Canterbury United

Hawke's Bay United

7

0

Slefendorfas 18' 28'34'45 60'

White 36'

Clapham (pen) 46'

by John Donnachie at ASB Football Ground, Christchurch
asbpremiership.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH -  Dragons striker George Slefendorfas scored five goals as Canterbury United solidified their grip on second spot of the ASB Premiership ladder after hammering Hawke's Bay 7-0 at ASB Football Park today.

Such was the extent of the drubbing, Hawke's Bay coach, Chris Greatholder, was left totally dumbfounded immeadiately after the match.

He said: “I don't know what to say. I can't get my head around this. For some periods it was quite even. It's a freak, we are not seven goals worse off than Canterbury. But full credit to them- Big George (Slefendorfas) was the man.”

Slefendorfas most certainly was. The ASB Premiership's leading goalscorer was simply marvellous, tormenting the Bay defence throughout, with his pace and sheer physicality.

The Australian striker seemed bemused himself after the game, after equalling Benjamin Totoroi's Premiership record of five goals in a game.

“It was good. To be honest the first goal was the best. We are working on plenty of structure and the more I score, it seems to help the boys more,”said Slenfendorfas.

Slefendorfas put on a striker's clinic scoring four times in the first half with composed, precise finishing, as Canterbury eased to a 5-0 half-time lead.

Darren White added his second goal of the campaign with a comfortable finish off new boy Daniel Gloizer's cross.

Dragons captain Aaron Clapham was on the spot just after the interval with one of his hallmark penalty conversions -wrong-footing Shaun Peta.

 On the hour, the impressive Andrew Barton was on hand to set up Slefendorfas to make it seven, as the Dragons threatened to emulate the nine goals they scored against Youngheart Manawatu two weeks ago.

Dragons coach, Keith Braithwaite, demonstrated the strength of the current Dragons squad following the seventh goal, bringing on Cole Peverley and Josh Smith for Andrew Barton and the tireless Joe Murray.

 Afterwards Braithwaite was quick to stress it was a team performance. “It was our day. It was even-steven at the start. Then George bangs in five. But everyone in the squad is working exceptionally well. We are working on things in the last third and it is all coming together.”

The Dragons coach offered Hawke's Bay some solace.

“They are a good side. They had a couple of opportunities at the start. But we had quality moves and quality finishes that was the big difference today," he said.

The Dragons head to the capital to play Team Wellington next. While Hawke's Bay entertain Auckland City on Monday at Bluewater Stadium in Napier.

Canterbury United

V

Hawke's Bay United

1. Adam Highfield

1. Shaun Peta

3. Mark Johnston

2 Fergus Neil

5. Tom Schwarz

5. Bill Robertson (cpt)

7. Darren White 

21. Josh Margetts

8. Aaron Clapham (cpt)

10. Sam Margetts (Wilson, 74')

9. George Slefendorfas

6. Stephen Hindmarsh (Hastings, 63')

10. Russell Kamo

11. Conor Tinnion

12. Andrew Barton  (Smith, 65')

14. Danny Wilson

13. Daniel Gloizer

17. Tom Biss

15. Julyan Collett (Bush, 80')

8. Adam Cowan

16. Joe Murray (Peverley, 57')

19. Hamish Watson (Birnie, 45')

Substitutes

Substitutes

1. Tom Batty

20. Leon Birnie (On, 45')

14. Josh Smith (On, 65')

4. Stu Wilson (On, 74')

17. Cole Peverley (On, 57')

15. Reilly O'Meagher

19. Calvin Opperman

7. Matt Hastings (On, 63')

25. Louie Bush (On, 80')

1. Richard Gillespie

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Welcome to ASB Football Park for what promises to be an intriguing encounter between Canterbury United and Hawke's Bay United. Both sides are in form and chasing their third consecutive win.

 Last time round, the men from the Bay triumphed 3-0 at Napier. So there is no shortage of motivation for the red & blacks. Above all, a Dragons win would assure them of at least second on the ASB Premiership standings. Hawke's Bay are a few games behind; but three points would keep them well in play-off contention with two games in hand.

1' Underway- midfield  battle from the start.

3' Hamish WATSON - Hawkes Bay -shoots wide from outside of the box

5' Hawke's Bay in Canty half - Steven HINDMARSH (Hawke's Bay) on sidelines with a knock

7' Barton makes good run but is crowded out on edge of box.

9'Hindmarsh back on.  White fouls Bay's Fergus Neil- Cowan free-kick comes to nothing.

11' Corner Hawkes Bay- Tinnion corner is cleared by Joe Murray

12 Another corner for Hawke's Bay- but Highfield gets a hand on it to clear

14'Corner Canty- Barton overhits the corner goes out of play at far post

17' GOAL -CANTY- KAMO plays in SLEFENDORFAS who shoots past Peta in visitors goal

20' Good open match BARTON just shoots wide from edge of box- Canty looking dangerous every time they come forward.

23'HIGHFIELD makes good save from point blank range from WATSON- near thing

24'Corner CANTY- SLEFENDORFAS heads over after the wind plays havoc with corner.

28' GOAL CANTY- BARTON corner not cleared ball runs through to unmarked SLEFENDORFAS who easily scores

30' HAWKES BAY have CORNER

31'A bit of scramble in Canty goalmouth- but ball is eventually cleared

33' Darren White shot is blocked by visiting defender

34'GOAL SLEFENDORFAS has hat-trick-reacts quickest- turns in box and shoots into far corner

36' Canty well on top knocking ball around confidently

37'GOAL CANTY- GLOIZER cross turned in by DARREN WHITE after more indecision in HAWKE's BAY defence

39'SLEFENDORFAS almost on the  end of a COLLETT cross

41'BAY trying manfully to get going- but Canty doing it easy at the back now

42'SLEFENDORFAS denied by PETA who saves bravely at his feet from close in.

45'GOAL- SLEFENDORFAS- who else? disposseses a Bay defender on the edge of box and clips a neat finish past a stranded PETA

HALF TIME- 5-0

46'  PENALTY- BARTON brought down in th box. GOAL- CLAPHAM wrongfoots PETA in BAY goal. 

47'Clapham just shoots wide after WHITE corner

49'Same two combine again and CLAPHAM fires over from edge of box.

50'All one way traffic- Canty look as though they could score every time they cross the halfway line

54' Bay's Bill ROBERTSON still committed making some strong tackles willing his team on

55' Freekick CANTY- 30 yrds out CLAPHAM cross takes deflection PETA collects

56' CORNER- CANTY SUB MURRAY OFF PEVERLEY ON- Corner sails out of play in meantime.

58' CANTY BOOKING- Andrew BARTON for late challenge on halfway

60'GOAL CANTY- BARTON good run into box provides for GEORGE SLEFENDORFAS who fires home from 10 yards out.

62'Shades of the Manawatu rout now-

63' CANTY SUB Josh SMITH on for the impressive ANDY BARTON. HAWKES BAY SUB HASTINGS on for HINDMARSH

68'ROBERTSON has header cleared from goalmouth after corner.

70'CONOR TINION BOOKED

71'WHITE brings good save out of PETA who has been largely unaccountable for the goals conceded

72 CORNER CANTY- comes to nothing fades away at near post

74'BAY SUB- STU WILSON for SAM MARGETTS CANTY SUB Louie BUSH on for COLLETT

75'Can SLEFENDORFAS break ASB PREMIERSHIP record? He needs another goal!!

81'Apologies Transmission loss-no more goals though Hawkes Bay almost scored Hamish WATSON free-kick hit the bar and rebounded to safety for Canty defence 

90+3 Tom BISS almost scores shot dribbles wide of post

ALL OVER 7-0