Otago University warmed up for the Chatham Cup quarterfinals with a second straight win in the Southern League yesterday.
University beat Selwyn 3-1 at Logan Park, to lead the league with maximum points following its win over the South City Royals in the first round.
Ben Deeley scored twice and Arnon Tapp had the other goal for the students, who have been busy fundraising as they head away for a long road trip this weekend to play North Shore United in the Chatham Cup.
On Saturday, Green Island was unable to mark its 125th anniversary celebrations with victory as it slipped to a 4-1 loss to the Royals.
The game lacked spark in the first 25 minutes before an Adam Hewson shot came agonisingly close to giving Green Island the lead.
Three minutes later, the Royals took the lead from a scrambled corner that Green Island could not clear, and the predatory Ryan Fleming was on hand to blast the ball into the net.
In the 39th minute, Hewson was denied the opportunity to equalise when he appeared to be fouled in the box but the officials did not award a penalty.
Fleming made it 2-0 in the 55th minute when he raced on to a long ball. His initial shot was well saved by Luke Schaffer-Swann but Fleming tapped in the rebound.
Diminutive Green Island striker Cam Anderson reduced the deficit in the 68th minute when, following a trademark run directly at the defence, his low shot into the far corner gave Chris Boomer no chance.
A few minutes later, Boomer’s diving save denied Anderson an equaliser, and the goalkeeper again showed fantastic form to stop another Hewson effort.
The Royals made the game safe with 10 minutes left when Will Turner’s powerful shot gave Schaffer-Swann no chance, and Olivier Cassidy finished with a sublime goal. Spotting the keeper off his line, he lobbed it over his head into the empty net.
Coastal Spirit beat Cashmere Tech 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Caversham old boy Michael Hogan, and Nelson Suburbs and Christchurch United fought out a 1-1 draw,
In the championship, Queenstown edged Wanaka 3-2 in the Central Otago derby. Willem Ebbinge scored two goals for Queenstown before Wanaka pulled one back through Alex Wright, then equalised from an Al Carmichael free kick.
Queenstown claimed all three points in injury time when Ebbinge unselfishly squared a ball for Elgan Jones to tap in from close range.
Northern upset Roslyn-Wakari 1-0 at Ellis Park. Rory Hibbert tapped home the only goal following a left-wing mazy run and cross midway through the first half.
- Neville Watson
