Pressure in the sides in bottom half of Southern League table

With just four points separating the teams sitting on the bottom half of the Southern League (SL), table pressure is already on those five sides to start picking up points to secure a move away from bottom place and automatic relegation.

Leaders, Christchurch United will be out to maintain their perfect start to the SL when they take on Nomads, who sit at the foot of the table, at the United Sports Centre on Friday evening at 7pm.  On Saturday at Garrick Memorial Park, Cashmere Technical host 8th placed Green Island at 1:30pm. At 2:45pm, Ferrymead Bays take on Selwyn in a mid-table clash at Ferrymead Park. FC Twenty11, currently in ninth spot, meet seventh placed Coastal Spirit  at Avonhead Park. On Sunday, sixth placed Nelson Suburbs entertain third placed Dunedin City Royals at Saxton Fields at the unusual kick-off time off 1:50pm due changes to the flight schedule. 

United will not want to leave as late as they did in the previous round to find a winner, only finding the net in added time to get up over Selwyn, to take maximum points over Nomads. With twelve-points between the two sides United will be at short odds to get up over Nomads who need to show more determination over the entire 90 minutes, with 9 of the 14 goals conceding coming in the second half.   

Form:
United W W W W
Nomads L L L L     
Previous League Head-to-Head:
United 2 Wins         

After slipping up last Sunday, when drawing with Coastal, Technical will be out to take maximum points to keep maintain second place on the table. Green Island have put up a more spirited display this season and after picking up three points against FC in Round 2 they have suffered two narrow losses by a solitary goals so should travel north with hope. 

Form:
Cashmere Technical W W W D
Green Island L W L L   
Previous League Head-to-Head:
Technical 2 Wins 

Bays and Selwyn will be looking to bounce back from narrow losses with both chasing maximum points to stay in touch with the leaders. Bays will be out to make more of the chances they have been creating while no doubt Selwyn will have concerns over conceding goals deep into games with the last four goals conceded coming in added time. 

Form:
Bays W W D L 
Selwyn W L W L 
Previous League Head-to-Head:
Bays 1 Win, Selwyn 1 Win 

Having secured their first SL points last Saturday, FC Twenty11 will now be looking to pick up their first points at home. Both teams have struggled to find the back of the net so far this season, with both teams only scoring twice. One area of concern for Coastal is likely to be the numbers of yellows they have received, 13 - just over 20% of all yellows dished out. 

Form:
FC L L L W
Coastal L L W W 
Previous League Head-to-Head:
This is the first time the clubs have met in the SL 

The Sunday clash between Suburbs and the Royals looks to be the ‘game of the round’ with Suburbs looking to have hit some sort of form after a slow start. Royals will be wanting to continue pressing for a top two spot. Suburbs have found their scoring touch in recent rounds and Royals are averaging three goals per game so the first scoreless of the season seems highly unlikely here.     

Form:
Suburbs L L D W
Royals W W L W
Previous League Head-to-Head:
Suburbs 1 Win, Royals 1 Win

Chatham Cup Commences

The 95th edition of the Chatham Cup commences on Saturday and continues and ANZAC with four Preliminary Round ties being play around the Mainland Region. 

On Saturday at 2:30pm, previous cup holder Western host Parklands at Walter Park, with Western looking for the upset with Parklands currently yet to drop a point in the New World Premiership. In the other Christchurch clash, St Albans Shirley take on Waimak at St Albans Park at 2:30pm. At 3pm Blenheim A & P Showgrounds hosts Central v Wakefield. And on ANZAC Day at Guppy Park, FC Nelson host Golden Bay. 

The four winners will progress into the Round 1 which will be played over the Weekend of 12/14 May were they will go into the draw with the following fourteen side that received a bye for the Preliminary Round: Nelson Suburbs, Motueka, Burwood, Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United, Coastal Spirit, FC Twenty11, Ferrymead Bays, Halswell Utd, Nomads, Selwyn and Universities.

English Cup Underway

The Chatham’s Cup big brother, the Morrison Mitsubishi English Cup – 10 years older than the Chatham Cup, gets underway on ANZAC Day. 

Current English Cup holders, Cashmere Technical take on FC Twenty11 at Garrick Memorial Park at 2:30pm. At the same time in and Eastside Derby, Burwood host Parklands at Clare Park. At Halswell Domain, Halswell face Western with Foster Park the venue for the Selwyn clash with Nomads. At 1:30pm Universities will be out to cause the upset over Christchurch United at English Park and at 6pm Waimak entertain Coastal Spirit at Kendall Park. Ferrymead Bays and St Albans Shirley drew the ‘bye’. 

Kate Sheppard Cup Starts

The NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup also commences ANZAC with one tie being played in the Mainland Region. 

Richmond Athletic take on FC Nelson at Jubilee Park at 3pm in the Preliminary Round. The winner of this tie will advance into the Round 1 draw along with Nelson Suburbs, Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit, Halswell Christchurch United, FC Nomads and Universities.

Article added: Thursday 20 April 2023