Mainland Premier League (Part 1)

Nomads held Nelson to a 1-1 draw and Nelson can feel lucky to get away with that, Nomads had several clear cut chances but has been the problem all season they don't have any half decent strikers. The Nelson centre backs had an easy day with any high ball totally dominated that part of the game.

Nelson looked to have a young team and the younger guys like Alex Ridsale and I think it's Adam Smith played well.

Turipa was a bit shaky at times, dropped or flapped at several shots including an easy catch in the first half that he knocked between his legs almost into his own net. Nothing he could do with the Nomads goal as it was tucked into the corner. Looks a big solid lad and had good distance on his kicks although on a small pitch at Nunweek Park.
The Nelson goal to draw level went in over the Nomads keepers [Shorty's] head.

Woolston Technical won back to back MPL titles with this result and the 3-0 win they had against Burnside, Tech are 14 points clear with 4 games to play.

Average recording, but this is absolutely classic. Free kick straight to the stomach. He probably didn't need the abuse from the drunken supporters for being ginger though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSeS-eBNE2Y


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSeS-eBNE2YLuis Garcia2010-08-15 18:15:29

love the sideline banter.

Brandon Kay actually used to go to Burnside High back in the day.
conorphelan2010-08-15 18:25:00

There's a cemetery just across the creek, behind the goal. Hence the "don't hit my grandma" call haha. Yeah Brandon joined midseason after Sam Ayers left.

Hey who's the starting keeper for Canterbury? I was talking to Coey Turipa, he says he's keen on playing for them this season, fancies his chances of starting.

Tom Batty was their keeper last season. He did pretty well, got named in the 'team of the month' a couple of times. I'd say Coey should have a chat with Keith Braithwaite and get himself down to a few pre-season trainings. I'd be confident that he should be able to get a starting place in that team. Otago Utd are also on the hunt for a new keeper as James Waggett is about to head back to the UK if he's interested.


conorphelan2010-08-17 20:57:16

Otago will probably get Canty's off-casts....

Burnside smashed Bays tonight so could be all on for the final weeks of the league.

Burnside played crap but Bays just awful with a player and the coach getting marching orders. Score should have been 2 all after 5 minutes not nil all.
Mind you the worst performer on the night was the young ref way out of his depth, gave 3 penalties, 1 was correct the other 2 who knows what for?
One was a good tackle all ball the striker falls over the defenders leg well after tha balls gone. Who initiated the contact? The striker.
Penalty!!!
Go Figure.

Nelson Suburbs 2 - Halswell 2. Nelson keeper Coey Turipa had an absolute shocker, was at fault for the second goal. Striker Gagame Feni came on at half time and looked nervous, wasn't getting many opportunities. So he sat back a bit in the midfield, looked for work, and even set up a goal, creating plenty of chances. Suburbs dominated the second half but just couldn't find the back of the net.

Nelson started five school boys, two more coming on in the second half.Luis Garcia2010-08-22 17:47:21

That's a valuable point for Halswell. Looks as though it's going to be a bit of a dog fight between them and burnside to see who gets relegated.

Does anyone know the youngest player to ever play Mainland football? Suburbs had a 14 year old feature off the bench a few times this year. Seems ridiculously too young.

I'd say that would take the title.

For anyone who's interested I put some footage together of some Nelson Suburbs games. Mixed in with our own "Blue Fever!" haha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB_BetHnuoM

Gagame Feni 99% sure will be in the Canterbury NZFC team.

Youngest player could be Aaron Clapham. If my memory is correct I think he won Golden Boot when he was 15 no doubt he played the odd game the previous year.

Richmond 4 - Coastal Spirit 2. Richmond coming back to win after being 2-1 down.Luis Garcia2010-09-05 21:13:14

Tech 2 - Nelson 1. Nelson were up one nil, but conceded two late goals. Up until the 75th minute, tech didn't look like they were the best team in the league

So what if Woolston Technical didn't look the best team in the league. Fact is they have been the best team in the league all season.
One game at the end of a season when no other clubs are playing and they still come away with the points.
If WTech can be that bad and still win what does it say for Nelson, 2nd best by a long way I think (19 points).

Don't take it too personally. I don't think it was a full blown attack on Woolston Tech/Canterbury United.

Relax. All I'm saying is that for the top team in the league, they didn't put Nelson away like I expected, and the fact was it took two very late goals to win a match they had far less opportunities in. Nelson has a very young side and before this game had the best defensive record in the league, before their keeper Eddie Newman left it was much better too, they just struggled once Sam Ayers left (was top goal scorer in the league at the time) through to the period that Gagame Feni could finally play. I'm sure next year they'll give tech a better run for their money.Luis Garcia2010-09-12 21:23:58

2nd leg of the promotion play off is this Sunday at Eric Adam Park at 2pm.

Come along and cheer on Coastal as we fight back a 4-2 loss. Nobody wants another Nelson team in the Premier League do they?

Who is Gagame Feni playing U19's for?

Canterbury.

is he part of the woolston tech squad for the lotto u19 tournament in napier?

No he's not. But he and Adam Smith will be playing for Canterbury U-19s in the National Youth League.

NO! Get up Coastal. Some pretty sickening comments on the Richmond facebook page too although they have since been removed. Members of the page were questioning why the away game was postponed? A 7.1 earthquake is not a valid reason? :S

Yeah I seen that too MB. Didn't one of them mention legal action against Coastal?

Glad someone else noticed the Facebook banter. Someone even dropped the c-bomb! Oh well. As long as Coastal win it will all be worth it!

Sorry to tell you but yes some people and football clubs in Canterbury do want Richmond to win the playoff.
Anything to make the league stronger and with a wider fan base.
Should Richmond win then all Chch MPL clubs will have at least three and some four trips to Nelson next season plus a possible Chatham Cup game in Nelson.

Yer but clubs moaned about the mega money needed to make those extra trips to Nelson, and Mainland dropped the league down to 2 rounds. (never mind the amount of money floating round for players, thats a different story)

If Richmond do get up, do they once again get another chance next season to get a Nelson team in there? Could it be a Nelson league in the end?

And how bout the debacle last time Richmond was in the Premier League?

You never know maybe Marlborough will win the top of the south competition and want to give the MPL another go.
The Money for paying players at MPL level well what has that done for one club?
Tomorrow they may get the just rewards for their spending.

I see where you are going with that and I totally agree. May be no need to play the last round at all.

I'd rather Coastal move up to MPL just quietly, otherwise subs will probably go up for the 1st team to travel north twice.

Good on ya Timmy, although your Halswell Hawks still have a bit to do otherwise they won't need to pay for any trips up north. And remember with a 3 round league there are at least 3 maybe 4 trips north.

The Canty youth team dont really need another striker from look of their performences last year. They had quality strikers! Feni should bring even more depth though by the sounds of it

I think any of the front four from Nayland College would add plenty to the Canterbury side, or any U-19 side in the country, the fact that Gagame Feni managed eight goals, and Adam Smith seven, was half the reason Nayland went as far as they did at secondary school nationals.

Yes i heard nayland did well at secondary school nationals but the national youth league is a bit of a step up. Cant had strikers like Matt Cox and Sam Miles who were both in the NZ U20 team and Miles was golden boot

HI Luis your Nelson young guns beat Burnside 5-0 this afternoo. Feni got 1 goal and 2 from Aengari or whatever the spelling is you know who I mean I think he scored against Tech last week.
Bays beat Halswell while Tech and Western finished 1 all.

I watched Burnside Nelson and was pretty boring 0-0 at half time with Burnside probably looking the better. All changed in the second half when Nelson had the 3/4 wind behind/across them and banged in 5 in the last 25. Saw who I think was Feni come off the bench and he looked pretty good.

Massive game today guys if anyone is keen on some Sunday football. Coastal vs Richmond at Eric Adam Park (Rangers Park) at 2pm. Coastal have to come back from a 2-4 defeat to get promoted to the premier league. Goal difference but no away goals apply.

Come on down.