The opening round of the Mainland Premier League (MPL) saw twenty goals scored with three of the four away sides picking up wins.

In a seven-goal thriller, Coastal Spirit scored two late goals to deny newly promoted Selwyn United their first MPL points with Coastal coming out on top 4 – 3. Nelson Suburbs and Cashmere Technical were both untroubled, picking up away wins when overcoming FC Twenty11 4 – nil, and Universities 3 – nil respectively; Defending champions, Ferrymead Bays edged Nomads 4 – 2.

Several hundred people turned up to Foster Park to see Selwyn run out in their maiden MPL match and, in a game that was filled with drama the Selwyn fans looked to be cheering the Stallions on for the win when leading 3 – 1.  Late in the game though,. Coastal stormed home scoring three times in seven minutes, the winning goal coming in added time.

In a free-flowing game chances went begging at both ends before Jamie Carrodus wrote his name into Selwyn’s history books, scoring from the penalty spot after 30 minutes. In the opening minutes of the second half Selwyn keeper, Charles Boot pulled of a good save from a free kick with the ball quickly ending up in the other goal mouth were the Coastal defence found themselves under pressure when they failed to clear the ball and Dan Ede was brought down with Carrodus stepping up to score again from the penalty spot.

Anthony Jones then opened up Coastal’s account for the season two minutes later with Tom Stewart then restoring Selwyn’s two goal margin minutes later. Louie Bush then became the first played to be ‘sinned binned’ in the final quarter. Jones then reduced the margin with after 85 minutes, Dominic McGarr locking up the scoreboard three minutes later. Coastal were then camped in the Selwyn goal area with Jones completing his hat-trick in added time to back the hearts of the Selwyn fans.

Poor finishing and an at times hesitant defence was to prove costly for FC Twenty11 against Nelson Suburbs, with a missed one-on-one setting the pattern for FC in the opening minutes. A mistake in the FC defence allowed Ben Wright to set up Chester Gaskin with follow MPL debutante, Labu Pan when doubling Suburbs lead just before the break, again set up Wright. Midway into the second half Wright was rewarded with a goal of his own, with substitute Van Roland completing the scoring late in the game.

A first half double from Daniel Thoms set up Cashmere Technical for their first win of the season over the rebuilding Universities. Former Golden Boot holder, Andy Tuckey added his first goal for his new club before the break. The students kept the four-time champions scoreless after the break, giving them some confidents.

Nomads took the lead against Ferrymead Bays when Nishan Biswa opened the scoring before Michael White and Mark Peers netted in quickly succession to give Bays the lead going to the break. Further goals to Michael Forshaw and Chris Anderson put Bays well in control, before Jimmy Johnstone reduced the scoreline late in the game.

Mainland Premier League- Scorers

Men's - Round 1

FC Twenty11 0 Nelson Suburbs 4 (Chester Gaskin, Labu Pan, Ben Wright, Van Roland) HT 0 - 2

Ferrymead Bays 4 (Michael White, Mark Peers, Michael Forshaw, Chris Anderson) Nomads 2 (Nishan Biswa, Jimmy Johnstone) HT 3 - 1

Selwyn United 3 (Jamie Carrodus - 2 pens, Tom Stewart) Coastal Spirit 4 (Anthony Jones 3, Dominic McGarr) H1 - 0 

Universities 0 Cashmere Technical 3 (Daniel Thoms 2, Andy Tuckey) HT 0 - 3