Football: Cashmere retain Chatham Cup crown

Two first half goals have helped Cashmere Technical to their second consecutive Chatham Cup title today after they beat Central United 2-1 in the final at North Harbour Stadium.

Packed with Canterbury United national league talent, Cashmere won the physical battle, clinically finished their chances and used their experience to navigate past a spirited Central side who dominated possession for large periods of the match.

The result caps a remarkable 12 month period for Cashmere, who have only lost one game since winning the Cup last year and have become the first team since Central in 1998 to win it in two consecutive seasons.

Cashmere were defensively excellent, scrapped for everything and bossed the midfield while Central too often relied on some magic from exceptional Auckland City striker Emiliano Tade.

Cashmere took the lead after five minutes, when Ivan Vicelich and Central keeper Blaz Bugarin got mixed up dealing with a long ball and Ash Wellbourne bundled the scraps home from close range.

Central struck back ten minutes later through Tade, who turned Cashmere defender Nick Wortelboer inside out before finishing a silky solo dribble by rifling the ball into the bottom corner.

Cashmere defender Dan Terris then headed home the winner from an Aaron Clapham corner, their 100th goal in all competitions, just before halftime.

Cashmere's creativity came from the middle of the park. Veteran Stu Kelly and All White Aaron Clapham were the two most comfortable players on the ball and did a good job of dictating the pace of the game when Cashmere were in possession. They also scrapped for everything and were able to disrupt Central's rhythm.

Clapham's reading of the game and set piece delivery was also top class and he may well have the best technique in New Zealand's domestic game.

Tade was often a one-man threat for Central. On a heavy, slippery pitch the Argentine striker was a yard quicker than anyone else and had the crowd of 2,761 excited every time he received the ball near the box.

But his effect on the game deteriorated as the match went on; perhaps a result of only returning on Thursday from a six week European holiday.

Cashmere opted for quite a direct approach, feeding off scraps, using their physical advantage and threatening from every set play while Central often attempted a more measured build up.

Cashmere keeper Dan Knight made a series of spectacular late saves to hold Central out including a perfectly hit dipping volley from Takuya Iwata from 45 yards late in the game.

In the Women's Knockout Cup final Glenfield Rovers came back from a goal down to beat Forrest Hill Milford 3-2.


Central United 1 (Emiliano Tade) Cashmere Technical 2 (Ash Wellbourne, Dan Terris)


- By Steven Holloway of nzherald.co.nz

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