21-05-2025
Royals in 1-0 loss after goal ruled out
After Southern League powerhouses Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit dropped points on Friday, the Dunedin City Royals had an opportunity to move up the congested table on Saturday.
They came up against Universities of Canterbury away and gave away possession in the middle in the 11th minute.
The home side's cross found Pero Forman unmarked in the penalty box to finish — and record a 1-0 victory against the Royals.
The Royals thought they had forced an equaliser in the 85th minute only for this to be ruled out and despite eight minutes of time added on the Royals would not be able to find a way through.
The loss left the Royals on 10 points and fourth equal.
Wānaka made the long trip up to Nelson and thanks to keeper Josh Shackleton's heroics it looked like the Central Otago side would come away with a share of the points.
He denied Nelson twice early, but was helpless to stop Lennon Whewell's 29th-minute opener.
Shackleton again pulled off a couple of stunning saves early in the second half and Wānaka equalised on the hour mark when Ed Belingher ghosted in unmarked at the far post to score from close range.
Heading into injury time, it looked like Wanaka would secure a draw but Whewell beat a couple of defenders and shot across goal to secure a 2-1 win.
Frontrunners Christchurch United had a 2-1 win against Cashmere, Ferrymead Bays beat Coastal 3-1 and Nomads United had a 2-1 win against Selwyn United. Men's Southern Premiership
In the men's Southern Premiership, University looked to claim their fifth consecutive victory when they went 2-0 up over Roslyn at Ellis Park after only 23 minutes.
The students had the better share of possession and led through goals to Blake Allison and former Roslyn player Simba Muwunganirwa.
University stretched Roslyn and should have added to their tally but paid for their missed chances.
Roslyn were more structured in the second half with some slick touch passing resulting in Hamish Mair being on the end of a cross at 58 minutes.
Roslyn's Jack McFarlane found himself in space on the left, dribbled into the box and calmly passed it into the net for the equaliser.
McFarlane then turned creator, curling a right-sided free kick into the path of substitute Ben Williams-Davies who scored an 88th-minute goal for a 3-2 win.
Northern steamrolled Old Boys 8-1 in Invercargill.
Nicholas Brett scored a first-half hat-trick.
William Fleming's 29th-minute strike gave Old Boys some hope, but Rory Hibbert also scored a hat-trick and Toby Orchiston a brace to leave Northern top of the table on 15 points.
Queens Park and Royals had an entertaining 2-2 draw.
The Royals had a halftime lead, following a passage that involved 13 passes.
It was crossed into the box and found Charlie Fawcett, who bent his right-footed shot perfectly past the outstretched hand of the keeper into the top corner.
Queens Park equalised on the hour mark when Tom Kent's long-range free kick found Rodrigo Schmidt De Camargo in the penalty box.
Queens Park took the lead when Anton Fitzgerald planted a far-post header into the back of the net.
The Royals claimed a share of the points when skipper George Barker equalised with the 77th-minute penalty.
In the battle at Sunnyvale, Mosgiel beat Green Island 2-1.
Green Island took a 46th-minute lead through Finley Kruger.
The Plainsmen responded when Luke Clissold showed great technique to volley home the equaliser and Mosgiel claimed three points when Patrick Koppert headed home an in-swinging corner on 65 minutes.
In the women's South Island league, the Royals thumped Nelson Suburbs 8-0 at Logan Park.
Amy Hislop claimed a hat-trick — leading the golden-boot race with a total of eight goals — and Raegan Potter bagged a brace.
Hannah Mackay-Wright's goal made it 4-0 at halftime.
Toni Power made it 7-0 on 65 minutes and substitute Georgia Kennedy rounded out.
Roslyn Wakari moved up the table with a 2-1 victory in Kaiapoi over NW United.
Zara Pratley's opener on 15 minutes was cancelled out when NW equalised 10 minutes before the break.
However, Catriona Galvin scored the winner on 56 minutes to move Roslyn to fourth.
Otago University held on for a 3-2 win against Universities of Canterbury at Logan Park yesterday.
By Neville Watson
