Nelson Suburbs ended Ferrymead Bays hopes of a top-five finish when scoring in added time to earn a point with the sides drawing 3 - 3. Selwyn continued their late run for a top-five finish when defeating Coastal, 4 - 1. Technical accounted for Nomads 3 - 0, and Christchurch United are now in with a chance of finishing in second place overall when claiming their third win on the bounce, 3 - 1 over Halswell. Technical now have 35 points, ten clear of Coastal with United on 24. Suburbs have 18, the same as Nomads, with Selwyn now in sixth place on 15, Bays remain on 14, with Halswell still points-less.
Suburbs have a + 3 goal difference, and Nomads are even with Selwyn on - 3. Suburbs play Technical in the final round - needing a point to be in the top five, Selwyn faces Nomads in effectively a one game 'shoot out' with a draw enough to put Nomads into the Southern League, which will also see Suburbs through. But, if Selwyn defeats Nomads, then it will be down to goal difference. Other round 14 games see United playing Coastal in the battle for second place, with Bays taking on Halswell.
It was both an action - and incident - packed final few minutes up in Nelson at Saxton Fields. The first half look set to finish scoreless, with Adam Highfield producing several outstanding saves to deny the home side before Bays took the lead in the 44th minute when Rhys Williams scored, and then a minute later, Joe Hoole put Bays two-up from a free-kick. Suburbs then came back with two goals from set-pieces from free-kicks, in the space of four minutes to make it 2 - all with ten to play, with goals to Eddie Sillars and Chester Gaskin. With three minutes to play, Ryan Stanley scored to put Bays back in front, but the striker received his second yellow card for removing his playing top. In the second minute of added time, one of the best strikers to grace the MPL in the past decade, Ben Wright, having his first outing of the season, finished well to score what could yet prove to his most vital of his 77 MPL goals to gain Suburbs a share of the points.
Selwyn extended their unbeaten run to five games when having the better over Coastal almost from the opening whistle. Luke Blackie scored his first premiership goal for the Stallions in the third minute, and Dan Ede, in his 150th game for the club, finished well after turning a defender to make it 2 - 0 in the 17th minute. Coastal then scored their only goal when a well-delivered corner from Sam Richards was headed home by Dominic McGarr minutes later. Early in the second half, Coastal's Liam Cotter elected to try score by beating keeper Pieter-taco Bierema by the near post as the better option may have been to square to two unmarked teammates in the middle of the goal. With twelve to play, Ede then scored direct from a corner and then surprised Coastal keeper Angus Johnson with a snap shot to completed his second hat-trick against Coastal in two seasons, both at Linfield, to put the pressure on Nomads and Suburbs.
In an even opening half, Technical finally broke the deadlock when Yuya Taguchi set up Garbhan Coughlan just before the break. Early in the second half, Sam Fields cleared a shot from Guy Reeves off the line, and not long after, Lyle Matthysen gave Technical some breathing space, then extending the lead. Coughlan then ensured the win when scoring with fourteen to play, to move to the top of the Golden Boot Ladder with his twelfth strike of the season.
United was untroubled to account for Halswell, with the Rams likely disappointed that the winning margin was not a lot higher than just two goals. Michael White put United ahead after 12 minutes, quickly followed by a second from Benji Lapslie, his third goal in his last four starts. The hard-working Ryan Bellamy then reduced the margin with the Halswell keeper, Conner Caswell producing several fine stops to deny United additional goals before the break. Max Chretien scored the only goal of the second half, his fifth of the season to wrap up United's third win on the bounce for the first time this season.
Results / scorers- Coastal Spirit 1 (Dominic McGarr) Selwyn 4 (Dan Ede 3, Luke Blackie) HT 1 - 2
- Halswell 1 (Ryan Bellamy) Christchurch United 3 (Max Chretien, Benji Lapslie, Luke White) HT 1 - 2
- Nelson Suburbs 3 (Chester Gaskin, Eddie Sillars, Ben Wright) Ferrymead Bays 3 (Rhys Williams, Joe Hoole, Ryan Stanley) HT 0 - 2
- Nomads 0 Cashmere Technical 3 (Garbhan Coughlan 2, Lyle Matthysen) HT 0 - 1
Women's premiership two-thirds completed
The New World Women's Premiership has now completed 10 of the 15 rounds. On Friday evening, leader's Coastal Spirit SAS accounted for Ferrymead Bays 6 - 0, with Waimak defeating Nomads 3 - 1, and on Saturday, Cashmere Technical overcome Universities 4 - 0. Coastal SAS move to 30 points, six ahead of Technical with Universities on 16. Waimak now has 13 with Bays on 6, and Nomads still yet to secure their first point.
Alyssa Whinham put Coastal SAS ahead after three minutes, which became the only goal of the opening half. Britney-lee Nicholson doubled the lead on the hour with Lauren Dabner and Mel Cameron then scoring in the space of a minute to close the game out. Two more goals in the final minutes to Freya Lodge and Jayda Stewart wrapped up Coastal SAS' tenth league win on the bounce this season.
Waimak made it two 3 - 1 wins on the trot when defeating Nomads. A double from Lucrettia Taylor and Briar Luff's first goal of the season saw Waimak well in control going to the break. With Rebecca Hewitt pulling a goal back in the 52nd minute, Nomads battled back, her maiden Premiership goal, to complete the scoring.
Technical's goals were split between each half, with Mikayla Hunt celebrating her birthday with a goal. Kate Loye claimed a double, including a penalty, with Emma Kench also adding her name to the scoresheet. Universities Frankie Morrow looked set to pull a goal back but was denied by a superb save from Jade Middleditch.
In round 11 on Saturday, Bays host Technical, Nomads have the home advantage over Coastal SAS with Universities facing Waimak. On Tuesday evening Coastal SAS meet Universities in their quarter-final tie of the Blackwells Reta Fitzpatrick Cup.
Results / scorers
- Cashmere Technical 4 (Kate Loye 2 - incl pen, Mikayla Hunt, Emma Kench) Universities 0 HT 2 - 0
- Ferrymead Bays 0 Coastal Spirit SAS 6 (Alyssa Whinham, Lauren Dabner, Britney-Lee Nicholson, Freya Lodge, Mel Cameron, Jayda Stewart) HT 0 - 1
- Nomads 1 (Rebecca Hewitt) Waimak 3 (Lucrettia Taylor 2, Briar Luff) HT 0 - 3
Top three found in championship
The top three sides have been confirmed in the New World Men's Championship, with one round to be played. FC Twenty11 secured third place when defeating St Albans Shirley (SAS) 6 - 1. Leader's, Waimak, have one hand on the trophy after overcoming Parklands 6 - 0. Second-placed Western had to come from behind away to Mid Canterbury to share the points in a 1 - 1 result, with Burwood edging Universities 1 - 0. Going into the final round, Waimak has 34 points, three clear of Western with FC on 27. Burwood has 22, Parklands 12, Mid Canterbury move to fifth on 10, with Universities and SAS on 9.
Former youth international Geoff MacIntyre scored twice in the opening minutes to give FC the early advantage. Josh McGirr pulled a goal back for SAS from the penalty spot before MacIntyre completed his hat-trick before the break. SAS then conceded an own goal before Conor Clarke added FC's fifth goal, with MacIntyre adding his fourth for the game in the closing minutes.
Danny Loney had an excellent day for Waimak when scoring all six goals, with Waimak only leading Parklands 1 - 0 at the break. His five-goal bag after the break included two penalties.
Western's title hopes hit a speed bump when Mid Canterbury scored just before the break via a goal from Benedict Chute, with Western drawing level when Andy Tuckey scored with fifteen to play.
Burwood left it late before Matt Cox scored the only goal in their game against Universities, in trying conditions at Clare Park to avenge Universities 4 - 2 win against Burwood midweek in the Blackwells English Cup.
The top two sides go head-to-head in the final round, with Western having the home advantage over Waimak. Western need to win by four clear goals to win the title on goal difference. FC host Burwood, Universities take on Mid Canterbury with Parklands hosting SAS.
Results / scorers
- Burwood 1 Universities 0 HT 1 - 0 Matt Cox late in-game
- Mid Canterbury 1 Western 1 HT 1 - 0 Benedict Chute 44, Andy Tuckey 75
- St Albans Shirley 1 FC Twenty11 6 HT 1 - 3 Geoff McIntyre 4 - 3, 6, 40, 84 - Conor Clarke, og - SAS McGirr pen
- Waimak 6 Parklands 0 HT 1 - 0 Danny Loney 6 incl 2 pens 18, 48, 64P 80 82P 90
