The seventeenth edition of the Mainland Premier League (MPL) concluded on Saturday when Cashmere Technical defeated Selwyn 6 – 1, Nomads were no match for Coastal going down 4 – 0. Nelson Suburbs moved into fourth place edging Ferrymead Bays 2 – 1, with FC Twenty11 defeating Universities 2 – 0. Technical finishes on 36 points, five clear of Coastal with Bays back on 26. Suburbs have 24 and Nomads 22. FC end the league on 13, Selwyn 6 and Universities 3.

Technical became just the second team to go through the MPL unbeaten, matching the record of the 2008 Suburbs side. The champions lead at the break with goals to Dan Schwarz and Lyle Matthysen, with Schwarz increasing Tech’s lead minutes into the second half. Declan Hickford then pulled a goal back to ensure Selwyn were the only side to score in every round. Matthysen then completed his double before goals to Ben Stroud and Max Chetien extended Technical’s lead.

Coastal retained the Hurley Shield when beating Nomads, Ant Jones opened the scoring with Ash Wellbourn doubling the lead going to the break. Wellbourn went on to complete a brace with Tristian Nicol adding Coastal’s final goal. Nomads finished the game with just nine men after Cory Vickers received a second yellow card and Nishan Biswa a straight red for being the last man when bringing down an attacking player.

Bays failed to make the most of some early chances and were made to suffer when Eddie Sillars put Suburbs ahead five minutes before the break. Jordan Yong then doubled the lead three minutes later with a great finish. Ten minutes after the break, Nikolai Molijn brought Bays back into the game to bring an end to the scoring.

FC picked up three valuable points heading into the relegation play-offs series, against Universities and Selwyn when defeating the students. Conor Clarke scored his first goal in the 28th minutes and then added a second just before the full-time whistle. The win brings to an end a six-match winless run for FC and with points carrying into the play-off series it puts FC in a strong position to claim one of the two spots for the MPL in 2019.

Women’s Title Race Hots Up

With one full round to play the race for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title has heated up the two leading sides both dropped points.

In the early game, defending champions Coastal Spirit played out an entertaining draw with Universities 1 – 1 and then current leader’s Cashmere Technical went down to Waimakariri 2 – 0, with the result now bringing Waimak into the title reckoning. Technical stay on 17 points, Coastal have 16, and Waimak now on 14. Universities 5 and Halswell – who had the bye are on 3.

Universities took the game to Coastal from the opening whistle and took the lead when Holly Pascoe scored in the 13th minute. Pascoe then went close to adding a second goal for the students. Arna Roberts brought Coastal level with a long-range effort which saw the sides go to the break all tied up.

Into the second half play flowed from end-to-end, as both sides have chances to take the lead with Universities finishing strongly with Coastal then hitting the goal post twice within seconds in the final few minutes of play. The draw meant Coastal retain the Hawkey Shield.

Waimakariri collected arguably their biggest win in the WPL, downing Technical for the first time. Gabi Rennie used her pace to good effect when scoring a goal in each half to end Technical’s season long unbeaten run in the league.

The win extends Waimak’s unbeaten run to a club record four games and now gives them a real chance of pushing Coastal and Technical for title honours, with Coastal and Technical draw to meet in the upcoming round on Saturday.

Results / Scorers
Men’s – Round 14 of 14
Cashmere Technical 6 (Dan Schwarz 2, Lyle Matthysen 2, Ben Stroud, Max Chetien) Selwyn 1 (Declan Hickford) HT 2- 0
Coastal Spirit 4 (Ash Wellbourn 2, Anthony Jones, Tristian Nicol) Nomads 0 HT 2 - 0
Ferrymead Bays 1 (Nikolai Molijn) Nelson Suburbs 2 (Eddie Sillars, Jordan Yong) HT 0 - 2
Universities 0 FC Twenty11 2 (Coner Clarke 2) HT 0 - 1

Golden Boot
15 Stephen Hoyle (Nomads)
13 Lyle Matthysen (Cashmere Technical)
12 Dan Ede (Selwyn), Anthony Jones (Coastal Spirit),
9 Nishan Biswa (Nomads)
7 Aidan Barbour-Ryan (Selwyn), Andy Tuckey (Cashmere Technical), Ben Wright (Nelson Suburbs), Byron Heath (Nomads), Haris Zeb (Coastal Spirit), Max Chretien (Cashmere Technical),
6 Callum Smith (FC Twenty11), Conor Clarke (FC Twenty11), Daniel Thoms (Cashmere Technical), Dominic McGarr (Coastal Spirit), Jordan Yong (Nelson Suburbs), Mark Peers (Ferrymead Bays)

Women’s – Round 10 of 15
Coastal Spirit 1 (Arna Roberts) Universities 1 (Holly Pascoe) HT 1 - 1
Waimakariri 2 (Gabi Rennie 2) Cashmere Technical 0 HT 1 - 0
Halswell the bye

Golden Boot
10 Cody Taylor (Coastal Spirit)
9 Emma Kench (Cashmere Technical), Arna Roberts (Coastal Spirit)
7 Mel Cameron (Coastal Spirit)
6 Monique Barker (Cashmere Technical)
4 Ella Fong (Waimakariri), GabiRennie (Waimakariri), Jayda Stewart (Waimakariri)
3 Ashleigh Parent (Universities), Frankie Morrow (Cashmere Technical)