Technical Win To Establish New League Record And Selwyn Pick Up Win In Relegation Battle In Latest Round Of #MPL20
Cashmere Technical established a new record for the longest unbeaten run in the Mainland Premier League (MPL) – of 27 games, after edging Nomads 2 – 1 in the top of the table clash. Selwyn moved off the bottom when defeating fellow strugglers, Western 5 – 0. Coastal Spirit somehow took all three points against Nelson Suburbs when scoring in the final minute of added time to win 4 – 2, with Ferrymead Bays climbing a spot on the ladder when coming from behind to defeat Christchurch United 3 – 1, to make it a clean sweep of wins for the home sides this round.
With a third of the season remaining Technical have 40 points, Nomads 27 with both Coastal and Bays on 23. Suburbs remain in 20, United have 15, with goal different seeing Selwyn move ahead of Western, who are both on 4.
Coming into their game with Nomads, Technical and Suburbs were joint holders of the longest unbeaten sequence of 26 games with Nomads ensuring Technical had to work hard to claim the milestone out right. Dan Ede netted his 96th MPL goal to put Nomads in front after 13 minutes. Daniel Thoms then come within centimetres of doubling the lead on the half hour.
Technical then went close just before the break but Luke Tongue’s shot was just wide. From a Technical corner Garbhan Coughlan got the final touch after Nomads keeper, Simon Cameron failed to take the ball cleanly in the 47th minute. Six minutes later, Yuya Taguchi finished well to put Technical ahead. Nomads created several half chances but any danger was saved by Danny Knight, who was having his 200th game for Tech.
Selwyn claimed their first ever clean sheet in the MPL when they kept Western scoreless in their vital clash to avoid the drop. Jamie Carrodus put the Stallions ahead in the 17th minute with Dorian Grault then scoring twice before the break to take the game away from his former side. Carrodus extended the lead on the hour with Aiden-Barbour Ryan adding the final goal with ten minutes to play.
Suburbs travelled south with several regular first choice missing from their squad for various reasons with an early injury seeing Joshua Moffat subbed off but they battled hard after the break and dominated for long periods in the final quarter and possibly should have returned home with a share of the points.
Mika Rabuka put Coastal ahead after 37 minutes when making the most of a great pass with Coastal captain, Michael Hogan doubling the lead on the stoke of half time. Shane De Freitas then increased the lead before the hard-working Alex Ridsdale pulled a goal back on the hour. Jordan Yong then went close before he then reduce the margin with ten minutes to play. Suburbs then created several chances before Rabuka skipped clear in the final few seconds claim a brace.
Bays extended their unbeaten run to five games when overcoming United. Max Chretien put United in front after 6 minutes before Gareth Wade scored his first MPL goal to draw the sides level. Ryan Stanley scored just before the break to put Bays ahead. Ryan Nicholson then extended the lead just early in the second half with the result leaving the Rams winless in the last eight games.
In the up coming round, Bays face Coastal, Nomads take on Selwyn with Western hosting United on Saturday with Technical travelling north to play Suburbs on Sunday.
Results / Scorers
Cashmere Technical 2 (Garbhan Coughlan, Yuya Taguchi) Nomads 1 (Dan Ede) HT 0 – 1
Ferrymead Bays 3 (Ryan Nicholson, Ryan Stanley, Gareth Wade) Christchurch United 1 (Max Chretien) HT 2 – 1
Coastal Spirit 4 (Mika Rabuka 2, Michael Hogan, Shane De Fraitas) Nelson Suburbs 2 (Alex Ridsdale, Jordan Yong) HT 2 – 0
Selwyn 5 (Jamie Carrodus 2, Dorian Grault 2, Aidan Barbour-Ryan) Western 0 HT 3 – 0
Coastal Spirit Claim #WPL20, Their Fourth On The Bounce
Coastal Spirit wrapped up their fourth Women’s Premier League (WPL) title on the bounce when the overran Halswell 12 – 0. Coastal’s title was their 10 in the last 13th seasons, since the club was formed with the merger of New Brighton and Rangers in 2007. In the other game Waimak defeated Universities 4 – 1 as Cashmere Technical had the weekend off with the bye. Coastal move to 28 points, Technical have 19, Waimak are on 16, Universities have 7 with Halswell still pointless, with Technical and Universities having a game in hand.
Coastal started their clash with Halswell with two goals in the opening five minutes to Alyssa Whinham and Rebecca Lake before Britney-Lee Nicholson scored the first of her four goals to take a firm grip in what would be her first Golden Boot trophy, now on 20 goals for the season. Coastal lead 5 – 0 at the break with their other scorers being Margi Dias, claiming her second hat-trick of the season, a double to Lauren Dabner with Zoe McMeeken scoring her first WPL goal. The game was Coastal’s keeper, Una Foyle’s 100th game for the club.
Waimak came from a goal down to make it a clean sweep over Universities this season. The students captain, Ekaterina Lieshout put Universities ahead in the 13th minutes before Jayda Stewart scored twice to put Waimak in front going to the break. Both Charlotte Roche and Lily Gerrard came into the game off the bench with both scoring to wrap up the win for Waimak.
Results / Scorers
Coastal Spirit 12 (Britney Lee Nicholson 4, Margi Dias 3, Lauren Dabner 2, Alyssa Whinham, Rebecca Lake, Zoe McMeeken) Halswell 0 HT 5 – 0
Waimak 4 (Jayda Stewart, Charlotte Roche, Lily Gerrard) Universities 1 (Ekaterina Lieshout) HT 2 – 1
Cashmere Technical the bye
Halswell Inch Towards Wrapping Up #CCL20 League
Halswell United are a win away from finishing on top of the Canterbury Championship League when they edged St Albans Shirley in a tight encounter 1 – 0 with Tom Chadwick scoring the winner early in the second half. Burwood maintain second position when accounting for FC Twenty11 3 – 1. Parklands continued their late season run when returning from Ashburton with all three points after defeating Mid Canterbury 2 – 1, with Waimak untroubled to come out on top of Universities 4 – 1.
Halswell now move to 30 points, four-clear of Burwood with FC on 20 and Waimak on 19. STS and Parklands both have 12, two ahead of Mid Can terbury with Universities at the foot of the table on 6. In the penultimate round on Saturday, Burwood face Universities, Halswell host Mid Canterbury, St Albans Shirley entertain FC with Waimak at home to Parklands.
Results
FC Twenty11 1 Burwood 3 HT 0 – 3
Halswell 1 St Albans Shirley 0 HT 0 – 0
Mid Canterbury 1 Parklands 2 HT 0 – 2
Universities 1 Waimak 4 HT 1 – 2
Words: Gavin Searle
