Canterbury United

Waikato FC

0

1

Craig Wylie 26

by Gavin Searle at English Park
nzfc.co.nz

Ten-man Waikato FC notched their points of the season with a 1-0 win over Canterbury United in Christchurch on Sunday to leave the Dragons winless and rooted to the foot of the table.

Canterbury began the weekend alongside Waikato and Team Wellington as clubs without a point, but with Wellington also collecting three points from their trip to Napier, the red and blacks claim last place outright for the time being and, unless there is a dramatic form reversal, seem unlikely to mount a challenge for the expeanded four team playoffs.

Waikato had the better of the opening half and finally took the lead when Craig Wylie netted from close range after 26 minutes.

Steve Holloway always looked dangerous for the visitors and Waikato may have considered themselves somewhat unlucky to go to the break with just a one goal lead.

Playing with the breeze at their backs in the second half, Waikato continued to control the game even after Wylie was shown his second yellow card after just 56 minutes. Canterbury were guilty of given away the ball to easily as passes went astray with several home fans becoming restless calling for players to “show more commitment and fight.”

On the hour Canterbury hit the post to spark into life forcing Waikato keeper Jason Mann then to make several saves throughout the rest of the game.

In the dying stages Canterbury finally mounted some sustained pressure and while they did get the ball across the goal line with just four minutes to play, Gareth Turnbull’s header was ruled offside.

Waikato coach, Dave Edmondson was pleased with his team’s performance.

“In the first half we created at least four clear chances which we should have made more of. "

"At talk at half time was for us to really go out and dominate the second half but the sending changed the momentum of the game but I think we did enough even with ten to deserve the win."

Canterbury coach Korouch Monsef was in a thoughtful mood after the game.

“I think we had difficultly from the outset to create enough chances. I don’t think we were necessary as aggressive as I would like us to be," stated Monsef.

“It times we were on the side foot rather than the front foot. Especially at times you need to take the initiative rather than waiting to see what develops.”

It does not get any easier for Canterbury next week, travelling to Auckland to meet defending champions Waitakere, with chances – let alone goals – even harder to come by.

Canterbury United

V

Waikato FC

22. Chris Sinclair (GK)

19. Jason Mann (GK)

3. Matt Boyd

2. Joel Mattews

4. Bill Roberson (c)

8. Paul Stewart

5. Any Pitman

25. Nathan Strom

7. Ryan Faichnie

4. Graeme Pearce (c)

8. Garry McDermott

7. Joe Simpkins

9. Ton Lancaster

13. Shaun Van Rooyen

10. Jamie Smith

18. Nick Robson

12. Michael Fifii (off 58)

14. Craig Wylie

15. James Reichwein (off 35)

11. Steve Holloway (out 80)

21. Ben Harris (off 46)

10. Stu Hogg (out 88)

Substitutes

Substitutes

11. Gareth Turnbull (in 58)

21. Jonathan Stables (in 88)

19. Darren Overton (in 35)

3. Ben Hunt

20. Hamish Chang

16. Sam Magretts (in 80)

2. Dan Terris  (in 46)

9. Marco Rojas

1. Michael O'Keeffe

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Welcome to English Park on a plus 20 degree day in this must win game as both Canterbury United and Waikato are seeking to pick up their first points of the season

0 mins

Play is underway

4 mins

Canty awarded freekick but keeper Jason Mann untroubled to take for Waikato FC 

9 mins

Waikato knocking the ball around when confidently on attack

11 mins

Garry McDermott knocks in cross from right which Mann has to flick away for corner 

13 mins

Canty gives ball away with keeper, Chris Sinclair having to pull off a great save to prevent  Steven Holloway scoring his third goal of the season

17 mins

Sinclair called on again to save as Waikato are starting to cut up the Canterbury defence

22 mins

Holloway heads over for Waikato

26 mins

GOAL 0 - 1 Craig Wylie finally ends one of the many Waikato chances when scoring from in the side 6 metre box 

29 min

Yellow Card: Wylie in the book for heavy tackle

35 mins

Waikato continue to dominate

35 mins

Sub: Canty go to the bench as they look to plug the gaps on their left hand flank with Overton on for Reichwein

43 mins

Canty still trying the long ball but Waikato are dealing with, with ease 

45 mins

No stoppage time as Mike Conger brings the half to and end were Canterbury are lucky to go to the break trialing by just one goal

46 mins

Sub: Canty replaces Ben Harris with Dan Terris

46 mins

Back under way

53 mins

RED CARD: Wylie receives second yellow card after incident with Canterbury midfielder Andy Pitman

58 mins

Sub: Canterbury to the bench for the final time as Gareth Turnbull replaces Michael Fifii

62 mins

Canty has first serious shot as Tom Lancaster forces Mann to save  

71 mins

Promising Canty attacked wasted as poor low cross straight to Waikato defenders with Canty players unmarked by far post

75 mins

Waikato wins corner after long throw which Sinclair takes easily

78 mins

Jamie Smith good run and shot forces Mann to parry ball away.

80 mins

Sub: Waikato to the bench with the hard working Steven Holloway replaced by Sam Margetts

86 mins

Turnbull heads home but 'goal' ruled out for being offside

87 mins

Sub: Hogg off for Waikato replace by Jonathan Stables

90 mins

Into stoppage time

90 + 1 min

Waikato forces corner

90 + 3 min

FULL TIME: 0 - 1 Waikato take the spoils with Canterbury going looking likely late n the game after Waikato were down to ten players afterscorer Craig Wylie received his second yellow card. Wrap, comments and photos to follow.