Cashmere Technical and Christchurch United have claimed the two qualification places for the National League, with three rounds to spare in the Southern League (SL) after both continued their winning way in Round 15. Technical accounted for Coastal Spirit 3 - 1, with United untroubled to defeat Selwyn 4 - 0. The race for third place continues with the Dunedin City Royals coming from behind against Nomads to win 4 - 2 and Nelson Suburbs edging Ferrymead Bays 3 - 2.  Green Island looked to have moved clear of the 'drop zone' when coming out on top of Mosgiel 5 - 1. Technical and United have 40 points, with Suburbs now in third place on 26, two clear of Bays with the Royals a further two points adrift on 22. Green Island now have 13, with Coastal and Nomads on 12, Mosgiel are on 9 with Selwyn on 8. 

In a game where both sides missed a stack of chances, Technical took an early lead when the leagues leading scorer, Garbhan Coughlan met a cross from the right from Declan Tyndall, by the far post to notch his sixteenth league goal in the eighth minute. Technical then had to wait until just before the break before Aidan Barbour-Ryan finished well to double the lead. Both sides were then guilty of hitting shots directly at either keeper. Kian Donkers extended Technicals' lead minutes after being subbed on with Coastal finishing strongly with a looping shot from Kenshin Hayashi beating keeper, Harri Rowe, only to hit the crossbar with Seth Simpson finally pulling a goal back for Coastal when scoring in extra time. 

Eddie Wilkinson fired United into the lead after 14 minutes, with keeper, Pieter-Taco Bierema then producing another Player of the Day display for Selwyn when pulling off several stunning saves to keep United at bay. Wilkinson added a second on the half hour, to put United in control going to the break. Leonardo Uribe Sepulveda then extended the lead early in the second half, his first league strike with Noah Billingsley then doing the same when taking the game again from Selwyn when adding Uniteds' fourth goal. 

Keeper, Dublin Boon kept his side in the game against the Royals who had a goal ruled out on what was a tight offside call after 20 minutes with the Nomads defenders then clearing several shots off their line. A good advantage call by referee, Nick Burnett, after Declan Hickford had been fouled with the ball falling to Guy Reeves to put Nomads ahead right on half time. Ollie Petersen levelled for the Royals in the 55th and then scored twice more in the space of two minutes, to Will Turner and Kaleb de Groot-Green. Hickford then replied almost immediately for Nomads. The Royal's had the final say when sub Oliver Cassidy scored in added time.

Suburbs who last recorded a home win over ANZAC Weekend opened the scoring against Bays when Patrick Keys scored his maiden SL goal after eleven minutes. Luke White then levelled for Bays with Suburbs then finishing the opening half strongly when Eddie Sillars and Aiden Higgs both scored. Ryan Stanley, who had not been long subbed on then pulled a goal back for Bays with 18 to play which lead to a hectic final period of play with Suburbs managed to hold on and complete the 'double' over Bays this season. 

Green Island made it three wins on the bounce at Sunnyvale when winning the derby over Mosgiel. Cam Anderson scored after 20 minutes with Green Island doubling their lead right on half time when Adam Hewson found the back of the net. Beckham Wheeler-Greenall then extended the lead on the hour mark with Mosgiel then given some hope when Celeb Osborne scored minutes later. Two goals in quick succession in the closing minutes to Thomas Milton and Ollie Sims gave Green Island the vital win which should ensure their SL status for next season.  

United meet Nomads on Tuesday evening in their catch-up from Round 14 while Round 16 on Saturday see's Coastal host Suburbs, Royals facing Selwyn, Mosgiel taking on Technical, United entertaining Green Island with Bays and Nomads squaring off. 

Results / Scorers

Cashmere Technical 3 (Garbhan Coughlan, Aidan Barbour-Ryan, Kian Donkers)
Coastal Spirit 1 (Seth Simpson)
HT 2 - 0 

Green Island 5 (Cam Anderson, Adam Hewson, Beckham Wheeler-Greenall, Tom Milton, Ollie Sims)
Mosgiel 1 (Caleb Osborne)
HT 2 - 0

Nelson Suburbs 3 (Patrick Keys, Eddie Sillars, Aiden Higgs)
Ferrymead Bays 2 (Luke White, Ryan Stanley)
HT 3 - 1

Nomads 2 (Guy Reeves, Declan Hickford)
Dunedin City Royals 4 (Ollie Petersen, Will Turner, Kaleb de Groot-Green, Oliver Cassidy)
HT 1 - 0

Selwyn 0
Christchurch United 4 (Eddie Wilkinson 2, Leonardo Uribe Sepulveda, Noah Billingsley)
HT 0 - 2

Coastal Claim South Island Championship 

Coastal Spirit SAS claimed the inaugural South Island Women's Championship when they won the Grand Final against Dunedin City Royal 4 - 1 with Cashmere Technical winning the 3rd  - 4th play-off against Roslyn Wakari 2 - 1.

After an even opening the Royals had a goal ruled out in a tight off-side call and minutes later Coastal took the lead when Mel Cameron raced on to a great diagonal ball from Britney-Lee Nicholson, with Cameron finishing well. The Royals levelled ten minutes later, via Chelsa Whittaker following up a deflection from keeper Una Foyle. Both sides then had chances to take the lead before the break, just as the winter blast arrived, with the Royals having to play into a strong wind into the second half. In the 51st minute the Royals could only half clear the ball which fell to Lauren Dabner who unleashed a shot from 25 metres out, with the ball holding up in the wind with Royals keeper, Emma Andrew tried to cover but only ended up palming the ball into the net. The Royals then had several clear chances but the shots were hit straight at Foyle. Midway into the half Foyle did well to deny Whittaker, turning the ball away for a corner. The missed chances were to prove costly with Coastal scoring twice in the final five minutes with Whitney Hepburn scoring from a corner and Cameron claiming a brace in added time with the final score line somewhat unkind to the closeness off the game.

Technical had to work hard to get up over Roslyn, who had lost to Technical in the round robin, 9 - 1 a week earlier. Roslyn took the game to Technical early on but found themselves a goal behind when Lisa Evans scored after being involved twice as the ball was played down the pitch after Roslyn had been in attack. Roslyn continued to play forward at every chance but could not level before the break. Into the second half both sides failed to make the most of the chances they created, a period with both keepers called on to make several saves and Roslyn were finally rewarded after a good period of play when Amelia Newlands scored with a long range shot with 24 minutes to play. With time starting to wind down and many thinking the game may head to penalties to decide the game, Technical scored from a corner with Aimee Phillips volleying home. Roslyn were not done and Technical had to survive chances before the final whistle.     

Results / Scorers

Grand Final :
Coastal Spirit SAS 4 (Mel Cameron 2, Lauren Dabner, Whitney Hepburn)
Dunedin City Royals 1 (Chelsea Whittaker)
HT 1 - 1

3rd - 4th Play-off :
Cashmere Technical 2 (Lisa Evans, Aimee Phillips)
Roslyn Wakari 1 (Amelia Newlands)
HT 1 - 0

Western Upset Waimak

Western put a dent in Waimak's hope of winning the New World Men's Canterbury Premier League, when they secured their first win in seven rounds when winning 3 - 1. Leader's, FC Twenty11 conceded late against Universities to draw 1 - all, with Luke Aldridge putting FC ahead before Hunter Hine replied for the students with 8 minutes to play. Halswell all but ending Burwood's title hopes when winning 2 - 0, Burwood's third loss on the bounce with Parklands having the bye. FC now have 31 points, one ahead of Waimak, Western moved up two positions and are now in third on 23 with Universities and Burwood on 22. Halswell now have 14 with Parklands on three, with the bottom three all having a game in hand.  In what could been the title decider, Waimak host FC in the coming round.  

Results / Scorers - Round 17 of 21  

FC Twenty11 1 (Luke Aldridge)
Universities 1 (Hunter Hine)
HT 1 - 0 

Halswell 2 (Pat Cameron 2)
Burwood 0
HT 0 - 0 

Waimak 1 (Finn Gaupset)
Western 3 (Omar Cameron, Nicholas King, Rodrigo Balcazar)
HT 0 - 2

Parklands the bye  

Log Jam On Top Of Women's CPL

Three teams sit on top of the New World Women's Canterbury Premier League, with the top six sides just separated by two points after the latest round on Saturday.

Universities jumped to the top of the table when accounting for follow Premier League side, Nomads 3 - 0, with two quick goals just before the break to Tessa Burns and Charlotte Roche putting the students in control with Jasmine Donald completing the scoring. Addison Pilkington hat-trick helped Coastal Spirit SAS secure their first win when edging Selwyn 4 - 3 with Cashmere Technical remaining unbeaten when playing out a 1 - 1 result with Halswell, which also means the Hawks are also undefeated.

Universities, Nomads and Christchurch United - who had the bye on Saturday all have 6 points, Technical have 5 with Halswell and Coastal on 4 with Selwyn yet to secure a point. Nomads, Coastal and Selwyn have all play 4 games, United and Technical 3 with Universities and Halswell 2.

Article added: Monday 08 August 2022