Southern Football League Round 1
30 June & 1 July 2018
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Cashmere Technical 5 Queenstown AFC 3  Half-time: 0-1

Goal Scorers:
CT: Aaron Clapham 3, Lyle Mathysen 2,
QA: Jan Kumar, Jos Cartman

The long-awaited return to the Southern Football League (SFL) saw Cashmere Technical and Queenstown AFC having the honour of kicking the 'new' competition off in the early game. It turned out to be an eight-goal thriller.

Technical dominated the early play with Andy Tuckey having a goal ruled out for offside. Queenstown struck against the run of play when Jan Kumar finished well in the 38th minute - which turned out to be the only goal of the opening half.

Just after the break Technical struck twice in quick succession with goals to Aaron Clapham and Lyle Mathysen. A mistake at the back allowed Jos Cartman level for the visitors. Queenstown continued to take the game to Technical with Cartman putting them back in front with a Cartman claiming a second on the 76th minute.

The Technical reply was immediate with Clapham showing is class by completing his hat-trick with two more goals in the space of two minutes, one cleverly chipping the keeper who was caught well off his line from 25 metres out.

Queenstown looked to have levelled again but the goal was ruled out for outside after a lengthy debate between the referee and his assistant. Mathysen ensured the win by finishing well in the final minute.

Ferrymead Bays 1 Nomads United 1   Half-time: 1-1

Goal Scorers:
FB: Mark Peers
NU: Byron Heath

Ferrymead Bays and Nomads United got their SFL campaign underway by sharing the points at Ferrymead Park.

Bays started strongly and after several early chances Mark Peers claimed the first goal after 10 minutes. Bays continued to make the play but suffered from some poor finishing.

Nomads started to get into the game and just before the break Byron Heath was allowed to run into area and took his chance well to lock the scores. The half ended with an injury to Peers who did not return after the break.

In the second half there were plenty of chances at both ends with Nomads creating some clear chances. They tested the Bays keeper Duncan Reed, who was standing in for the injured Max Collingwood, who producing several good saves. In the end both sides would be disappointed that they could not added to their goal tally but a draw was a fair result.

Nelson Suburbs 0 Coastal Spirit 2   Half-time: 0-2

Goal Scorers:
CS: Anthony Jones, Own Goal

The rain started to fall before kick-off and continued through the game making it wet underfoot at Saxton Fields.

Coastal made the most of a bright start and deserved their lead when Anthony Jones openned the scoring after just seven minutes. Coastal continued to dominate and after several half chances doubled the lead on the half hour when Suburbs conceded the first own goal of the league.

After the break Suburbs subbed on Matt Tod-Smith and later in the half co-coach Ben Wright made an appearance off the bench. This gave the home side some parity but they could not find the back of the net. Coastal went on to collect another clean sheet for the year while also claiming the first away win of the competition.

Dunedin Technical 3-0 Southland United   Half-time: 2-0

Goal Scorers:
DT: Alistair Rickerby 2, Garbhan Coughlan

Dunedin Technical defeated Southland United 3-0 in the opening round match of the new Southern Football League at the Caledonian on Sunday afternoon.

It was a confident performance from the Southern Premier League champions, who raced to a two-goal lead inside the opening quarter hour of the match, and controlled much of the match there onwards.

Experienced striker Alistair Rickerby opened the scoring after ten minutes when he squeezed the ball past Southland goalkeeper Elliott Binks, and the lead was doubled just a couple of minutes later.

It was a wonderful strike, too - new signing Garbhan Coughlan casually smashing a shot goalbound from the right edge of the penalty area, leaving Binks helpless.

Coughlan and fellow new recruits Conor O'Keeffe and Danny Ledwith fitted in nicely to Technical's system, their calm and classy touches helping create chances for Rickerby and livewire attacker Tim McLennan.

For the remainder of the first half, the Southland defence generally did a good job of closing down Coughlan and McLennan, and the visitors looked dangerous themselves on occasion; David Mwangi and Hayato Wakino looking most threatening. Dunedin Technical goalkeeper Tom Fitall was largely untroubled though.

The home team's two-goal advantage remained until the 64th minute, when a Danny Ledwith freekick was sprayed wide to fullback O'Keeffe, whose looping cross wasn't cleared by the Southland defence. Rickerby pounced and slotted it in from a tight angle to bag his second goal and effectively settle the match.

Article added: Monday 02 July 2018