Dramatic Come From Behind Finish By Technical To Claim Sixth English Cup Win On The Bounce Against Bays

For the bulk of the Morrison Mitsubishi English Cup Final Ferrymead Bays were in control against Cashmere Technical, leading 2 - 0 at the break and holding on to that lead until the 79 minute. Tech then put in a storming finish to lock the game up with a minute on the clock, with the cup holders going on to win 3 - 2 in extra time.

It was almost one way traffic in the opening half as Bays dominated possession as the attacking stats showed with Technical not having a clear shot on goal. Bays were finally rewarded when a Louie Bush cross was met by an unmarked Ryan Stanley who found the back of the net with a well-placed header on the half hour. Just before the break Bays deservedly doubled their lead when a Bays freekick was turned into his own net by Luke Tongue. 

Technical's first chance came just after the break, with Lyle Matthysen and Tongue involved in the build up which saw Bays keeper, Coey Turipa having to make a smart save from a Garbhan Coughlan header. Bays then had two chances in quick succession, the first when Kosei Oikawa shot wide and then in a quick break out from Michael White who raced into the goal area but was unable to link up with Oikawa who was unmarked. From a Tech freekick Tyndall's shot was saved by Turipa and minutes later Turipa was on hand to deny Lachie McIsaac. With twenty to play Coughlan finished well to turn on a cross to reduce the margin. Turipa was on hand again to stop a shot from Coughlan and minutes later Bays went close to scoring their third.

With four minutes to play Coughlan found Matthysen with a great pass but the shot was hit into the side netting. Bays then went to the bench replacing both Michael and Luke White, looking to close out the game but Matthysen, with a defender in close attention, finished well to make it 2 - all. In added time Bays defender, Alex Meaclem took the ball off Coughlan just as he was about to shoot with Tongue nearly catching Turipa out with a low shot just before the full time whistle sounded. Into the first period of extra time the momentum started to turn towards Technical with Bays going a player down after sub, Caleb Palmer received a second yellow card within ten minutes. Technical then received a penalty after Turipa fouled Matthysen, with Turipa saving, to his right, from Coughlan only to have the assistant flagging for early movement, which must have been a hairline call. Coughlan made no mistake at the second attempt, this time smashing the ball to the keeper’s right. Midway into the second period of extra time Coughlan looked set to take the game away from Bays, going around two defenders and Turipa with his shot only finding the side netting. Bays then were down to nine when Daniel Meterrell received his second yellow with Technical going on to lift the historic trophy for the sixth time on end, with Coughlan awarded the Steve Summer Medal as the MVP. 

Result / Scorers - Morrison Mitsubishi English Cup Final 

Cashmere Technical 3 (Garbhan Coughlan 2 incl pen, Lyle Matthysen)
Ferrymead Bays 2 (Ryan Stanley, own goal)
After Extra Time
HT 2 - 0

Steve Summer Medal MVP:
Garbhan Coughlan  

FC Twenty 11 In Strong Position In Playoffs 

FC Twenty11 go into the 2nd leg of the Southern League Playoffs against Roslyn Wakari at Ellis Park - Dunedin, next Saturday after they took out the 1st leg at Avonhead Park 4 - 0. 

Roslyn had an early chance when a Nathan Wilkie header was just over the bar with FC then wasting several chances before Harrison Bowman opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with FC then doubling their lead on the half hour, when Munashe Saruchera was brought down in the area with Conor Clarke slotting home the penalty. Minutes later from a Roslyn freekick FC keeper, Finn Mounty spilled the ball was recovered quickly before the visitors could react and on the stoke of half time Dominic Madden heading over from a Roslyn corner. 

Roslyn keeper, Tom Stevens pulled off two great saves in a matter of minutes to deny Clarke and then Daniel Oakman. On the hour Clarke had a double then heading home from a corner with Bowman then putting the icing on the cake FC when scoring in the final minute on normal time. 

Result / Scorers - Southern League Playoff - 1st Leg

FC Twenty11 4 (Conor Clarke 2 incl pen, Harrison Bowman 2)
Roslyn Wakari 0
HT 2 - 0

Parklands and Universities Share Points In Catch-up Game

Parklands and Universities shared the points in their catch-up game from the final round of the New World Canterbury Premier League. The tied result did not effect the final positions in the table.