Northern have collected the points that will secure them a top six finish in their debut Southern Football League season. They travelled to Foster Park where they beat Selwyn United 3-1, moving to 23 points on the table, six clear of the seventh-placed Christchurch United with one game left. Northern took a fifth-minute lead when a Selwyn attack was headed clear and a simple ball over the top was squared to Alex Dale on the edge of the 6 yard box. He made no mistake, claiming his sixth goal of the season. Selwyn equalised two minutes later when a throw-in was flicked on into the box and Liam Coleman ran past his marker to score. Northern regained the lead in the 59th minute when they were awarded a free kick high up the left wing and Dale’s low-driven free kick was flicked home by Josh Kotkamp on the edge of the 6 yard box. Northern’s Nick Treadwell, who had only been on the park as a substitute for five minutes, suffered a serious head clash and after a lengthy delay had to be taken off. Northern secured the win in the 88th minute when Nicholas Brett was fouled just inside the penalty box and his brother Angus scored from the resultant penalty. The Dunedin City Royals took a very young team to Christchurch to play the champions Cashmere Tech. Will Laws took over the custodian of the goals from regular keeper Alex Boomer — who has departed for Australia. He was in superb form, putting on a fantastic display of goalkeeping, including saving a fifth-minute penalty. The Royals held Tech out until the 64th minute, when Garbhan Coughlan, who had only been introduced as a substitute, opened the scoring with a glancing header from close range. Lyle Matthysen made it 2-0 on 76 minutes and Tech secured their 15th win in 16 games when Danny Kane scored from close range in time added on. Wānaka lost 6-1 on the road to Nomads. Zack Adams-Biggs scored in the 39th minute bringing Wānaka back into the match at 2-1. However, Nomads showed why they are pushing for a National League spot with two goals just before the break giving Caleb Cottom a first-half hat trick. Nomads are vying with Ferrymead Bays for the final National League spot. In the women’s Southern League yesterday Ruby Brathwaite scored pull back a 1-1 draw for Otago University against Nelson Suburbs. Meanwhile, champions Cashmere Technical took a 3-0 win over Roslyn Wakari. The Dunedin City Royals were beaten 2-0 at Logan Park by Universities of Canterbury. In the men’s Southern Premiership Northern Hearts were made to wait another week to be crowned champions, after succumbing 3-0 to a dominant Mosgiel at Memorial Park. Mosgiel’s Matt Adye broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, Harvey Stephens made it 2-0 in the 84th minute and in injury time Stephens was dragged down for a penalty, which he scored. University moved into third with a 3-0 victory over Roslyn, while Old Boys claimed their sixth win of the season 4-1 over the Royals. Despite holding Northern to a 1-1 draw, Green Island will finish bottom of the table.
