Round two of the Mainland Premier League (MPL) produced a staggering 26 goals, several come from behind wins, and the highest ever draw in the MPL; 6 -all between Selwyn and Ferrymead Bays.

FC Twenty11 scored in added time to edge Nomads 4 – 3, Nelson Suburbs defeating Universities by the same score line with Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit playing out the first scoreless draw of the new season. Suburbs top the table with 6 points, Technical, Bays and Coastal are separated by goal difference on 4 each, FC 3, Selwyn 1, with both Nomads and Universities each to pick up a point.

Foster Park produced its second goal feast in as many weeks with the home side, Selwyn, coming back from being 5 - 1 down in the first half to lead Ferrymead Bays 6 – 5, before the current champions scored in added time to earn a share of the points.

Bays stormed out to and early lead with goals to Ciaran Ahearn, Jordan Halligan, Mark Peers and then, two goals within a minute to Michael Forshaw, with Dan Ede pulling a goal back for the Stallions before Jamie Carrodus reduced the margin just before the half time break.

Bays then conceded and own goal on the hour with Selwyn continuing their fightback with three goals in three goals in six minutes to Aiden Barbour-Ryan, Hami Davey-Brown debut MPL goal and Ede to lead for the first time im the game. The drama did not end there with Forshaw completing his hat-trick in added time share the points.

Suburbs collected their second-straight win on the road, when overcoming a determined Universities side. Suburbs, Ryan Stewart collected the ball just inside his own half and run passed five Universities players on his way to goal, before lifting the ball over the keeper to open the scoring.

Suburbs then hit the crossbar twice late in the first half. Universities then took the lead with well taken goals to Sam Howes and Luis John. Suburbs regrouped and equalised, when James McClay scored from a Suburbs corner. Eddie Sillars then put Suburbs back in front with a well taken goal after 75 minutes. Universities then blasted a shot over the bar before Sillars added his second goal in the final minutes, only for Howes to bag his own double in added time.

There were also plenty of goals between Nomads and FC Twenty11. Taylor Catlow opened the scoring for FC with Liam Thompson levelling before the break. Both sides continued to trade goals to make it 2 - 2 and then 3 – 3, before FC's winning goal came in added time. Nomads goals went to Nishan Biswa and substitute Cameron Barlett with FC's Callum Smith bagging a double with the other going Ryan Nicholson.

While the Technical v Coastal clash lacked goals there was plenty of goal-mouth action with both defensive units working hard to kept their clean sheets. Coastal debuted their new 1.9 American keeper, James Hickok. Coastal almost stole the game in the final minutes of play when Dominac McGarr fired onto the crossbar.

The MPL now looks forward to a double-header over the Easter weekend, with Friday games seeing Suburbs hosting Nomads, Coastal entertaining Universities, Bays facing Technical and Selwyn away to FC. On Monday Selwyn square off against Suburbs, Technical host FC, Bays travel across the estuary to play Coastal, and Universities face Nomads.   

Top Sides Draw and Halswell Make It a Winning Return to Premier League

The top-two sides in recent seasons, Coastal Spirit and Cashmere Technical battled out an exciting 2 - all draw in the opening round of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Halswell making it a winning return to the top flight when defeating Universities 2 - 0, with Waimakariri having the bye.

As expected, the battle between Coastal Spirit and Cashmere Technical was going to be a tight affair and so it proved. Cody Taylor put Coastal in front before doubling the lead ahead of the  break.

With Football, Fern Annalie Longo dominating the midfield, Technical were never out of the game, Longo scoring a fine goal to reduce the margin with the international then bagging a brace to earn a share of the points; Coastal now able to lock away the Hawkey Shield until the next challenge.     

Halswell did not have to wait long before taking the lead against Universities, Emily Copper opening the scoring in the eighth minute. The remainder off the opening half proved to be a tussle. The Hawkes were given some breathing space when Sophie Hawkins doubled the lead in the 56th minute allowing the side to go on to win and now sit on 199 WPL points.

Round two action on Easter Friday will see Waimakariri have their first outing when they host Coastalm with Technical facing Halswell with Universities having the bye.

Results / Scorers

Mainland Premier League

Men's - Round 2

Cashmere Technical 0 Coastal Spirit 0

Nomads 3 (Liam Thompson, Nishan Biswa, Cameron Bartlett) FC Twenty11 4 (Callum Smith 2, Taylor Catlow, Ryan Nicholson) HT 1 - 1 

Selwyn 6 (Dan Ede 2, Jamie Carradous, Aidan Barbour-Ryan, Hami Davey-Brown, own goal) Ferrymead Bays 6 (Michael Forshaw 3, Ciaran Ahearn, Jordan Halligan, Mark Peers) HT 2 - 5  

Universities 3 (Sam Howes 2, Luis Paul) Nelson Suburbs 4 (Eddie Sillars 2, Ryan Stweart, James McClay) HT 0 - 1

Women's - Round 1

Halswell 2 (Emily Cooper Sophie Hawkins) Universities) HT 1 - 0

Coastal Spirit 2 (Cody Taylor 2) Cashmere Technical 2 (Annalie Longo 2) HT 2 - 0