Intriguing Matchups In Opening Round Of Historic English Cup

The opening round of the 112th edition of the Morrison Mitsubishi English Cup has some intriguing matchups in Round 1 which will see all 7 ties kicking off at 2 pm on Thursday - ANZAC Day, with all sides then ‘backing up’ in their respective league over the weekend. 

Two of the ties are ‘all’ Southern League fixtures with current cup holders, Christchurch United away to Universities of Canterbury (UC) at English Park and Selwyn hosting Nomads at Foster Park. In what is likely to be the most intriguing tie, FC Twenty 11, who sit at the foot of the SL table host unbeaten Division 1 side Oxford FC at Avonhead Park. Last season’s losing finalist, Cashmere Technical take on St Albans Shirley (SAS) - who play in Division 2, at Garrick Memorial Park. In the other two ties that feature SL sides, Ferrymead Bays are away to Burwood, form the Canterbury Premier League (CPL) at Clare Park with Linfield Park the venue when Coastal Spirit take on CPL side Waimak. In an all-CPL clash, Halswell faces Western – who have held the cup a record 23 times, at Halswell Domain with fellow CPL side, Parklands having the bye into Round 2. 

In what has the potential of a ‘banana skin’ game for FC Twenty 11, who have yet to score a goal this season met Oxford who have moved from Div. 10 to Div. 1 in a handful of years, under coach Jeroen Dunnick. Playing in Div 1 for the first time this season Oxford are unbeaten in their opening three games, with an 11 For and 3 Against goal record, have several players in their squad that have SL experience including, Rodrigo Balcazar – who played for FC last season and Jonathan Smoothy. 

This is the first time that Oxford have contested the Cup, with coach Dunnick, saying his side is up “for the challenge”. “We have nothing to lose and there is no pressure on us”, added Dunnick.   

FC, who were losing the finalist cup in 2017, the same season they won promotion into the then Mainland Premier League will be looking to use the game to find their scoring touch, claim a win and use it to ‘kick start’ their SL season. 

Christchurch United and UC met in the SL two weeks ago with United holding a 4 – 1 lead, with fourteen to play, but down a player for the entire second half, with UC then finishing strongly scoring twice to go down by a single goal, so United will be wary but will be expected to advance. 

Selwyn and Nomads are due to meet again on Saturday in the SL so both will be looking for the physiological advantage by securing a solid win in the cup. The two sides met at the same stage of the cup last season with Selwyn advancing 4 – 1. 

Unbeaten Cashmere Technical are unlikely to field a full-strength team, as they met Nelson Suburbs away on Sunday, but should still be too strong for SAS who are currently on top of the Div. 2 ladder, with three wins from three. 

Coastal Spirit is also unbeaten in the SL and takes on Waimak, one of three sides that are unbeaten on top of the CPL. The two sides met in the opening round of the cup last season with Coastal coming from a goal down, to score in added time to win 2 – 1. 

Both Burwood and Ferrymead Bays have only dropped one game this season with Bays sitting in the top half of the SL with Burwood currently in the bottom half of the CPL table with Bays likely to have too much strike power for their rivals. 

Halswell United, who are celebrating their 60th Anniversary over the weekend will not want Western to spoil their ‘party’. The two sides sit at either end of the CPL table with the Hawks unbeaten and joint leaders with Western yet to secure a point. Last season in the cup, Halswell were untroubled to knock Western out 4 – 0 when they clashed. 

Round 1 Fixtures:

Burwood vs. Ferrymead Bays - Clare Park 

Cashmere Technical vs. St Albans Shirley - Garrick Memorial Park 

FC Twenty11 vs. Oxford FC - Avonhead Park 

Universities of Canterbury vs. ChCh United - English Park 

Selwyn vs. Nomads - Foster Park 

Coastal Spirit vs. Waimak - Linfield Park 

Halswell vs. Western - Halswell Domain 

Parklands the bye 

Reta Fitzpatrick Cup Also Starts

The Morrison Mitsubishi Reta Fitzpatrick Cup also starts on ANZAC Day with one game in the opening round with Ferrymead Bays facing FC Twenty 11 at Ferrymead Park at 2 pm. The remaining seven teams, Cashmere Technical – the current Cup holders, Coastal Spirit SAS, Halswell, NW United, Selwyn, Universities of Canterbury who all play in the SI Qualifying and Hornby United CWCL. 

Ferrymead Bays are currently unbeaten at top of the Premiership Qualifying League, winning their opening two games without conceding a goal with FC Twenty 11 topping the division below, the Championship Qualifying League, also winning both their opening games.   

Round 1 Fixtures:

Ferrymead Bays vs. FC Twenty 11 - Ferrymead Park 

Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit SAS, Halswell, NW United, Selwyn, Universities of Canterbury, Hornby United – the byes

Article added: Wednesday 24 April 2024