League Enters Final Straight

The finish line is in sight as Round 11 of 14 on the Mainland Premier League (MPL) will be played out on Saturday.

Second placed Ferrymead Bays host third placed Coastal Spirit at Ferrymead Park, in what looks to be the key match-up of the round. Leaders Cashmere Technical travel to Avonhead Park to take on FC Twenty11, with Nomads hosting Universities at Tulett Park, these three games kicking off at 2:45pm. In Nelson at Midday Nelson Suburbs entertain Selwyn at Saxton Fields.

Both Bays and Coastal will be chasing the win in the battle of the Estuary to keep alive their title ambitions. When the two last met a late goal by Chris Anderson saw Bays secure all three points, along with the Hurley Challenge Shield with another close game can be expected.

Coastal are likely to see Ash Wellbourn run out for his first MPL game since 2016 when playing with Cashmere Technical, the striker recently returning from overseas. Coastal have a good record when challenging Bays for the Shield, with two wins and two draws from four games.

Form: Bays W W W D W W L Coastal W W L W L W WPrevious Result This Season: Coastal 0 Bays 1Head to Head: Played 22 – Bays 10 wins, Draws 5, Coastal 7 wins

FC will be looking to lower Technical’s colours for the first time this season, as they look to keep alive their hopes of a top-five finish and claim a place in the Southern Football League and on the flipside should Technical rack up their ninth MPL win and Bays and Coastal share the points the gap at the top will be a massive eight points, putting them just a win away from their fifth title.

Form: FC L L L W L L D Technical W D W W W W WPrevious Result This Season: Technical 3 FC 1Head to Head: Played 13 – FC 1 win, Draws 1, Technical 11 wins

There is also plenty of interest with Nomads looking to continue their recent good run over Universities who find themselves at the foot of the table, needing points as they are currently locked in a battle with Selwyn to avoid the wooden spoon.

Nomads five wins have come in the last seven rounds and another win would likely almost lock them into a top five placing. Universities won midweek when edging Waimakariri in the Blackwell’s Holden English Cup and will be out to overturn their 3 – 0 loss when the two-last met.

Form: Nomads W W L W L W W Universities L W L L L L LPrevious Result This Season: Universities 0 Nomads 3Head to Head: Played 9 – Nomads 7 wins, Draws 1, Universities 1 win

When Suburbs met Selwyn in Round 4, Suburbs had to turn around a two-goal deficit to earn a share of the points and they will want to maintain their unbeaten record at home this season, as they look to mount a challenge for a top three placing. Selwyn have shown improvement in recent rounds and when defeating Parklands 5 – 0 in the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup last weekend collected their first clean sheet of the season and will be out to secure their first away point of the season.

Form: Suburbs D D L D W W L Selwyn D L L L L L DPrevious Result This Season: Selwyn 2 Suburbs 2Head to Head: Played 1 - Draws 1

Top Verse Bottom

Round 7 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) see’s the top two sides, Coastal Spirit and Cashmere Technical, drawn against the bottom two sides, Waimakariri and Halswell respectively. Leaders, Coastal Spirit have the home advantage at Cuthberts Green against Waimak, with Halswell Domain the venue when Halswell face Technical, both games kicking-off at 12:30pm while Universities having the bye.

The Hawkey Shield will be on the line for the second time this season when Coastal take on Waimak. Waimak will be out to break their ‘duck’ against the defending champions, with the two sides having met 11 times in the WPL with Coastal yet to drop a point; Coastal comfortably winning the first clash 3 – 0 in March.

Waimak pressed Technical last Saturday in their NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup Round 1 game before Tech won 2 – 1 and if Waimak wish to cause the upset of the season, they will need to improve on their finishing. But there was plenty to suggest the young Waimak side is capable of taking points off any team in the league, providing they can field their strongest 11 an upset is on the cards.

Form: Coastal W bye W W D Waimakariri L W D L byePrevious Result This Season: Waimak 0 Coastal 3Head to Head: Played 11 - Coastal 11 wins

Halswell are also out to break their WPL ‘duck’ against Technical, the Hawks coming into the game without a point in their last four outings. With goal difference separating the two-top sides Technical will be looking to better their 4 – 1 score line when the two met in the second round.  

Form: Halswell L L L bye L Cashmere Technical W W bye W DPrevious Result This Season: Technical 4 Halswell 1Head to Head: Played 8 – Technical 8 wins