They were beaten 4-2 in their Southern Football League game on Saturday.
Missing the suspended Danny Heemskerk following last week’s red card, Wānaka started the opening period with blistering intent.
They used a high-press system to stifle United, who could not establish any sustained possession until the 18th minute when Samuel Mahlamaki finished off from close range following a well-delivered free kick.
Christchurch United then bypassed Wānaka’s midfield press with long balls over the top and against the run of play a clinical finish in the 29th minute by Takumi Hiruma had United 2-0 up.
Wānaka increased their aggressive approach and were rewarded in the 31st minute, with Robert MacKay reducing the deficit following some quick, intricate play inside the penalty area.
Four minutes later more pressing forced a turnover, allowing Wynn Skinner to slot the equaliser and make it 2-2 at halftime.
The second half began on a frustrating note for Wānaka as they conceded a soft goal with Hiruma scoring from close range early, before a 64th minute misplaced back-pass was intercepted by Oliver Grosso, who made no mistake to extend the lead to 4-2, where it remained until the end.
Northern had a travelled to face Cashmere Technical and had a tough day as one of the league’s dominant sides beat them 6-0.
Tech opened the scoring after 16 minutes when Tom Schwarz, spotting keeper Eli Urwin off his line, scored a long range effort from inside his own half.
Schwarz doubled the lead on 27 minutes, before securing his hat-trick early two minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.
Northern still looked to attack on the counter and kept Tech out for 30 minutes.
However, Tech’s dominance of the ball saw ex-Northern player Rory Hibbert score with 14 minutes left and two goals late on from Garbhan Coughlan gave Tech its fifth win on the bounce.
The Dunedin City Royals lost their third consecutive match, going down 2-0 to an improving Nomads side.
Nomads took the lead when Hamish Gillet headed home on 18 minutes before Jesse Burge made the game safe in injury time.
* * *
In the Southern Premiership, Northern lost its grip on the Blair Davidson Trophy at the Caledonian Ground.
Leading 1-0 at halftime through Jonas Gorman’s goal, the Royals levelled when Jonty Hill scored in the 62nd minute.
With time up on the clock and the Royals down to 10 men it looked like Northern would retain the trophy. However, the Royals scored deep into stoppage time, with Hamish Keats getting a 95th-minute winner.
Roslyn edged Green Island 1-0, with Nathan Wilkie’s first half goal the difference.
Invercargill’s Old Boys had a heavy home defeat, going down 7-0 to University. Blake Allison bagged a brace for the students, while Henry Pierce claimed a hat-trick — his 3rd goal coming in injury time when the students had a late flurry, scoring three times in the final four minutes.
Rory Best and Brad Setters also got on the scoreboard.
Mosgiel edged Queens Park 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller.
Ryan Walker’s 11th minute goal cancelled out Park’s early opener from Calem Castle.
Three goals in the last 14 minutes of the half gave the Plainsmen a 4-1 lead at the break.
Queens Park then scored three unanswered goals in the opening 13 minutes after the restart to make it 4-4 on 61 minutes.
But Walker got on the end of a Stephens’ cross to put Mosgiel ahead 5-4 in the 65th minute, scoring what ended up being the winning goal.
