Canterbury United

YoungHeart Manawatu

9

1

Darren White 17'
Aaron Clapham 23', 64'
Joe Murray 34'
Tom Schwarz 53',
Own goal (Matt Borren 55')
Julyan Collett 79'
Russell Kamo 73', 83'

Jimmy Haidakis 37'

by John Donnachie at ASB Football Park
asbpremiership.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH - Canterbury United turned on the style today at ASB Football Park trouncing a hapless Youngheart Manawatu 9-1.

The Dragons led 3-1 at half-time with a Darren White providing tw0 - the second after a naotbale deflection of team mate Joe Murray - and an Aaron Clapham free-kick special with Jimmy Haidakis responding for the visitors also from a free-kick. 

After the break the home side showed Manawatu no mercy with an own goal and further strikes from Russell Kamo with two, Julyan Collett and Tom Schwarz.

Aaron Clapham making his first appearance since early December added a second to his tally with a direct free-kick. 

Such was the mayhem in front of Matt Borren's goal there was confusion at the end of the match with the goal tally.

The scoreline equalled the ASB Premiership record for margin of victory. Ironically, Canterbury suffered the same indignity to champions Waitakere United  back in 2007/08 season.

Choosing the best Dragons player is a matter of opinion.

Canterbury coach, Keith Braithwaite, praised captain Aaron Clapham who played just over an hour in his comeback match.

He said: “Clapham ran the show today. When we needed to up the tempo and needed to slow it down "Claps" did it. It is sign of a good player [coming off an injury].”

Winger Darren White's contribution also caught Braithwaite's eye.

“We have been working on getting Darren White down the byline and sending in quality ball. I think someone at New Zealand Football needs to have a look at Darren White," Braithwaite said.

Braithwaite also picked out defenders Julyan Collett and Mark Johnston. But said he was disappointed to concede a goal.

That said, the Manawatu goal is arguably a contender for goal of the season. Jimmy Haidakis would have been almost 35 metres out, when he sent a soaring drive into the top corner past Canterbury goalkeeper, Adam Highfield, direct from a free-kick.

Sadly for the visitors that was the only highlight in yet another rather inept display.

The men in green struggled throughout particularly at set-pieces. 

The result leaves Youngheart Manawatu consigned to bottom place with just one point.

Canterbury meanwhile return to the top three - albeit on goal difference - alongside Team Wellington, while Waitakere United stay second courtesy of a superior goal difference of plus two. All three teams are on fifteen points with eight matches played.

Canterbury United

V

YoungHeart Manawatu

22. Adam Highfield

1. Matt Borren

3. Mark Johnson

3. Josh Chettleburgh

5. Tom Schwarz

14. Pablo Moya

7. Darren White

23. Barry Lewis

8. Aaron Clapham(cpt) (Smith, 64')

17. Jordan Martens

9. George Slefendorfas (Yamamoto, 46')

4. Jamie O'Connor

10. Russell Kamo

8. Nathan Cooksley (cpt) (Cisokko, 60')

12. Andrew Barton

7. Jared Curtis (McKnight, 46')

15. Julyan Collett

11. Jimmy Haidakis

16. Joe Murray

9. Souliey Soromon

25. Shawn O'Brien (Panzer, 71')

 16. Michael Fraser (Stewart, 75')

Substitutes

Substitutes

1. Tom Batty (GK)

20. Souley Cissoko (On, 60')

6. Geoff Mcintrye

22. Perry Stewart (On, 75')

14. Josh Smith (On, 64')

18. Wade Randall

20. Ken Yamamoto (On, 46')

25. Michael McKnight (On, 46')

21.Eric Panzer (On, 71')

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Welcome to ASB Football Park for the first time in 2012. Conditions not so flash, it is overcast and cool, and has been raining steadily in Christchurch this morning. Hopefully it will remain dry for kick-off. Team news to follow-is Aaron Clapham fit.. and will new English recruit Daniel Glozier make his Dragons debut?

Clapham returns to Dragons line-up- no place for Daniel Glozier-word is his clearance papers did not come through on time. Almost underway- the rain staying away for the moment.

2' Corner Canty-bit of scramble but comes to nothing foul called on Borren 

4'Canty applying all the early pressure

5' Clapham crosses Slefendorfas heads just wide

7'  Youngheart enter Canty danger area- comes to nothing-from Haidakis long-throw into box.

8'Visitors threaten again- Canty defence somewhat passive.

10'Slefendorfas crosses to far post- just to high for Andrew Barton to reach in the air

13' Kamo almost hits target but shot is blocked inside the visitors box

15'Murray- Kamo - White- combine- Corner Canty

Corner comes to nothing- foul is called

17'GOAL- Clapham drops a lovely pass into Darren WHITE- he finishes with a composed finish from 10 yards

19'Canty on top- chasing second goal- Kamo almost puts Slefendorfas in with a cross to far post- danger cleared

21' Free-kick Clapham taken out running onto edge of box- Barry LEWIS BOOKED

23'GOAL- CLAPHAM scores direct from free-kick edge of box- shoots into the far bottom corner

25'Borren makes brave save from corner under pressure in six yrd box

28' Freekick Manawatu- 30 yrds out- Haidakis shot hits wall and is cleared

33'Corner Canty- GOAL White shot from edge of box comes of an unsuspecting JOE MURRAY( hits his belly) and goes into the net

35' One way traffic- Barton corner goes to Kamo edge of box his shot is palmed away by Borren who is under seige

38' Freekick- to Manawatu - GOAL- spectacular shot from Jimmy HAIDAKIS- right into top corner- goal of the season contender? 

41' Some real quality goals this afternoon- to warm up the fans -it's not tropical today temperature wise!

43'Confusion in Canty defence- Fraser just shoots wide- near chance for visitors

2 minutes added time

45+2 Visitors- Josh CHETTLEBURGH BOOKED- looks like dissent

Half-time

CHANGE- Darren WHITE credited with Canty's third goal not Joe Murray as first recorded

46' Canty on attack-Kamo on one of his mazy runs- but is crowded out

48'  CANTY SUB- GEORGE SLENFENDORFAS OFF- for KEN YAMAMOTO

51' GOAL CANTY- Barton corner is headed towards goal  by Schwarz- Kamo may have got final touch

53' Highfield makes acrobatic save from Cooksley 

55' Yamamoto shot deflected for corner

56' GOAL CANTY- White corner and KAMO scores easy at near post with header.

57' Collett shoots wide of post- almost six

60' Manawatu SUB COOKSLEY OFF- CISSOKO ON

61' Free-kick Canty- within Clapham range on edge of box and central- GOAL CLAPHAM- shot goes in far post-Borren rooted to spot.

65' Canty SUB: CLAPHAM OFF for JOSH SMITH- Soromon almost scores for Manawatu, but Johnson justs get foot in to clear from an unguarded goal

68' White cross almost reaches Murray but touched away for corner- White corner headed behind-another corner- Borren fla

Sorry for loss in transmission- network connection went down,

      Final- Canterbury United 9 Youngheart Manawatu 1