Apisai Rabuka shows a turn of speed during Coastal Spirit’s 2-0 win over Nomads. PHOTO: JIM WATTS PHOTOGRAPHYCoastal Spirit’s unbeaten record – and their hopes of completing a treble – will be on the line in their Chatham Cup quarter-final clash with Hibiscus Coast on Saturday.
It is the first time Coastal have made it to this stage of the competition and the first time they have played outside the South Island.
It has been one of the club’s most successful seasons since their inception in 2007.
With just five games to go in the Southern League, Coastal sit in second, just one point behind league leaders Cashmere Technical.
They’re also in the semi-finals of the English Cup, where they will play Western AFC in two weeks.
“The club’s obviously chuffed,” said Coastal head coach Robbie Stanton.
“Not just in the Chatham Cup, but also what we’ve done so far this year on the pitch, they’ve been very supportive.”
Coastal Spirit's Matthew Bergin looks to control the ball under pressure from Joshua Holland of...Their opponents on Saturday, Hibiscus Coast, are relative unknowns – this will also be their first cup quarter-final, and they play in the NRFL Championship in Auckland, a step below the Northern League.
They upset Northern League side Melville United 1-0 to reach this round, while Coastal needed extra time to beat Ferrymead Bays 5-3.
Cashmere Tech and Nomads will play their English Cup quarter-final on Saturday, which was postponed last month due to a failed floodlight at English Park.
The winner will take the last semi-final spot, playing Christchurch United next month.
Chatham Cup quarter-final (2pm Saturday)
Hibiscus Coast v Coastal Spirit, Stanmore Bay Park
