It was another tough weekend for the south teams in the Southern Football League.
Three losses and two big scores made for tough days and perhaps shows the difference in the ability of the Football South and Mainland leagues.
Dunedin Technical had the most competitive showing, being beaten 2-0 by Cashmere Technical in Christchurch.
An early goal to Lyle Mathysen put Cashmere in front and it held that lead until the halftime break.
It extended that three minutes into the second half when, with the weather deteriorating, Aaron Clapham showed his class to make it 2-0.
That held until fulltime and puts Cashmere one point behind top-of-the-table Nomads United, with a game in hand.
It was another south team that Nomads beat to maintain top spot.It had not been such a bad start for Southland United, although the 6-1 scoreline does not make for good reading.
Still searching for its first points of the league, Xavier Meurier put the side up 1-0.
However, it was unable to make that lead count.It was unable to finish several chances over the next 10 minutes, before Nomads hit back midway through the first half through Matthew Jones.
The score remained 1-1 at halftime.
Three minutes after the break Nomads took the lead and two more quick goals followed to make it 4-1.
The wind proved tough for Southland to contend with and the two quick goals proved tough to get over mentally.
Another two late goals gave Nomads a comprehensive win, as Byron Heath and Stephen Hoyle both claimed doubles, while Mason Stearn added one.
On Saturday Queenstown FC felt the full force of Coastal Spirit’s power.It was thrashed 11-1 at home, as Coastal Spirit picked up its second win of the season and jumped into third place.
Queenstown conceded inside the first three minutes and by 10 minutes it was down 3-0.
Four minutes later Coastal Spirit made that four, before Queenstown began to work its way into the game.
Queenstown pegged one back, but the onslaught continued as Coastal Spirit piled on goal after goal.
Ash Wellbourn was the most prolific of the Spirit goal-scorers, getting four, while Haris Zeb and Liam Hare scored two each.In the all-Mainland game Ferrymead Bays and Nelson Suburbs drew 1-1.
