Cashmere has been the South Island’s dominant team in recent years and won this year’s Mainland league in a canter.
Apart from an opening flurry from Cashmere it was Green Island which created the early chances when Liam Carrington had a clear run at goal following a square ball from Matt Brazier, and it took a timely block to prevent a goal.
Brynn Sinclair’s follow-up hit the side netting on six minutes and five minutes later Eddie Wilkinson made space, but with a clear shot on goal he dragged his shot wide.
With the home side in the ascendancy it was awarded a free kick 36m out in the 14th minute and Matt Milton’s delivery landed in the box. Carrington was on hand to stab the ball home past keeper Danny Knight.
This spurred Cashmere into life with first George King shooting narrowly wide with 17 minutes played, and a succession of corners — the first of which was cleared off the line — and then goal keeper Christian Firth punching the ball clear and making a stunning save from a well-timed volley.
On the half-hour mark there was another scintillating run from Wilkinson in which he beat three defenders but his tame shot was hit straight at Knight.
Cashmere dominated last 10 minutes of the first half. Lyle Matthysen spurned a golden opportunity to equalise with a glaring miss from close range, then Firth pulled off a top save to deny Cory Mitchell.
Green Island’s centre back Aaron Allan went down injured in a heavy challenge only minutes before the break, a turning point.
Allan’s defensive partner Blake Porteous
was unfortunate that the ball struck his hand to gift Cashmere the equaliser from the penalty spot which Andy Tuckey dispatched high and to Firth’s right on 43 minutes.
From the kickoff Cashmere surged forward and with some crunching tackles in the penalty box won possession. Tuckey was on hand to fire home his second.
In the second half Cashmere enjoyed a lot of possession and territory. Firth was kept busy and he impressed with some stellar glove work.
Cashmere brought on Garbhan Coughlan and Taguchi Yuya. Their constant movement pulled Green Island’s defence out of shape which allowed Cory Mitchell an opportunity which he dragged narrowly wide.
Coughlan ghosted through the defence and he played in Tuckey who, on 67min, spurned his hat trick opportunity when he shot wide.
Three minutes later Coughlan received the ball 21m out, controlled it with his chest, turned, beat his marker and lashed an unstoppable shot past Firth.
With eight minutes left Blake Porteous received his marching orders when a reckless challenge on Coughlan was deemed worthy of a second yellow card. The resulting free kick went narrowly wide.
Firth pulled off yet another fine save to deny Coughlan. However the rebound struck Tom Milton’s arm and Coughlan made no mistake from the penalty spot to seal a 4-1 win.
- Neville Watson
