Selwyn Strike First Blow In Qualifying Playoffs

Selwyn scored a vital win in the opening round of the Mainland Premier Qualifying League (MPQL) with a 3 – 1 win over Universities. The third team in the MPQL, FC Twenty11, had the bye. Teams carry their points earned in the Mainland Premier League to the MPQL - FC have 13 points, Selwyn are now on 9 and Universities are on 3.

Universities started the game strongly and took the lead in the fifth minute thanks to a Selwyn own goal. The Stallions drew level in the 22nd minute with a goal from Joe Arnott in what was an entertaining first half.

Early in the second half Selwyn hit the post and finally took the lead on the hour mark when Dan Ede ended a move that he had started on the halfway line. Universities then went close several times before Jayden Booth added Selwyn's third goal with 20 minutes to play. 

Coastal Back On Top 

Coastal Spirit moved back to the top of the Women's Premier League (WPL) when they defeated Cashmere Technical 2 - 0 in their top of the table clash. Coastal are now on track to claim back-to-back titles with just three games to play. In the round’s other game, Universities beat Halswell 3 – 0. Waimakariri had the bye. Coastal top the table on 19 points, two points ahead of Technical in second. Waimakariri, who have a game in hand, are on 14 points, Universities move to 8 and Halswell remain on 3.

It was another tight encounter between Coastal and Technical, two clubs that have dominated the WPL in recent seasons. Coastal took the lead when Golden Boot leader Cody Taylor scored her eleventh strike of the season in the 24th minute. 

The second half was a similarly tight affair until the 84^thminute when Arna Roberts grabbed Coastal’s second off a corner. The win also meant Coastal retain the Hawkey Shield and extend their record tenure to seven games. The win was defender Emma Clarke’s final game before she heads over to the USA to take up a playing scholarship at the University of Houston.

Universities climbed off the foot of the table with their second victory over Halswell of the season. Konagh Garrett opened the scoring midway through the first half and two goals in ten minutes from Kelsey Barrett and Kat Lieshout saw off a late Halswell charge. 

Tight Battle In CCL

The battle in the Canterbury Championship League took another turn when previous leaders Halswell were upset by bottom placed Waimakariri, going down 2 - 0 in Kaiapoi. Halswell’s loss allowed Western to move to the top of the table, on goal difference, when they defeated Parklands 2 - 0. In the final game of the round, Christchurch United thumped Burwood 6 - 0. Western and Halswell have 22 points, Parklands are on 12 followed by Burwood on 11, United on 10 and Parklands on 9.

Results / Scorers

Mainland Premier League Qualifying Playoffs - Round 1 of 8

Selwyn 3 (Joe Arnott, Dan Ede, Jayden Booth) Universities 1 (own goal) HT 1 - 1

FC Twenty11 (bye)

Women's Premier League - Round 11 of 15

Coastal Spirit 2 (Cody Taylor, Arna Roberts) Cashmere Technical 0 HT 1 - 0

Halswell 0 Universities 3 (Konagh Garrett, Kelsey Barrett, Kat Lieshout) HT 0 - 1

Waimakariri (bye)

Article added: Monday 18 June 2018