Northern v University

University were looking to keep pace with the South City Royals at the top of the table whilst Northern were awaiting their first win in many a season. University started with a strong tail wind and had early chances when Ben Stanley and Aidan Barbour-Ryan dragged shots narrowly wide in the opening 10 minutes and then Northern's keeper Liam Little pulled off a double save and with Oban Hawkins and Ben O'Farrell controlling possession, it looked likely that the students would chalk up another victory.  Northern's opportunities were coming down their right flank through Gian Kramer's forward runs and he nearly scored after 23 minutes forcing Neil Achary into a fine save.  Two minutes later, the students were reduced to 10 men when Ben Stanley was shown a red card for a high challenge.  The students weren't initally affected as Tom Stewart spotted Little off his line and lofted a sublime effort over his head for a deserved lead on 27 minutes and Stewart nearly scored again as he dribbled into the box and got a shot on target.  Northern's Jacob Willmott on a forward run in the 38th minute burst into the penalty box and went down however appeals for a penalty were waved away. University counter attacked and Barbour-Ryan headed over the cross bar with the goal gaping. With Northern now having the wind and man advantage in the 2nd half they soon equalised when Al Muwali was brought down in the box by Tim O'Farrell and youngster Rory Hibbert confidentally dispatched the penalty in the 48th minute. Little was having a standout match and he pulled off a point blank save to deny Finn Rathbone's header.  As the game went into the last 20 minutes, Northern's Harry Fraser was having an influential impact with his mazy runs foward and ability to hold the ball up and Achary had to be alert to deny him.  However on 78 minutes, another Fraser run through the students defence saw his diagonal pass find Seamus Gray whose angled shot from the right flank gave Achary no chance.  Northern's Matt Johnstone was resolute in defence to ensure Northern kept the students at bay and at the final whistle both supporters and players rejoiced in finally claiming a long awaited victory.

South City Royals v Queenstown

The students defeat allowed the Royals to claim outright top spot with a workman like 2-0 win over Queenstown.  Kaleb de Groot-Green headed in the opener on 32 minutes and made the game safe when Queenstown's Cohen Nash scored an own goal on the 58th minute. 

Queenstown dominated the game in its latter part, with the Royals coming under some pressure. Zac Hourston and Jack Niven were Queenstowns’  key attacking options offensive threats, but the Royals defence kept them at bay with Liam Whittaker making several crucial saves. The win makes it four on the trot for South City Royals who now sit three points clear at the top of the Premiership. 

Roslyn Wakari v Green Island.

Roslyn Wakari reclaimed the Blair Davidson trophy and jumped into 3rd spot with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Green Island Roslyn Wakari secured the Blair Davidson Challenge Trophy after a six year hiatus. It was a tight battle in the middle of the park with both sides looking dangerous through their respective attackers. Green Island had the better chances early on, with Cam Anderson was brought down on the edge of the box and Tom Milton's subsequent freekick hitting the wall.  Anderson then rounded Roslyn's returning custodian Tom Stevens but was forced wide.  Adam Hewson had a chance when 8 yards out with his back to goal, he spun and fired a shot that was astutely blocked by Stevens. Hewson then latched on to the rebound but Stevens pulled off a double save. Roslyn's Nathan Wilkie kept debutant keeper Luke Shaffer-Swan on his toes with a driven shot at the near post. The opening goal came in the 51st minute when a diagonal run from Sam Cosgrove beat Shaffer-Swan to the  ball and was bundled over . Justin Wiechens stepped up and gave Roslyn the lead from the spot. Green Island responded 9 minutes later after Anderson floated a cross from the right to the far post evading everyone including Stevens and Hewson volleyed home. Green Island looked to put Roslyn under pressure however Roslyn hit back on the counter and Cosgrove found himself on the end of a through ball and  shot through the legs of Schaffer-Swann on 69minutes.  Green Island started to play more directly and forced a number of corners.  Hewson came close from the edge of the box on two occasions, putting his shots marginally wide. Roslyn had their own chances although some desperate defending and  blocks denied them and in the final minute a Green Island corner resulted in a melee with the ball pinging around the box but the Island couldn't force it home.

Mosgiel v Wanaka

Wanaka claimed a valuable 3 points after coming from behind to secure a 3-1 win away to Mosgiel. Mosgiel started brightly when Rhys Quarrell gained possession on the halfway line and drove forward in the 4th minute, the  Wanaka team gave him too much space and he was one on one with Josh Shackleton in Wanaka's goal and Quarrell calmly beat the keeper to put Mosgiel 1-0 up.

Wanaka regrouped and striker Steve Pleskun found himself in a similar position to Quarrell however  Mosgiel keeper Daniel Robinson saved well , Mosgiel quickly countered  and Quarell had another 1 v 1 that Shackleton saved well.

The equaliser came on 20 minutes when Scott Mitchell  ntercepted the ball and stroked a long ball in to the path of Pleskun just inside the Mosgiel half. Pleskun showed his trademark strength and speed to out pace two defenders and then shot past Robinson. Mosgiel's captain Rory Findlay then headed in from a free kick only to be ruled out for offside and with the half coming to an end it was Wanaka who finished the stronger team .

Tomas Tinka won possession in midfield and found the forward run of Ethan Arratia who drove forward and he slid a diagonal pass into Pleskun who again out paced a covering defender and finished into the far corner giving Robinson no chance, making the score 2-1 to Wanaka.

Into the second half, Mosgiel looked to lift their game in search of an equaliser and it was Findlay on the left and Quarrell who looked most likely in troubling the Wanaka defense with their pace .  

Van Hees nullified Quarrell and Findlay was starved of ball, whilst Wanaka always looked dangerous with  Tinka , Arratia and Mitchell dominating midfield and Mcdonald who went close to extending the lead in the 60th minute, as he drove forward into Mosgiel's final third he delivered a far post cross that curled and dipped away from the keeper and hit the post.

 With time running out Mosgiel searched for the equalizer, giving Wanaka acres of space to counter attack and with time nearly up a goal came.Van Hees delivered a long ball on to the head of Dickson with Alex Wright winning the knock down and releasing the forward run of Arratia and he showed composure  to make the final score 3-1.

Article added: Tuesday 11 May 2021