Second Third Of Southern League Commences

Round 7 of 18 in the Southern League (SL) will be played out over the weekend as teams chase a top-two finish and a spot in the National Championship stage of the competition. The round kicks off at English Park at midday with third-placed Coastal Spirit hosting Dunedin City Royals. There are two games at 2:45 pm, leaders Cashmere Technical facing Nomads at Garrick Memorial Park and at Avonhead Park, in what is likely to be a pivotal game in determining which team will finish in bottom place, FC Twenty 11 take on Universities of Canterbury (UC), with both teams out claim their first points of the season. At 3:00 pm Selwyn host second-placed Christchurch United. On Sunday at 12:30 pm, Nelson Suburbs entertain Ferrymead Bays at Saxton Fields. 

Coastal Spirit will be out to extend their best start to the league when they meet the Dunedin City Royals. Coastal will be out to make it four wins on the bounce, in the early game, which would move them to the top of the table and put pressure on both Technical and United to claim wins to regain their top two placings. After a slow start, the Royals have climbed clear of the foot of the table with back-to-back wins with several players now getting back on the park after recovering from injuries.   

Head-to-head:
Played 4 - Coastal 2 wins, Draws 1, Royals 1 win  

Form:
Coastal W D D W W W
Royals L L D L W W                                                                    

This is a real 'six-pointer' as FC Twenty 11 and UC look to secure the win and leave their rivals at the foot of the table. Both teams have struggled to score so far this season, with FC just a single goal and UC having claimed just three more, so a goal feast is unlikely to be on the cards. FC have conceded almost twice as many goals as UC this season, which may give the students a slight edge. 

Head-to-Head:
This is the first time the clubs have met in the league

Form:
FC L L L L L L
UC L L L L L L                                                                                                                      

Nomads have been improving in recent weeks and will travel across town looking to claim their first league point off Cashmere Technical. Technical have yet to drop a point at home this season and they will want to dominate from the early stages to take the game away from Nomads, to avoid the game becoming a potential 'banana skin' fixture. Nomads will be without Jacob Anderson, who has accumulated 5 yellow cards.  

Head-to-Head:
Played 4 - Technical 4 wins 

Form:
Technical W W D W W W
Nomads L W W L D W    

Christchurch United will be looking to get back onto their winning ways against Selwyn, after ending their unbeaten start to the season when going down to Coastal 3 - 2 in a thrilling encounter. The Stallions have been on the wrong end of several tight results in recent weeks, and they will be out to turn their season around but deny United maximum points.

Head-to-Head:
Played 4 – United 4 wins 

Form:
Selwyn L W L L D L
United W W W W W L

With both Nelson Suburbs and Ferrymead Bays level on points, just sitting outside the top three, they will be going all out to take the win and keep the pressure on the top three. Suburbs will be disappointed after coming second best to Nomads in their previous league encounter and they will not want to suffer their third defeat on the bounce. Bays have been sharing their goals around in recent weeks and will be hoping that Yusaku Wasaki is available after having a run out in the Chatham Cup last weekend, after the striker was injured in the opening league game of the season.  

Head-to-Head:
Played 4 - Suburbs 3 wins, Draws 1 

Form:
Suburbs W D W W L L
Bays W L D W L W           

The Penultimate Round Has Plenty Riding On Each Game

All three games in Round 6 of the South Island Women’s Qualifying League (SQL) have plenty riding on the results. Leader's Cashmere Technical will wrap up the title if they extend their winning run against Nelson Suburbs at Garrick Memorial Park at Midday, with a Suburbs win securing them a place in the South Island League (SIL). At 2:45 pm at England Park, both Coastal Spirit SAS and Halswell will be chasing all the points on offer to close in on a spot in SIL and at the same time at Foster Park, Selwyn host NW United, with the latter needing the win to keep alive hopes of SIL football. 

Cashmere Technical have already locked in a spot in the six-team SIL and will be out to wrap up the title in front of their home fans and go one better than their second-place last season. Nelson Suburbs will come into the key clash 'cold' after having the bye in the previous round and not playing last weekend in the Kate Sheppard Cup after FC Nelson defaulted their tie. 

Head-to-Head:
Played 1 – Technical 1 win 

Form:
Technical W W bye W W
Suburbs W L D W bye 

Coastal Spirit will be expected to win against Halswell United, but Coastal have at times this season failed to produce the form that has made them the dominant force on the local scene over the past decade. Halswell, who have the bye on the final round, know that if Coastal are not at their best then if they battle for 90 minutes, an upset is possible.   

Head-to-Head:
Played 1 – Coastal 1 win 

Form:
Coastal bye L D W D
Halswell L L W L W                                   

NW United's hopes of SIL are in their own hands, first, they have to topple Selwyn and then defeat Coastal next weekend.  NW will be expected to account for bottomed place Selwyn, however, the NW have yet to secure a point on the road this season.    

Head-to-Head:
This is the first time the two have met in the league 

Form:
Selwyn L bye L L L
NW United L W L bye L        

Premiership Back Underway 

The New World Canterbury Premiership resumes after taking a break due to the Chatham Cup, with co-leader Cashmere Technical Reveres away to Selwyn Reserves at Foster Park at 11 am with the remaining four games all kicking off at 2:45 pm. At Walter Park, the other co-leaders, Waimak take on Western and fifth-placed Halswell meet third-placed Nomads Reserves at Halswell Domain. Clare Park is the venue when Burwood hosts Ferrymead Bays Reserves with the final game of Parklands hosting Christchurch United U 20 Academy at Parklands Reserve. 

Article added: Friday 17 May 2024