Chatham Cup Round 3 

Green Island v Otago University 

Otago University travelled to Sunnyvale to take on Green Island in a repeat of last week's league match and when Cam Anderson broke through early on it looked like the Island might repeat its victory, however the chance went begging and the students made them pay when diminutive Varsity playmaker Oban Hawkins opened the scoring for the students after 5 minutes. Green Island had the opportunity to equalise when Tom Milton stepped up for a free kick after 27 minutes, however his great shot was  well saved by Neil Achary in goal for the students.  

It was University’s turn for a free kick a minute later on the edge of the box, and Hawkins stepped up and sublimely bent the ball around the wall into the right corner, giving keeper Josh Hook no chance. The students made the game safe when a defensive error turned the ball over in the Island’s 6-yard box and En Watanabe made no mistake. Green Island still offered plenty going forward with their front three of Adam Hewson, Bryon Heath and Anderson always threatening, however Achary was in top form and kept them scoreless and following a spell of Island pressure where the students defence had Tom Stewart and Tim O’ Farrell resolute, Jack Kelly broke away and his deflected shot on 36 minutes made it 4-0. 

Into the second half, Cam Anderson’s header cannoned off the crossbar and 6 minutes later his 25-yard drive was unable to get past Achary. The Island got the goal they deserved when Hewson’s mazy run into the penalty box saw his shot find the bottom corner on 72 minutes. However, the students had the final say when Jack Kelly’s own mazy run down the left wing saw the ball delivered to Watanabe to scissor kick the final goal for a 5-1 win on 79 minutes.  

Wanaka v South City Royals 

They will be joined in next rounds draw by the South City Royals who also had an emphatic victory on the road  with a 4-0  victory away to Wanaka. Will Turner was first on the scoresheet as he reacted quickest to Connor Neil’s free kick that deflected off the wall and he stabbed home from 6 yards. Neil grabbed the second as he followed up from Ryan Fleming's run into the box where Fleming’s shot was well saved by Josh Shackleton, however Neil pounced very quickly. Turner made it 3 -0 when a low driven corner found him 12 yards out and he swivelled to hit a half volley into the bottom corner. The Royals fourth goal came after Callan Rothmet’s great run from his own half left three defenders trailing in his wake and his cross was met by Ryan Fleming.  

For the next round, University and the Royals could be drawn against the two remaining Christchurch teams, one of which is Christchurch United with 3 ex Southern League players in their ranks in the form of Eddie Wilkinson, Ollie Colloty and Michael Gealago . Christchurch United had a 3-0 lead at half-time against Coastal Spirit but the Spirit fought back to 3-3 with 17 minutes remaining minutes however it was Colloty who got the 80th minute winner in their 4-3 win. The last remaining South Island team is Cashmere Tech who beat Nelson Suburbs 7-3, with former Southern United striker Garbhan Coughlan scoring one of Tech’s goals in their victory over Suburbs. 

Kate Sheppard Cup Round 3 

On Friday night under the lights at the Turf, Dunedin Tech took on Otago University. It was a fairly even opening to the game with Uni converting their first real chance fifteen minutes in, a great shot from Chelsea Whittaker rebounded off the crossbar and Nieve Collin was on hand to slot the ball home. Tech continued to create chances with Rose Marton narrowly missing through a lovely dipping shot. Varsity’s defence was resilient and marked well, with Toni Power showcasing some tireless defending. In the latter stage of the first half, Whittaker was taken down in the box by Simmers the Uni keeper. Whittaker calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner. Tech went to the dug-outs 3-0 up at half time thanks to a hammer of a shot from Nieve Collins two minutes after the penalty. 

The second half continued in the same vein with Tech creating chances and Uni doing their best to hold Tech off. After 72 minutes, Emily Morison went on a mazy run before coolly slotting the ball home. Varsity continued to mark well but could not stop Tech adding two more to their tally in the dying stages of the game with Chelsea Whittaker curling in a shot from outside the box and Ruby Anderson hitting the back of the net after a well-timed run. The result sees Tech progress to Round 4 of the Kate Sheppard Cup and leaves them the sole representatives remaining in the competition from the Football South region. 

Otago Daily Times Women’s Southern Premiership 

Uni Seconds v Queenstown 

Uni Seconds hosted Queenstown on the turf and the visitors took the lead early on through young Keeley Osborne. She added to her tally twice, securing her first senior hat-trick becoming Queenstown’s youngest ever hat-trick scorer at just 14. Lauren Murray latched onto a pin-point pass by Stef White for her 13th goal of the season to make it 4. Uni were resolute and created chances throughout, but stand-in keepers Claire Jones and Carmel Sealey kept a clean sheet for the 4th time in 5 matches. 

Green Island v Roslyn Wakari  

Green Island hosted Roslyn with the home side going behind after twenty minutes thanks to a well worked team effort finished by Kate Macbeth. Macbeth scored her second 5 minutes later before Macbeth completed her hat trick with a few minutes of the first half remaining. It was a hat-trick of assists for Roslyn captain Renee Bacon. The Island pulled one back in the second half, with Jess Fuller getting on the scoresheet and the game finishing 3-1.  

Article added: Monday 21 June 2021