Chatham Cup Programme for this weekend

Chatham Cup Programme for this weekend

Below is an attachment for this weekends match between Tech and Glenfield

Andy Coburn almost helped wreck Dunedin Technical's Chatham Cup dream in 1999 but now the midfielder is entirely focused on leading the club to glory.

Coburn (28) will take his usual place in the centre of the park on Sunday when Dunedin Technical hosts Glenfield Rovers in the semifinal of the national knock-out tournament on Sunday.

Nearly a decade ago, Coburn was playing for Caversham when the great Dunedin rivals played out a bizarre tie at Tonga Park.

The game was delayed because of the state of the field, then ended 1-1 after normal time.

Both teams assumed the golden goal applied and Technical ran off celebrating when Graham Marshall headed a goal.

A couple of hasty phone calls later and it was learned the game should have gone to regulation extra time and a penalty shoot-out if needed.

Coburn and team-mates had to play another 15min in virtual darkness.

Technical scored two more goals and that was that.

Now, playing for Technical, Coburn has a chance to help his new club regain the Chatham Cup it won in memorable fashion nine years ago.

"We're pretty excited, to be honest," Coburn said yesterday.

"Over the last month we've really hit our straps, since we got a bit of a towelling from Caversham. We've picked up things and bounced back pretty well."

Coburn, who captains Otago United in the national league in summer, forms part of an experienced spine through the middle of the Technical line-up.

"We've got a pretty good core of experience up the middle of the park, with Blair Scoullar at centre back, me in the middle and Aaron Burgess up front.

"But even our younger guys have got quite a bit of national league experience.

We've all played no shortage of big games in the past, so hopefully, that will hold us in good stead for Sunday."

Coburn candidly admits he knows little about Technical's opponent on Sunday, though he is familiar with several players in the Glenfield Rovers side.

Home advantage would hopefully help Technical at the Caledonian, Coburn said.

"It can be a big factor. There's nothing like having a home crowd behind you and it's nice not to have to travel.

"There's also a bit of a buzz around the club about playing this game at home."

Coburn, an accountant at Southern Hospitality, started his club career with Mosgiel, spent five years with Caversham, played for Mosgiel for a second time, then joined Technical last season.

He was a foundation player when Otago United joined the New Zealand Football Championship five years ago but has not experienced anything like a Chatham Cup semifinal before.

"I hadn't even played in a quarterfinal before. This sort of thing doesn't come around too often."

Coburn controls the middle of the park but has also found a rich vein of scoring form, with goals in the last three rounds of the Chatham Cup

Thanks Guys,

Mike Fridge striding the touchlines like a caged lion has become a regular sight at the Caledonian Ground this season.

The Dunedin Technical coach is totally focused on what is happening on the field and sometimes resembles a mobile volcano as he roars encouragement and advice at his team. When things go wrong, he often appeals to the heavens with outstretched arms.

He is intense, volatile and passionate. Yet away from the touchline, he is a complete contrast. Softly spoken with a Scottish burr that betrays his Highland origins, Fridge is a different person.

And there are probably more than two sides to the former professional coach's character. They are readily seen in the work that he has done to improve the Dunedin Technical club at all levels.

Clearly, his immediate priority is victory over Glenfield Rovers in tomorrow's Chatham Cup semifinal at the Caledonian Ground.

Fridge affirmed: "Priorities are very important. We spend all week preparing for, and focusing on, our next match and I expect nothing less from my players.

"But there are short-term and long-term targets that myself and the Tech committee have also to keep working towards, and they range from improving the club's infrastructure to achieving professional standards, and also to create a conveyor belt of young talent that will ensure future quality."

Along with his assistant coach, Malcolm Fleming, Fridge is involved in coaching almost every day at primary schools throughout Otago.

Sometimes it is the football team, often it is the whole school that turns out and enjoys the sessions. Fridge uses the same techniques he learned in the Inverness area, where he ran courses for youngsters as well as eventually managing young full-time professional players.

At Culling Park, the senior Technical side and two feeder teams train together to achieve consistency and build an esprit de corps.

"Probably my most important team is the group of senior coaches we have assembled at Tech. As well as myself and Malcolm [Fleming] there is Tony Martin, goalkeeping coach Tony Boomer, second team coach Paul Cameron, the third team's Steve Ayoub, and club medic Noel King.

"This group's collective job is to look after what I consider is the future of the Technical club. Of the 40-odd players we have in the top three teams, almost half are under 19-years-old," he said.

Certainly, Technical has become a gathering point for ambitious young players who want to compete in under-19 tournaments such as the one Napier hosts over Labour Day Weekend.

Several youngsters, such as Tristan Prattley and Hayden Gunn, have already had experience of that tournament, as well as National League, the local Premier League and the Chatham Cup. Goalkeeper Nick Tarrant and Sam Jasper are also soaking up experience.

"Those lads have worked hard to blend their natural talent into Tech's style of play, and are important members of the squad," the coach said.

Only a few years ago, centreback John Chisholm was at a similar stage of development, but the son of former national league defender Bill Chisholm has kicked on since then.

Since Fridge suggested that his best position might be centreback, Chisholm has become the Technical captain, and a first choice alongside the experienced Blair Scoullar in central defence.

Chisholm has had extensive experience in the US and among trials he has had with several senior clubs was a week with Caledonian Thistle in Inverness.

Scoullar, too, spent most of his long career playing further forward, yet now enjoys central defence and brings to that area unflappable consistency.

In central midfield, Andy Coburn has struck a rich vein of form, powering the Technical midfield, along with Sam Jasper and the versatile Ross McKenzie.

Coburn's ability to score important goals gives him another dimension, and when aficionados discuss the 2008 season, Coburn's flying header against Miramar is sure to get a special mention.

McKenzie is no slouch in the goal-scoring stakes either. He is known to Fridge through the time he spent at Dundee United, and they have a mutual friend in Caley Thistle manager Craig Brewster, who rated McKenzie highly.

Using the squad system, Fridge now has alternatives that he uses in team selection, and nowhere is this more important than at the "sharp end", where he selects his in-form strikers.

Statistically, none can match Aaron Burgess, whose haul of goals this season is reminiscent of the glory days when he played in Technical's last cup final, in 1999, and not only scored in the 4-1 win but was also presented with the Jack Batty Award for making the most positive impact in the final.

Last week, Burgess scored an impressive hat trick against Southern Premier League rival Caversham, which may have clinched his selection for tomorrow's match.

But Fridge assesses each game and each opponent each week and, in Richard Smith, John Lang and even McKenzie, he has options that he has already used this season.

Glenfield Rovers, under coach Andy Moore and assistant Craig Alexander, is sitting in fourth position in the Soccer 1 Premiership, so this cup run will mean even more to the club.

Former Otago player Kuba Sinkora will enjoy returning to Dunedin, and defender Theary Thou played for Otago on a South American tour several years ago.

Glenfield players to watch are Jason Hicks, Michael Gwyther and Layton O'Rourke, who so far this season have scored 39 goals between them.

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Assistant coach Craig Alexander promises Glenfield Rovers will not be overawed by the occasion when it plays Dunedin Technical in the Chatham Cup semifinal in Dunedin tomorrow.

These are exciting times for the North Shore club, which has never previously got this far in New Zealand's premier knock-out tournament.

Glenfield reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and is hoping to upset Technical to become one of the least-fashionable Chatham Cup finalists in recent history.

Alexander said the club, which has won two Northern League titles in the last decade, had poured its energy into a Cup run this season.

"They've rejigged our league up here and that's been a real bone of contention," Alexander told the Otago Daily Times.

"We've focused intently on the Chatham Cup and it's been exciting for the club to get to this stage."

Glenfield will travel to Dunedin today to give the players a chance to prepare properly for the game at the Caledonian.

Alexander, who joined coach Andy Moore only three months ago, said the Rovers side was a mix of national league players and locals.

Theary Thou played for Waitakere and won a Chatham Cup with Mt Wellington, goalkeeper Mark Fulcher was with Waikato, Mike Gwyther played for both Waikato and Auckland City, and Dunedin fans would remember former Otago striker Kuba Sinkora.

"We maybe haven't got a lot of well-known names but we won't be overawed by the occasion," Alexander said.

He expects Dunedin Technical to be a hard-working team desperate to reach the Chatham Cup final and fly the flag for the South Island.

"I know a lot of people in Otago football and I know they've got the valid belief they've been relatively ignored by the hierarchy of the game over the last five or six years.

"I'm sure they'd love to get one over a North Island side."

Glenfield was originally the Chelsea Sugar Refinery football team but became the Rovers in 1963.

It came close to promotion to the old national league a few years ago but was beaten in a play-off by Dunedin club Caversham.

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East Coast Bays 2 - Nelson Suburbs 1

TECH 3 Glenfield 2

Scorers, times, anyone? Was it wet?

Three goals out of the top drawer! One spinning of the defender to drive low into the bottom corner.  The next a far post header and finally a deft chip from 20 yards out into the far corner. Burgess, Burgess, Burgess!!! feedback2008-08-18 09:48:55

Well done Tech !

Great game in difficult conditions. Had rained before, cold wind and then some rain in the game.

An Aaron Burgess hat-trick helped Dunedin Technical beat Glenfield Rovers 3-2 in Dunedin today and claim a place in the Chatham Cup soccer final.

Dunedin Technical will play East Coast Bays in the final of the national knockout competition on September 13 at North Shore stadium.

East Coast Bays beat Nelson Suburbs 2-1 in the other semifinal played yesterday in Auckland.

Glenfield were first out of the blocks with Richard Beard heading the North Shore club in front after 14 minutes, and only the woodwork prevented the visitors extending their lead within the first 20 minutes.

Then Burgess took over. He hit the equaliser in the 23rd minute before putting Dunedin in front three minutes before halftime with a flick from Tristan Prattley's low cross.

Fero Mudrik levelled the score for Glenfield in the 60th minute moments after coming off the bench to set up a grandstand finish.

But Burgess had the final say with an attempted cross that drifted into the net at the far post.

Chatham Cup semifinal scores: Yesterday At Auckland: East Coast Bays 2 (Joe Bresnahan 5, Jeff Campbell 76-pen) Nelson Suburbs 1 (Kidston Billy 40). Halftime: 1-1 Today At Dunedin: Dunedin Technical 3 (Aaron Burgess 23, 42, 81) Glenfield Rovers 2 (Richard Beard 14, Fero Mudrik 60). Halftime: 2-1 Final at North Harbour Stadium on September 13.

There was more than a hint of deja vu for Dunedin Technical supporters as striker Aaron Burgess scored his second hat trick in nine days at the Caledonian Ground.

• Burgess the hat-trick hero

Last week, Caversham was the victim and this week Technical's ace striker did it again to beat Glenfield Rovers 3-2 and earn a place in this year's Chatham Cup final.

In the other semifinal, East Coast Bays beat Nelson United 2-1, thanks to a late penalty by Jeff Campbell. The Cup final will be played on September 13 in Auckland.

However, Glenfield showed the pedigree that knocked Central United out of the Cup 3-2 after being 1-2 down, when coach Andy Moore's side started with an early onslaught yesterday.

Quality delivery from Danny Donegan probed at Technical's defence which looked hesitant, and after keeper Nick Tarrant saw one shot thunder against his cross bar, Glenfield took a 13th-minute lead.

Finding space behind target man Layton O'Rourke, who attracted defenders like a magnet, it was Richard Beard who materialised to head strongly into the top left of Technical's net.

Among the crowd of 1200, Glenfield's yellow-clad travelling supporters were ecstatic, in contrast to a silent maroon majority.

Yet Technical regained composure, and Sam Jasper missed a low right-wing cross from Mike Flaws where to touch was to score. The same combination again breached Glenfield's defence and, from a string of corners, Technical's pressure mounted.

Ross McKenzie and Andy Coburn got their passing game going, but it was Burgess' brilliant skills that had him spin close to the line and lace an acute-angled goal after 22min that stunned Glenfield and ignited the home support.

Play swung from end to end, and after Jasper slid tantalisingly close to another threatening cross, Glenfield forced a top full-length save from Tarrant, and a desperate leap by Cam Parkin headed a certain goal off Technical's goal line.

Possibly both coaches were thinking of keeping it tight with half-time approaching but Technical scored with a well-practised classic corner.

Tristan Prattley hit the corner short to McKenzie, who returned it for the young left fullback to play a measured ball to the far post where, jinking and ducking, Burgess headed Technical into a 2-1 lead.

In the second half, total commitment by both sides had referee Alan Martin exerting his authority, as tackles flew in slippery conditions, and at one stage O'Rourke barged both ball and keeper Tarrant into the net. It was judged a foul.

After an hour's play, despite some steady controlled play by John Chisholm and Blair Scoullar in central defence, Fero Mudrik, fresh on as substitute, found space to drill in an equaliser to make it 2-2.

In the energy-sapping conditions both teams made mistakes as they pushed forward for a result. When Coburn clipped a pass into the water-logged right-wing area, Burgess appeared to have few options.

They say good strikers always know where the goals are, and splashing through puddles Burgess scooped a dipping shot towards the far post, and keeper Mark Fulcher could only watch as it looped over him into the net.

Possibly the best goal celebration yet at the Caledonian Ground had spectators spilling off the grass verge to smother Burgess with pats and high fives.

Glenfield battled on, but the seconds ticked by and referee Martin's final whistle started another round of victory leaps and jigs as Technical celebrated its well-earned win.

An emotional Mike Fridge praised his side's character to have recovered from conceding an early goal, then battling back into the game.

"I was especially pleased with the second goal," he said with assistant Malcolm Fleming nodding in agreement. We practised that move several times this week, and it's gratifying when it comes off in an important match.'

� Dunedin Technical 3 (Aaron Burgess 3), Glenfield Rovers 2 (Richard Beard, Fero Mudrik). Half-time: 2-1.

the tech side marches on as another would-be contenter for the chatam cup came to the deep south and was sent back up north licking their wounds. great result for tech. BRING ON THE FINAL!!!! 

Nelson Suburbs' Chatham Cup campaign ended after a point to the penalty spot.

It was East Coast Bays that claimed a place in the Chatham Cup football final in Auckland on Saturday, beating Suburbs 2-1.

Suburbs co-coach John Brydon, a cup semifinal veteran, said a few of the team's younger players had been overawed by the high-stakes game.

It was the first cup semifinal a Nelson team had played in more than 20 years and a first for the Suburbs club.

"I can totally understand and comprehend the way the boys are feeling. The three times I played in the semifinals, we choked," he said.

Bays' Jeff Campbell scored the winner in the semifinal from the spot 14 minutes from fulltime after the scores were locked 1-1 at halftime.

Team-mate Daniel Peat was taken down in a weaving into the penalty area by Hamish Lewis.

Peat's effort was saved by Brent Fletcher but referee Kevin Stoltenkamp ruled Fletcher moved early and Jeff Campbell slotted the retake.

Brydon said he didn't blame Lewis for the goal "at all". Peat had troubled Suburbs through most of the game.

After halftime, Suburbs had hoped it could keep out Bays, which was struggling to break down the Nelson team's defence, and clinch a winner, he said.

East Coast Bays had got off to a flyer in front of a home crowd when Joe Bresnahan capitalised on a mishandled Leigh Kenyon shot to swoop in for a fifth-minute goal.

Nelson's Frazer Maebule missed a chance to equalise in the 34th minute, but Kidston Billy made no mistake six minutes later, dispossessing Ryan Zoghby then rounding Aiden Gwilt in the East Coast Bays goal.

Brydon said the team had left the field disappointed, feeling they could have done more, but they did "very well" to make it so far.

Bays had played a clinical, structured game, compared to the "rip sh*t and bust" style of the Mainland premier league, he said.

Suburb's Chatham Cup experience would steel its resolve for the remainder of the league season. Suburbs is unbeaten in the league this season and lead, despite having two more games to play than the next-top contender.

Nelson United was the last team from the region to win the cup, back in 1977.

In the other semifinal, an Aaron Burgess hat trick helped Dunedin Technical beat Glenfield Rovers 3-2 in Dunedin.

Glenfield was first out of the blocks, with Richard Beard heading the North Shore club in front after 14 minutes, and only the woodwork prevented the visitors extending their lead within the first 20 minutes.

Then Burgess took over. He hit the equaliser in the 23rd minute before putting Dunedin in front three minutes before halftime with a flick from Tristan Prattley's low cross.

Fero Mudrik levelled the score for Glenfield in the 60th minute, moments after coming off the bench to set up a grandstand finish.

But Burgess had the final say with an attempted cross that drifted

East Coast must be favourites for the final, however with Burgess in unstoppable form who knows. Will be a great final I reckon.......does anybody know if its going to be televised