Otago University top the Southern League table after winning their Round 2 game against Selwyn 3 - 1. Coastal Spirit downed Cashmere Technical 1 - 0, and South City Royals accounted for Green Island 4 - 1, with Nelson Suburbs and Christchurch United sharing the points when drawing 1 - all. University has 6 points, Technical, Royals, Coastal and Selwyn all have 3, Suburbs and United are on 1, with Green Island yet to secure a point. Coastal and Suburbs have played just one game.

University had the wind and the better of the opening half against Selwyn, with the sides turning at the break scoreless. Former Selwyn player Nicholas Kittelty set up the opening goal providing a superb long ball to find Ben Deeley, who was untroubled to clip the ball over Selwyn keeper Pieter-taco Bierema in the 70th minute. Minutes later, Deeley doubled the lead with Ben O'Farrell providing the assist. Arnon Tapp had just come on for University and made it 3 - 0 with his first touch after being set up by former Stallion Aidan Barbour-Ryan in the 85th. Two minutes later, Selwyn scored a late consolation when Jack Allatt found the back of the net from a corner.

Coastal picked up their first win at Garrick Memorial Park since 2017 when scoring a big win over neighbours Technical. At times, a robust opening half in which both sides had clear shouts for a penalty waved away in the first twenty minutes, with Coastal looking to catch Tech out on quick breakouts. The second half saw Technical come out strongly with Coastal keeper Ellis Hare-Reid called on to produce several excellent saves from Sam Field and Yuya Taguchi, with Tech sharpshooter Garbhlan Coughlan having an off day in front of goal. Taguchi went close with a diving header, and just after, Coastal was awarded a penalty for a handball with skipper Michael Hogan slotting home the spot-kick to break the deadlock. In the final seventeen minutes, Technical created several chances, but poor finishing was to prove costly.

South City Royals got their National League quest back on track when upsetting Green Island's 125th Anniversary celebrations. Both sides had periods of dominance in the opening quarter before the Royals took the lead from a corner that was only half-cleared, with Ryan Fleming finally slamming the ball home after a bit of a scramble in the 34th minute, in what turned out to be the only goal of the half. The second half began with both sides having chances, but Royals doubled the lead when Fleming scored on the second attempt after keeper Luke Schaffer-Swan blocked the first shot after the 55th. Cam Anderson reduced the margin with twenty to play, and with ten to play, Will Turner was allowed to run before scoring, with Oliver Cassidy adding the fourth goal for the Royals shortly after.

Goals proved hard to come by at Saxton Field in Nelson, with Suburbs having the better of the clearer chances in the opening half. United keeper Eddie Ashton was called on to make several good saves. The chances went begging at both ends after the break, with United finally breaking the deadlock when substitute Louis Evans scored from a corner. Just when it looked like United would join the pack on three points, Suburbs were awarded a penalty for a push in the area, deep in added time with Jordan Yong steeping up to earn his side a share of the points. 

The league is set to take a break due to the Chatham Cup, which sees both Otago University and Cashmere Technical involved in quarter-final ties. Both teams are on the road, with University away to North Shore United in Auckland on Saturday and Technical facing Hamilton Wanderers on Sunday.

Round 3 will be played over the weekend of 5 - 7 August, with United hosting Coastal on Friday evening. On Saturday, Selwyn faces Technical with University entertaining Green Island, and on Sunday, Royals take on Suburbs. That catch-up game from Round 1 between Coastal and Suburbs is scheduled to be played this coming Sunday. 

Southern League - Results / Scorers

Cashmere Technical 0 Coastal Spirit 1 (Michael Hogan - pen) HT 0 - 0

Green Island 1 (Cam Anderson) South City Royals 4 (Ryan Fleming 2, Will Turner, Oliver Cassidy) HT 0 - 1

Nelson Suburbs 1 (Jordan Yong - pen) Christchurch United 1 (Louis Evans) HT 0 - 0

Otago University 3 (Ben Deeley 2, Arnon Tapp) Selwyn 1 (Jack Allatt) HT 0 - 0

Written by Gavin Searle. 
Article added: Monday 26 July 2021