Plenty Of Drama In the Final Round

There was plenty of drama in the final round of the Southern League, with Coastal Spirit clinching second place at the expense of two-time and defending champions, Christchurch United. Coastal needed a late own goal to defeat Universities of Canterbury (UC) 2 - 1, with United only securing a point and drawing 1 - 1 with new champions, Cashmere Technical. The game between Ferrymead Bays and Nomads saw a pitch switch late in the game after an ambulance was called to assist an injured Nomads player, and when the games resumed after a lengthy delay, three goals were scored in added time with Nomads winning 3 - 1. It was a bit of a goal feast between the bottom two sides with Selwyn winning 5 - 2, with the final game postponed between Dunedin City Royals and Nelson Suburbs after strong winds prevented the plane from flying Suburbs south landing in Dunedin despite several attempts to land. 

At the moment 414 goals have been scored, a record number of goals in a season Technical tops the table with 47 points, two clear of Coastal with United third on 41. Suburbs had 29, Bays 25 with Nomads on 24. The Royals have 19, both UC and Selwyn finish on 11 with FC on 1. The Royals now have two catch-up games to play against Selwyn and Suburbs. 

UC made the most of some soft defending to score one of the fastest goals of the season when Pero Foreman was on hand to tap the ball home in the opening minute of play. Coastal Spirit then had several half chances before their leading scorer, Alex Steinwascher hit a shot onto the post with the ball rebounding back to the American who scored in the 14th minute. The students continued to take the game to Coastal, but it was the latter that had more of the ball under hit passes and poor crosses were costing them with their best chance coming with a long-range effort from Danny Boys late in the half which UC keeper, Angus Dempster, palmed over the crossbar. The second half continued to follow the same pattern with UC going a player down after Jacob Killick received a second yellow card. Coastal finally got the vital goal they needed, coming ironically with Steinwascher delivering one of Coastal's better crosses of the match which was turned into the net by a UC defender. 

Christchurch United had to pick up the win if they had again hope of processing to the next stage of the National League but found themselves a goal down after Garbhan Coughlan hit an unstoppable strike from 25 metres out, his 26th goal in the league, in which was the only goal of an entertaining opening half. Early in the second half United won a free kick on the edge of the goal area and Joel Stevens scored directly with a low shot. United then put the pressure on as they looked to go ahead, with Stevens drawing a good save out of Danny Knight who was playing his 300th game for the Cashmere Technical. Chances went begging at both ends with United then going down a player in the 83rd minute when Joel Patterson received his second yellow card. In the end, the game finished in a stalemate with the result meaning United retained the Hurley Shield in what was the 150th challenge for the trophy between Canterbury-based clubs. 

After a scoreless opening half, Nomads took the lead against Ferrymead Bays when Caleb Cotton slotted home a penalty in the 52nd minute in what was a midtable clash. The game then had to move pitches in the 81st minute when there was a concern over a suspected neck injury to Joshua Holland. When play resumed there was a hectic finish in added time with Spencer Gable doubling the lead and a minute later substitute, Ethan Bingham scored from the rebound after a penalty was blocked by Bays keeper, Kyle Hodge, to put Nomads 3 - 0. A minute later Bays captain, James Deehan scored a late consolation. 

Selwyn kept their best to the final round to bring an end to a seven-game winless run. Jamie Carrodus put the Stallions ahead when scoring on the stroke of halftime. Blake Lang then extended the lead before Kane Kilbride replied for FC Twenty 11. A minute later Finlay Cotton scored Selwyn's third goal only for Daniel Oakman to pull a goal back immediately for FC. The goals continued to flow when Kwadwo Amoafo scored immediately from the kick-off and Dan Ede scored Selwyn's final goal with two minutes to play.       

Results / Scorers - Round 18 of 18:

Christchurch United 1 (Joel Stevens)
Cashmere Technical 1 (Garbhan Coughlan)
HT 0 - 1 

FC Twenty 11 2 (Kane Kilbride, Daniel Oakman)
Selwyn 5 (Jamie Carrodus, Blake Lang, Finlay Cotton, Kwadwo Amoafo, Dan Ede)
HT 0 - 1 

Ferrymead Bays 1 (James Deehan)
Nomads 3 (Caleb Cotton - pen, Spencer Gable, Ethan Bingham)
HT 0 - 0  

Dunedin City Royals vs. Nelson Suburbs - postponed 

Leading Scorers:

26 Garbhan Coughlan (Technical) 
19 Alex Steinwascher (Coastal), Joel Stevens (United) 
13 Trevin Myers (Suburbs) 
12 Lennon Whewell (Suburb) 
10 Gabriel Gallaway (Technical), Jack Hallahan (Technical), David Yoo (United) 
9 Lyle Matthysen (Technical), Cameron Rean (Bays), Yuya Taguchi (Technical) 

Catchup Game To Decide SI Women's League

The South Island Women's League will be decided in the catchup game from Round 7 between Nelson Suburbs and Cashmere Technical after the defending title holders, Technical edged current leaders Dunedin City Royals 1 - 0 to close the points gap to just three, with Technical having the superior goal difference. In other Round 10 games, Coastal Spirit SAS were too strong for Roslyn Wakari, winning 3 - 0 with Otago University accounting for bottom-placed Nelson Suburbs 5 - 0.

Royal's remain on 25 points, Technical move to 22 with Coastal finishing on 17. University is next on 11, Roslyn 6 and Suburbs 1. 

Due to the strong winds that were hitting Dunedin it was fortunate that the top-of-the-table clash between Dunedin City Royals and Cashmere Technical was being played 'indoors' at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. After a tight opening, Technical took the lead in the 18th minute when Anna McPhie scored to join Coastal's Mel Cameron on top of the Golden Boot race with 8 goals. Technical then could have doubled their lead on the half-hour but missed for the penalty spot. Into the second half, the Royals created the better of the chances but for just the second time this season they could not find the back of the next and it was a relieved Technical side hearing the final whistle knowing that back-to-back titles were still on the cards. 

It was a somewhat depleted Coastal Spirit side that started brightly with Britney-Lee Nicholson, who was captaining the side struck twice early in the game. The first after 7 minutes and then the second followed quickly via the penalty spot. Laura Newman then extended the lead just before the break. Roslyn Wakari gained a small victory when keeping Coastal scoreless in the second half.  

Otago University ended their season when securing their highest score of the league, but Nelson Suburbs were still in the game at the break trailing 1 - 0 unluckily when conceding an own goal midway into the half. The students doubled their lead when Charli Marvin scored her first goal of the campaign in the 67th minute before Aynsley Martin extended the lead with the score then blew out when Alisa Tuatagaloa completed a double when scoring twice in the space of four minutes late in the game.    

Results / Scorers - Round 10 of 10:

Coastal Spirit SAS 3 (Britney-Lee Nicholson 2 - incl pen, Laura Newman)
Roslyn Wakari 0
HT 3 - 0 

Dunedin City Royals 0
Cashmere Technical 1 (Anna McPhie)
HT 0 - 1  

Otago University 5 ( 2, Charli Marvin, Aynsley Martin. own goal)
Nelson Suburbs 0
HT 1 - 0 

Leading Scorers:

8 Anna McPhie (Technical), Mel Cameron (Coastal) 
7 Annalie Longo (Technical) 
6 Margi Dias (Technical), Rose Morton (Royals) 
5 Lara Wall (Technical 
4 Emma Kench (Technical) 

Waimak Secure Premiership

Waimak claimed their first New World Men's Premiership title when they defeated their closest rivals, Burwood 4 - 2 in front of a healthy and vocal home crowd, with Waimak now expected to contest the promotion play-off series to determine which club will replace relegated FC Twenty 11 in the Southern League for 2025. 

Waimak were leading 2 - 0 at the break before Burwood pulled a goal, with Waimak regained their two-goal advantage only for Burwood to reduce the margin again before Waimak scored again to complete the scoring. In a tight tussle, Cashmere Technical Reserves scored in first half added time to edge Christchurch United U20 Academy, 1 - 0. Ferrymead Bays Reserves came from behind to defeat their Cashmere Technical 3 - 2 with Halswell scoring deep in added time to draw with bottomed-placed Parklands 2 - 2 with the final game of the round being played on Tuesday evening when Western host Selwyn Reserves at English Park. 

Waimak move to 41 points, 5 clear of Burwood with Technical third overall on 35. Halswell finished on 28, Nomads 25 Selwyn 21 and Bays on 19. United and Western are on 18 with Parklands back on 6.   

Results Round 18 of 18:

Christchurch United U20 Academy 0
Cashmere Technical Res. 1
HT 0 - 1 

Ferrymead Bays Res. 3
Nomads Res. 2
HT 1 - 2 

Parklands 2
Halswell 2
HT 1 - 0 

Waimak 4
Burwood 2
HT 2 - 0 

Western vs. Selwyn Res. - being played Tuesday evening 

  
Article added: Monday 02 September 2024