale Park, and at 2:45 pm at Memorial Park, a big derby game as Mosgiel squares off against Dunedin City Royals. In the final match of Round 10, which moved to Sunday at Midday at Linfield Park, Coastal will be out to take the first league points out of leaders Christchurch United. 

With just one loss in the last six rounds in the SL, Bays will be out to keep intact their recent winning run and pick up their first three points at Garrick Park after securing three draws in their last three runouts there. Technical comes into the encounter without Garbhan Coughlan, and this factor may also play into Bay's hands, but Tech won the opening encounter, 2 – 0 without the Irishman. With both sides drawn together to meet in the Chatham Cup the following weekend, a win for either side will be a phycological advantage.    

Form: Technical W W W L W W Bays W D L W W W 

Previous Result This Season: Bays 0 Technical 2                 

In what is a six-pointer game, Selwyn will need to claim some points out of the clash with Nomads. In recent rounds, Nomads have been on the improve and will consider themselves unlucky not to get more from their last games, both ending in draws. Selwyn will hope that their number 1 keeper, Pieter-taco Bierema, has recovered from an injury that has sidelined him in recent weeks. Nomads had their only win to date in the league when they edged the Stallions 1 – 0 in Round 1. The game will also double as a Hurley Shield, the first time Selwyn has put the local challenge shield on the line against fellow Canterbury sides at home since lifting the Shield off Coastal last season.   

Form: Selwyn D D L L L L Nomads L L L L D D                 

Previous Result This Season: Nomads 1 Selwyn 0

Green Island also need to take points off Suburbs after dropping their last six league games, with Suburbs only having one loss over the same period. Green Island will be lifted by their 4 – 0 win in the Chatham Cup last weekend over Otago University. Suburbs, also having a comprehensive win in the cup, will be out to match their 3 – 1 victory over their southern rivals in the opening round. 

Form: Green Island L L L L L L Suburbs W W D D W L                

Previous Result This Season: Suburbs 3 Green Island 1

Mosgiel is currently five points behind the Royals. However, Mosgiel slowly crawled out of the bottom of the table after suffering from the effects of Covid. In their first encounter, Mosgiel lost to the Royals 2 – 0. After both going down in their last league outings, both had wins in the Chatham Cup last weekend and are now meeting each other in the cup next weekend.    

Form: Mosgiel W D W L D L Royals L L W W W L          

Previous Result This Season: Royals 2 Mosgiel 0

When Coastal and United met in the opening Round, United came out on top 3 – 2, scoring the winning goal in added time with Coastal feeling strongly that one of their defenders has been taken out of play in the build-up to the goal. Also, with former coach Ekow Quainoo and three former players now in the United camp, their return home to Linfield for the first time will bring an extra edge to the game. After being knocked out of the Chatham Cup, United will be looking to extend their winning run to double figures in the league. 

Form: Coastal D D L D D D. United W W W W W W

Previous Result This Season: United 3 Coastal 2

Top Two Expected To Win

The two leading sides in the New World Women's Premier League, Coastal Spirit SAS and Cashmere Technical, are expected to win their respective Round 7 fixtures on Saturday. Coastal is away to Nomads at Tullett Park at 2:30 pm with Technical hosting Universities at 12:30 pm at Garrick Memorial Park.

Unbeaten Coastal will be out to make it three from three against Nomads this season after a comprehensive 8 – 0 in the opening round, but Nomads closed the gap to just four when going down 5 – 1 in another encounter, with Nomads winning the second half 1 – 0.     

Form: Nomads L D L L L Coastal W W W W W                  

Previous Results This Season: Nomads 0 Coastal 8 Coastal 5 Nomads 1

Technical and Universities have only met once this season after their Round 4 encounter was postponed. Tech took out the opening game 7 – 3 but only led 3 – 2 at the break before wrapping up the three points after the break. Technical will be looking for a ninety-minute performance knowing that they will face Coastal next weekend in the Kate Sheppard Cup.  

Form: Technical W W L W L Universities L L D W  

Previous Result This Season: Technical 7 Universities 3  

Written by Gavin Searle
Article added: Thursday 09 June 2022