Christchurch United and Cashmere Technical closed in on National League qualification after both recorded wins in Round 13 of the Southern League. United defeated third placed Nelson Suburbs 5 – 0 and Technical secured the Hurley Shield when overcoming bottom placed Selwyn 3 – 1. Fourth placed Ferrymead Bays also lost ground on the top two when going down to Dunedin City Royals 3 – 1. In the relegation battle, Nomads and Green Island both picked up vital wins with Nomads accounting for Mosgiel 3 – 0 with Green Island getting up over Coastal Spirit 4 – 3. 

United still top the table on 37 points, Technical have 34, with Suburbs and Bays remaining on 23 and 21 respectively. The Royals have 19, with both Coastal and Nomads on 12, Green Island now have 10 with Mosgiel 8 and Selwyn 7. United need just two more points to secure a National League berth with Technical needing four more points, but this will reduce if Suburbs and Bays drop any points.

After both sides had early chances United took the lead over Suburbs after Eddie Wilkinson was brought down just outside the penalty with Wilkinson then slotting home from the resulting freekick. In the 39^th minute Suburbs gave the ball away with Joe Petersen passing to Noah Billingsley who returned to Petersen to double the lead. Aiden Higgs went close for Suburbs before halftime. United continued to control the game after the break with Petersen adding his second on the hour mark, with United then subbing on Will Pierce for Billingsley before the restart. Higgs and La Bu Pan looked threatening for Suburbs but two goals in the space of ten minutes to Pierce, both from close range saw United claim a comfortable win.

In a somewhat scratchy opening half by Technical against Selwyn, Kian Donker scored early on to put the Chatham Cup holders ahead early on with the Stallions then gaining parity when Jamie Carrodus headed home from a corner in the 19^th minute. Late in the half Technical’s shouts for a penalty after Lyle Matthysen was clattered wide in the area was waved away. Early in the second half former Selwyn player, Aidan Barbour-Ryan set up Luke Tongue for Tech’s second goal and with 23 to play Tongue set up Barbour-Ryan for the third goal. 

It was a tight game between Bays and the Royals with the Dunedin side taking the lead when Kaleb de Groot-Green scored on the half hour with Conner Neil doubling the lead just before the break. The second half started with En Watanabe, Royals top scorer for the season, bagging his eighth goals of the league to allow his side to control the remainder of the game and end Bays six game unbeaten run.

Nomads started strongly against Mosgiel and took the lead from a freekick that was headed goalward by Jacob Anderson with Mosgiel keeper, Daniel Robinson managing to get a hand to the ball and deflecting onto a defender before crossing the goal line. Gus Reeves then doubled the lead in the 19^th minute, with Kenny Willox then finishing the scoring by hitting the net direct from a freekick, in front of goal. Mosgiel created several half chances on the counter and in stoppage time had their captain, Rory Findlay sent off after he received a second yellow card in added time.

Green Island made it two wins on the bounce when accounting for Coastal. Green Island were never behind on the scoreboard with Beckham Wheeler-Greenall opening the scoring after 18 minutes. Weston Bell doubled the lead just after the break with Kenshin Hayashi then pulling a goal back for the visitors. Cam Anderson restored Green Island’s two goal margin on the hour with Harrison McLean making it 4 – 1 with twenty to play. Michael Hogan gave Coastal hope when scoring with 13 to play, with Nicholas Smith closing the margin to a single goal deep into added time to complete the scoring.     

In the upcoming round United take on Nomads, Technical host Green Island, Coastal face Bays with the Royals hosting Suburbs with Selwyn travelling south to meet Mosgiel in what is a pivotal game to determine the relegation battle.  

Round 13 - Results / Scorers

Ferrymead Bays 1 (Michael White)
Dunedin City Royals 3 (Kaleb de Groot-Green, Conner Neil - pen, En Watanabe)
HT 1 - 2

Green Island 4 (Beckham Wheeler-Greenall, Weston Bell, Cam Anderson, Harrison McLean)
Coastal Spirit 3 (Kenshin Hayashi, Michael Hogan, Nicholas Smith)
HT 1 - 0

Nelson Suburbs 0
Christchurch United 5 (Joel Petersen 2, Will Pierce 2, Eddie Wilkinson)
HT 0 - 2

Nomads 3 (Guy Reeves, Kenny Wilcox, own goal)
Mosgiel 0
HT 2 - 0

Selwyn 1 (Jamie Carrodus)
Cashmere Technical 3 (Kian Donkers, Luke Tongue, Aidan Barbour-Ryan)
HT 1 - 1

Women's South Island Championship Underway

The Women’s South Island Championship commenced over the weekend with both the respective Federation League winners in close games. Coastal Spirit SAS defeated Cashmere Technical 3 – 1 with Dunedin City Royals edging Roslyn Wakari 2 – 1.

Coastal opened the scoring in the first five minutes when Laura Newman was set up by Mel Cameron. Technical’s reply come minutes later from a corner with the ball only half cleared to Leigh Alexander who volleyed home from 10 metres out. On the half hour Coastal regained the lead when Whitney Hepburn scored from a corner and minutes later Isla McPherson made it 3 – 1. Both keepers were kept busy after the break with Coastal’s Rosie Pentecost, standing in for injured Una Foyle, did well to deny Lara Wall, with Tech’s Madi Iro keeping Mel Cameron’s name off the scoresheet several times, and with five minutes remaining somehow got a foot to the ball from a freekick to turn the ball wide of goal. Wall went close in stoppage time but her shot went just wide. 

On Saturday there was also early goals between the Royals and Roslyn. Chelsea Whittaker put the Royals ahead in the 3^rd minute after Roslyn turned the ball over with Whittaker hitting a strong shot despite a great effort from Roslyn keeper, Kate Hannay. Zara Pratley then took the ball off the Royals keeper, Emma Andrew, with Pratley firing home to level the scoreboard. The Royals finished the half strongly but could not add to their tally.

The Royals continued to press after the break and from a corner Hannah McKay-Wright put the Royals 2 – 1 ahead. Several other chances went begging for the Royals but Roslyn, who had never beaten their rivals this season threatened several times but could not find an equalising goal. Both Christchurch teams travel south for Round 2 with Royals facing Technical and Roslyn meeting Coastal.

Round 1 – Results / Scorers

Coastal Spirit SAS 3 (Laura Newman, Whitney Hepburn, Isla McPherson)
Cashmere Technical 1 (Leigh Alexander)
HT 3 – 1

Dunedin City Royals 2 (Chelsea Whittaker, Hannah McKay-Wright)
Roslyn Wakari 1 (Zara Pratley)
HT 1 - 1 

Burwood Loose Ground In CPL Title Chase

Burwood have lost ground in the race for the New World Canterbury Premier League after going down to leaders, Waimak 3 – 1. FC Twenty11 edged Halswell 2 – 1 with Universities overcoming Parklands 4 – 0 with the defending champions, Western having the buy. 

Burwood got off to a great start when Kane Kilbride scored in the opening minute in what turned out to be the only goal of the half. Despite Waimak having the better of play after the break, Burwood managed to hold them out until Lucas Clark found the back of the net in the 75^th minute, with Waimak then taking the lead minutes later via Kamil Elmohib. In stoppage time substitute, Finn Gaupset completed the scoring. Conor Clarke scored midway into the opening half to put FC ahead with Halswell’s James Price, equalising early in the second half before FC regained the lead in the closing minutes with a goal from Sam Mitchell. Universities finished strongly after Josh Solly opened the scoring and then added a second with ten to play before Luke Whitwell and Jacob Brooks both scored in added time. 

Waimak top the table with 26 points, two ahead of FC (24) with Burwood on 22,  Western have 19, Universities 17, Halswell 10 with Parklands on 3.

Round 14 – Results / Scorers

FC Twenty11 2 (Conor Clarke, Sam Mitchell)
Halswell 1 (James Price)
HT 1 - 0

Universities 4 (Josh Solly 2, Luke Whitwell, Jacob Brooks)
Parklands 0
HT 1 - 0

Burwood 1 (Kane Kilbride)
Waimak 3 (Lucas Clark, Kamil Elmohib, Finn Gaupset)
HT 1 - 0

Western the bye