Technical Claim Title After United Upset Nomads In #MPL20
Cashmere Technical claimed their third New World Mainland Premier League (MPL) title on the bounce and their seventh in nine seasons after they defeated Selwyn 4 – 0 and Christchurch United upset second placed Nomads 1 – 0.
Coastal Spirit were untroubled to overcome Western 4 – 0 with Ferrymead Bays and Nelson Suburbs playing out a scoreless draw. With five rounds remaining Technical now 46 points, Nomads 30 with Coastal 29 and Bays on 24. Suburbs and United have 21 with both Selwyn and Western, who are battling relegation on 4 apiece.
Technical had the better of Selwyn from the early stages and took the lead after a good built up in the 22nd minute when Yuya Taguchi was left unmarked by the far post. Minutes later Lyle Matthysen scored his 17th goal of the season to double the lead. Garbhan Coughlan then finished well when tucking the ball under the advancing Selwyn keeper, Pieter-taco Bierema just before the break. Taguchi extended the lead with a great strike early in the second half with Bierema pulling off several great saves to deny Technical further goals, with the result meaning Technical retained the Hurley Shield.
Nomads faint title hopes were extinguished when United prevailed in a tight game. Eddie Ashton, the Rams keeper was subbed off with a back injury after just 15 minutes, bringing Fewan Watts into the game. Both sides saw chances going begging with the sides turning scoreless at the break. The deadlock was finally broken when Max Chretien scored his sixth goal in the last rounds with 23 minutes to play, the result was Nomads first loss at home this season.
Coastal extended their unbeaten run to five when defeating Western. Defender Dominic McGarr scored the only goal of the opening half when finding the back of the net in the 13th minute. Mika Rabuka then doubled the lead early in the second half with Western going close twice in the space of a few minutes before Coastal hit back when Rabuka claimed a double. With two minutes to play McGarr completed the scoring.
Goals proved hard to come by at Ferrymead Park in the Ever-Present Derby between Bays and Suburbs. Bays keeper, Adam Highfield pulled off two great saves in a matter of seconds early in the game, turning the first shot on to the bar and then recovering quickly to deny an on target shot by Ryan Stewart. Ryan Stanley then went close for Bays but the shot was wide.
On the hour mark Bays went a player down after Zac Gordan was shown a red card when he brought down Jordan Yong just on the edge of the goal area. Highfield saved the resulting freekick taken by Yong. With 20 minutes to play Highfield was again called on make a great save from Lauchan Brooks. Bays then had several chances before Brooks raced towards goals cutting by Highfield, only to push his shot wide. In the final minutes Yong could only find the side netting from close range.
In Tuesday evening Blackwells Holden English Cup holders, Technical play St Albans Shirley in their quarter final tie of the cup.
The upcoming MPL round Coastal host Nomads in the game of the round, United entertain Selwyn, Bays face Technical with Western away to Suburbs.
Results / Scorers
Cashmere Technical 4 (Yuya Taguchi 2, Garbhan Coughlan, Lyle Matthysen) Selwyn 0 HT 3 – 0
Ferrymead Bays 0 Nelson Suburbs 0
Nomads 0 Christchurch United 1 (Max Chretien) HT 0 – 0
Western 0 Coastal Spirit 4 (Mika Rabuka 2, Dominic McGarr 2) HT 0 – 1
Coastal Lock Hawkey Shield Away in #WPL20
Champion’s, Coastal Spirit locked the Hawkey Shield away over the summer after defeating Universities 6 – 0 in the penultimate round of the New World Women’s Premier League (WPL), with Cashmere Technical edging Waimak 2 – 1 as Halswell at the bye. Coastal now have 31 points, Technical 25, Waimak finish on 19, Universities have 7 with Halswell pointless.
Mel Cameron bagged four of Coastal’s goals, two in each half with the current Golden Boot holder scoring a brace to put her side two up after 24 minutes with Margi Dias adding a third before the break. Universities defended well into the second half before the score blew out in the final ten minutes with two coming in added time, with Whitney Hepburn scoring the final goal. The win extends Coastal’s record tenure to of Hawkey Shield to 20 games which commenced back in last few week of the 2017 season.
In a highly competitive game, Technical needed a late goal to overcome Waimak to claim the three points. Monique Barker lobbed Waimak keeper, Annie Foote to open the scoring on the half hour. The lead was short lived with Jayda Stewart replying three minutes later, to see the sides go to the break level. Chances went begging at either end before Kate Taylor scored the winning goal with four minutes to play.
Technical and Waimak now met again on Wednesday evening in the final quarter final tie of the Blackwells Holden Reta Fitzpatrick Cup with Selwyn also chasing a semi-final spot when they face the Universities reserve side on Monday evening.
In the final round of the WPL on Saturday, Technical and Coastal go head to head with Universities hosting Halswell, with Waimak having the bye.
Results / Scorers
Coastal Spirit 6 (Mel Cameron 4, Margi Dias, Whitney Hepburn) Universities 0 HT 3 – 0
Waimak 1 (Jayda Stewart) Cashmere Technical 2 (Monique Barker, Kate Taylor) HT 1 – 1
Halswell the bye
Halswell Complete #CCL20 Round Robin Unbeaten
The Stu Kelly, coached Halswell side successfully completed the first stage of their quest to gaining promotion back into the New World Mainland Premier League when they defeated FC Twenty11 5 – 1 in the final round of the Canterbury Championship League to extend their unbeaten run to fourteen games for the season. Hawks now need to take 5 points from their three games from the top four / bottom round split to claim promotion after Rangers AFC, from Blenheim, who will win the Nelson Bays Division 1 title will not seek promotion so a play-off will not be needed this season, to see who will replace the bottom place side from the MPL.
In other results from the CCL, Burwood defeated neighbour Parklands 3 – 0 with all the goals coming after the break. Waimak came from 2 – 1 down at the break to overcome Mid Canterbury 3 – 2 with both the Fraser brothers, Kane and Luke scoring in the second half for Waimak. St Albans Shirley won the final game 2 – 0 over Universities. Halswell top the table on 36 points, four ahead of Burwood. FC and Waimak are locked together on 23, to round out the top four with both having the identical goal record – for and against, so the Fair Play points will be used to determine the final finishing order. SAS finish in fifth play on 15, with Parklands on 13 with Mid Canterbury on 10 and Universities 6.
Results
FC Twenty11 1 Halswell 5 HT 0 – 2
Mid Canterbury 2 Waimak 3 HT 2 – 1
Parklands 0 Burwood 3 HT 0 – 0
Universities 0 St Albans Shirley 2 HT 0 – 0
