The magic of the cup is back! After 2020's Kate Sheppard and Chatham Cups were cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are delighted to see our region's teams back in action! There are three matches in the Kate Sheppard Cup involving teams from our region and five fixtures in the Chatham Cup. You can watch our Football Chat Cup Preview Special here.

Kate Sheppard Cup 

Otago University v Southland United FC  

Stu Moffatt’s side will be looking to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat to Dunedin Tech last Friday with a win over Southland United FC. Otago University progressed to Round 2 back in 2019 after beating Mosgiel 10-0 in the first round. They then lost 3-0 to quarter-finalists Dunedin Technical. Moffatt is hoping his side can improve on their performance in their last match, “Not to take anything away from our opponents, we let ourselves down with some momentary loses of concentration. This week is a different competition, a knock-out cup, so we will use that as a chance to wipe the slate clean and start again.” Moffatt hopes to see his side compete for the duration of the match, “The challenge for the girls is to perform at our best for 95 minutes. I'm looking to mix things up a bit to see if I can the most out of our players.” He expects Carl Lambert’s side to be formidable, “Southland will be a strong side with some quality players.” 

Southland United Coach Carl Lambert is looking forward to his first competitive game in charge and with that, the team’s first competitive outing. The team has come about as a result of a proposal put forward by the clubs, “It’s chance for Southland’s elite female players to try something different and it’s good because of the step-up from the playing level within our league. It’s a good challenge for the more experienced girls.” Southland United played a friendly against Queenstown a few weeks back, “We were really happy with that, we kept our formation and then conceded one right at the end, a bit like a cup game! It was good preparation for this weekend and the girls really enjoyed it.” Lambert is relishing the challenge of Stu Moffatt’s side, “It’ll be great to see where we actually are at.” 

KO: 1pm Sunday at the Turf

Dunedin Tech v Roslyn Wakari  

Kate Sheppard Cup wise, these sides last met in the 2019 competition, which saw Tech beat Roslyn 10-0 in Round 3.  Dunedin Technical won the Kate Sheppard cup under Graeme Smaill’s leadership back in 2018 and current Head Coach Craig Johnston will be hoping that history can repeat itself. 

In the last Kate Sheppard Cup in 2019, Tech made it to the quarter-finals, but lost to Coastal Spirit on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after extra time. With the disappointment of last year’s competition being cancelled, Johnston hopes to go all the way this season, “Knock out football is where it’s at, you can’t take it too casually.” Johnston hopes to field a full strength side, “We’ll be as strong as we can be, we’re waiting on a fitness test for Shontelle Smith who was involved in Monday’s incident.” Tech have had a good run of form on the turf recently and Johnston is hoping this continues on Saturday. There are several milestones certain members of his team are reaching, with Chelsea Whittaker earning her 150th cap, and Katie Foulkes earning her 50th, congratulations to both players on this momentous occasion!  

Roslyn had a good run in the 2019 cup, beating Queenstown 4-3 in the first round and overcoming Green Island 4-3 on penalties before bowing out to Tech in the third round. Hamish Philip’s injury woes continue with defender Sam Grey ruled out with a knee injury, “It’s a recurring injury that put her out for half of last season, she’s our hardest tackler so we’ll give her the time she needs to recover.” One of Philip’s team will become a member of the exclusive 200 club on Saturday, with Jordyn Walker following in the footsteps of fellow Roslyn players Una Madden and Kushla Glover. Walker began playing in the first team at 14 and has achieved heaps during her playing days including captaining both Roslyn and Southern United. Philip is not daunted by the challenge of Tech, “It’s a massive task, our approach has been we’ve got nothing to lose... the only way people will talk is if the unexpected happens!” Like most coaches, Philip loves the Kate Sheppard Cup, “It gives an opportunity to create moments that you can remember forever, we’ve just got to hope that it’s a positive moment!” 

KO: 11am Saturday at the Turf

Queenstown v Green Island  

Fresh from last weekend’s encounter, this time round Matthew Holdridge’s side will travel to Central Otago to face Queenstown. Holdridge will be looking for more of the same as his side ended last weekend with three points from a comfortable 3-0 victory at Sunnyvale. Queenstown coach Mark Ford explained his squad are particularly amped for Saturday’s encounter, “The girls are genuinely disappointed with last week’s performance, we take nothing away from GI, they did a job on us, they were better on the day.” Ford believes his side have a point to prove, “The girls are up for it, if you can’t get up for the Kate Sheppard Cup, what can you get up for? It’s the romance of the cup and a good opportunity for the girls to even the score with GI.” Queenstown will be hoping to go further than their last Kate Sheppard endeavour when they lost 4-3 to Roslyn Wakari in the first round back in 2019. 

Green Island’s coach Matthew Holdridge will be hoping his side can repeat last weekend’s performance against Queenstown. 3 of his players got on the scoresheet at Sunnyvale, with Jenna Reddy opening the scoring for the Island before Jess Fuller doubled their lead and Bianca Park sealed the three points. The Island made it to the second round before being knocked out by Roslyn Wakari on penalties.  

KO: 2pm Sunday at Queenstown Events Centre

Mosgiel have the bye for Round 1.  

Chatham Cup  

Roslyn Wakari v South City Royals  

Third placed Roslyn Wakari take on league leaders South City Royals in what is arguably the pick of the first round. Roslyn’s Terry Boylan talked of his love of the cup, “We’re looking forward to the cup, it’s the pinnacle of New Zealand football and the one competition that hasn’t changed.” Boylan admits he was slightly disappointed to draw such strong opposition early on, “With the cup, you’ve got to beat the best all the way through, whether it’s a low team or the likes of the Royals.” Roslyn will have a few players missing but Boylan has a confidence in his squad, “Whoever I bring in will do a job, and we’ve been boosted by winning the Blair Davidson trophy.” Boylan reflects that if his team are eliminated he will show support for the other clubs that go far in the competition, “I hope it’s us that go on, but I’d still support whoever goes the distance. I think it’s important to get behind each other and have more unity with the clubs in Dunedin. 

Richard Murray is looking forward to another battle away to Roslyn, “It’s a good challenge at Ellis Park, it was close in the league so it will be no different in the cup!” Murray explained that the Royals’ focus has been on the league, “The cup is the bonus, it’s exciting to be back into the cup.” Due to several injuries, Murray will use the fixture as a chance to try out some fresh blood, “Some guys have been playing well in the reserves so we want to give them an opportunity to step up.” 

KO: 2pm Saturday at Ellis Park

Thistle City – Timaru v Green Island AFC  

Thistle City are the result of a merger between Thistle AFC and Timaru City. Both clubs had faced challenges around player numbers so the decision was made to join forces to keep the history of both clubs alive. Paul Holmes is in his first season as a player coach and is enjoying the challenge, “It’s great so far, we’ve won 3 from 3 and there’s a couple of others in the squad with coaching experience to bounce ideas off.” Holmes is particularly excited for his players that have never been involved in the Chatham Cup previously, “It’ll be the first cup game for quite a few of our guys as City hadn’t entered for years, Green Island should be a tough test!” 

Shane Carvell and his side travel to Timaru to face Thistle AFC. Last season’s league winners are hoping for a good run in the cup, “It gives players an opportunity to bond on the road. Cup football always throws out the unexpected!”. The Island are nursing a few injuries and Carvell is hoping to give several youngsters a run out. Carvell is optimistic that his side will reach the next stage of the tournament, “We’re hoping we can progress but are not taking Thistle lightly, they’ll be up for it!” 

KO: 2pm Saturday at Caledonian, Timaru

Geraldine AFC v Queenstown AFC  

In the Preliminary round, Geradline beat Old Boys 5-3 on penalties after the game ended 3-3 after extra time to progress to the first round proper. Coach Maikel Vallejo is looking forward to hosting Queenstown, “It will be a tough game but we will field a strong side.” Vallejo is in his second season at Geraldine and has several of his squad sidelined with injuries at the moment, “It makes things complicated having 9 players out, it’s quite hard to prepare my team for the game.” Vallejo is excited for the challenge of Otago Daily Times Premiership opposition, “I think they come with an advantage, maybe they have a more solid structure than us.” 

Quenstown’s Jamie Whitmarsh is ecstatic ahead of the first round of the cup, “It’s exciting as were going to a place we’ve never been. There’s an element of the unknown, the only downside is it’s a long way for us!” Queenstown have the longest journey of any of the Southern teams within the round, they’ll travel a staggering 337km. Whitmarsh believes the journey adds to the occasion, “It’s the romance of the cup, if we turn up, get on and do it, we give ourselves a decent chance.” He is hoping his side can play in a similar manner to their display against top of the table South City Royals.  

KO: 2pm Saturday at Geraldine Oval 1

Mosgiel v West End AFC  

Cam McPhail is excited for a potential run in the cup and his side are feeling jubilant after securing their first win of the season against Northern on the Turf on Wednesday evening with a 5-0 victory. McPhail was delighted with his side’s display, “We’re hoping to carry that performance into this weekend's Chatham Cup match vs West End.” McPhail is expecting West End to be a challenging prospect, “There will be a bit of rest and rotation for this fixture, but we're very much expecting West End to be a tough opponent, so we'll need to be at our best to advance to the next round.” 

West End AFC overcame local rivals Northern Hearts 5-1 in the prelimiary round. Coach Brent Duncan is relishing the trip down south, “We’re very excited to go to Dunedin and are looking forward to the challenge.” He is hoping his side can play a complete team game and continue their recent attacking form. Tristan Cooper is one of three players that scored a hat-trick in the preliminary round and Duncan is hoping that he will be available for Saturday’s game and add to his tally.  

KO: 2pm Saturday at Memorial Park

Wanaka AFC v Queens Park AFC  

Wanaka’s coach Ian Bell is relishing Queens Park AFC’s visit to the Rec. The two teams have never played against each other before and his team are excited by the fixture. Wanaka come into the game off back-to --back wins and Bell will be bolstered by several players being available, “They will look to compete for starting spots.” Bell believes that Queens Park will be challenging opposition, “They are undefeated in the Donald Grey competition, so we will need to respect they will come to Wanaka with a winning mentality.” 

Queens Park AFC’s Head Coach Paddy Murphy is looking forward to the trip up to Central Otago, “It’s a big trip for us and it’s always nice to test yourselves against Southern Premiership sides.” Queens Park are undefeated in the Donald Grey having recorded 2 wins and 2 draws thus far, Paddy hopes his team will find consistency going forward. Paddy was particularly saddened by the absence of the Chatham Cup last season, “Not having it last year makes it more special, we’ll give it a real go to get a result.” 

KO: 2pm Saturday at Wanaka Recreation Centre

Gore Wanderers v Grants Braes AFC  

Gore beat Thistle 1-0 in the prelims to advance to the first round. Gore Wanderers coach Jack Boland is looking forward to Grants Braes’ visit, “It’s awesome to have a home fixture, every junior and senior team will be playing on Saturday.” Boland believes it will be a tightly contested affair, “It’ll be a close game, challenging for us, but a good challenge.”  

Rob Mitchell, Grants Braes AFC’s coach is excited for the trip to Gore, “We’re in for an interesting time. We last played each other 4 years ago and suffered a narrow loss, it’s a tough encounter going to Gore!” Mitchell remarked that they have vocal supporters and is hopeful his side can edge out a win, “Our squad doesn’t have the biggest numbers but we’ll put in a good challenge and hopefully come away with the win!” 

KO: 2pm Saturday at Hyde Park

Otago University and Northern AFC have byes to the second round.

Article added: Thursday 13 May 2021