The top-of-the-table clash at Tahuna Park on Saturday between Tech and Caversham finished in a goalless draw.
The first half was a flowing affair and both teams had opportunities. Caversham thought it had won a penalty only for the referee to wave away the appeal. It then had a goal disallowed for offside.
Caversham came at Tech and dominated proceedings in the second half.
Tech, knowing a draw would suffice, dug deep and defended stoutly. Caversham threw everything forward but had one of those games where the chances were not taken.
The point means Tech finishes in top spot.Caversham — currently third — will claim the last berth into the travelling league if Queenstown does not beat Tech in next week’s catch-up match.
Queenstown, in the driving seat for so long this season, has hit some speed bumps of late.
It has lost three consecutive matches and will need to lift its game for its final attempt.
The side lost 3-2 at home to Southland in a classic, the win securing Southland a top-three spot.
Roslyn beat Green Island 2-1 in an open game. Green Island had the first meaningful attack that resulted in a close range Matt Brazier shot, well saved by Tom Stevens.
Roslyn then had a five-minute spell in which Green Island cleared one off the line, repelled corner after corner and then a spectacular foot-save from Stewart Catto in the Island goal kept it 0-0 at the break.
Roslyn had more possession in the second half with some nice build-up play which resulted in Nick Treadwell scoring in the 61st minute.
Matt Cordelle attacked down the left, switched the play to the right, Cam Anderson beat two men to cut it back into a crowd of players and Treadwell pounced on it.
Nathan Wilkie hit the cross bar with a 30m driven shot. Cam Anderson secured the result with Roslyn’s second goal with 11 minutes remaining.
Green Island pushed forward and finished the game strongly with Stevens in the Roslyn goal working overtime.
With time nearly up Green Island won a free kick which Tom Milton bent around the wall to reduce the deficit and Roslyn endured a few edgy final minutes.
The other results mean Roslyn can only finish as high as fourth.
In the clash of the cellar dwellers, Northern took on University.
University was ahead at the break, thanks to Dominic Scott scoring after 32 minutes.
Northern responded to coach Luiz Ueharas’ halftime talk, equalising when Thomas Simpson scored on 58 minutes and then taking the lead when Luke Carrington slotted past the students’ fill-in keeper, coach Darren Hart, with 72 minutes gone.
Northern’s in-form striker Ryan Hawken slotted two in the final minutes for a 4-1 victory.
- Neville Watson
