Canterbury United

Otago United

1

2

Jamie Smith 79

Aaron Burgess 31, 71

by Gavin Searle at English Park
nzfc.co.nz

Otago United deservedly picked up just their second win of the season when they defeated Canterbury United 2 – 1 in Christchurch.

The result closes the gap at the bottom of the table to just one point with Otago still propping up the bottom of the table.

Otago started the better and with Andy Coburn and Stu Kelly controlling the first half midfield battle the home fans had little to get excite about.

The visitors took the lead when Aaron Burgess finished a great cross by Tom Connor on the half-hour.

Canterbury showed more spirit after the break with Otago looking set to add to their goal on the hour after keeper Michael O’Keeffe did well to half clear the ball which was then passed to Dave Dugdale on the edge of the area with the keeper still on the deck.

Canterbury defender Ben Harris run back to cover the goal line but in a harsh ruling the assistants flag Dugdale offside which saw the Otago bench all off their feet.

Their coach Terry Phelan was in an animated conversation with the fourth official with Connor also carded for questioning the ruling.

Minutes later Otago were rewarded after Andy Coburn was brought down in front of goal and from the resulting Burgess from a gap in the wall to fire the ball home.

With ten minutes to play Canterbury pulled a goal back when Jamie Smith curled the ball over Otago keeper, Liam Little but that was it for the home side with Otago showing their experience to run the clock down during the four minutes of stoppage time.

Assistant Otago coach Malcolm Fleming was pleased with the result.

"We need the three points other wise we would have been sitting at the bottom of the competition, seven points adrift with six games to go it would have been a struggle.

"We have played well in the last few games, we have been nil up in five games out of six and lost, but we just can not finish sides off", said Fleming.

"It was always going to be a competitive match were winning second phase ball was going to a key but we did not win enough of it to be competitive" as how Canterbury coach Korouch Monsef summed up the game.

"We needed to get in front so we could control the game but it did not happen", added Monsef.

Photos: Glyn Davies www.m4photography.co.nz

Canterbury United

V

Otago United

1, Michael O'Keefe (GK)

1. Liam Little

2. Dan Terris

3. Tristan Prattley

4. Bill Robertson (Capt)

4. Barry Gardiner

7. Ryan Faichnie

5. Colin Falvey

8. Garry McDermott

6. Mike Smith

9. Tom Lancaster

9. Tom Jackson (out 79)

10. Jamie Smith

10. Dave Dugdale

12. Michael Fifii (out 57)

11. Andy Coburn

16. Nick Wortleboer (out 78)

12. Aaron Burgess  (out 79)

19. Darren Overton (out 40)

17. Tim Horner

21. Ben Harris

21. Stu Kelly

Substitutes

Substitutes

13. Adam Cowan (in 78)

7. Robbie Deeley

15. James Reichwein (in 57)

13. Calum Flaws (RGK)

20. Hamish Chang (in 40)

15. Morgan Day

22. Chris Sinclair

16. Reagan Coldicott (in 88)

18. Tom Connor (in 79)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Wecome to English Park for the Southern derby made a little more interesting by the return of former Canterbury favourite Stu Kelly adding a twist to preceedings. The skies are overcast and there's a hint of moisture in the air but nothing yet.

0min

Play under way

5min

Fairly tense opening as sides feel eah other out, with the rain doing most of the threatning.

10min

Lightning overhead as an electrical storm provides some entertainment.

11min

The first real chance of the game is cleared off the Canterbury line as Otago try to scramble it home from a corner.

16min

A free-kick for Otago is blasted wide by Stu Kelly

24min

Otago's Barry Gardiner takes aim from outside the area but his shot is parried by Micael 'Keefe

26min

Oooh. Aaron Burgess heads over from just n front. How'd he miss that. All the chances are falling for Otago at the moment nd they should be a goal up after Burgess fails to convert Gardiner's cross 

27min

Andy Coburn picks up the game's first yellow card.

31min

GOAL! 0-1 Burgess doesn't miss this time as great work by Tom Jackson down the right hand side his rewarded wth the opening goal.

40min

Sub: Hamish Chang on for Darren Overton. Canterbury forced into an early sub through injury to Overton ho was under a cloud before this game anyway.

44min

Aaron Burgess gets another header in front of goal - this time from a Dave Dgdale cross but couldn't get over the top of it and puts it over

45min

Halftime: Otago lead Canterbury 1-0 in a game that could do with a bit of that electricity from the earlier storm out on the field.

46min

Back under way after a small delay to hammer into place the net that Canterbry will be attacking in this half. Hopefully it's not the only action that goal sees in this half.

54min

Canterbury loking much livelier after halftime but you would hope so. Tom Lancaster is brought down on the edge of the are but Hamish Chang blsts the free-kick into the wall.

57min

SUB - Canterbury. James Reichwein on for Michael Fifii

58min

Tom Lancaster on another run into the box. Ball is saved by Little but spils it in the process. Dugdale follows up but there'es a foul for impeding the keeper called.

63min

Terry Phelan erupts at an ofside call and may have a point. O'Keefe came to collect the ball, but ends up having to kick it clear as he ends up on the deck. He's still on the ground as Otago give the ball to Dugdale with a chance to take advantage but he's called offside. Meanwhile Ben Harris had reacted to the danger by high-tailing it back onto the Canterbury line but that was obviosly missed.

71min

GOAL! 0-2 Andy Coburn is brought down 25 metres out to win a free-kick. Stu Kelly and Aaron Burgess both over the ball but it's Burgess who takes it and doubes the lead.

78min

SUB Canterbury. Adam Cowen makes his NZFC debut, on for Nick Wortleboer.

79min

GOAL! 1-2 Jamie Smith pulls one back for the Dragons, curling the ball round Liam Little the left of goal.

79min

SUB: Otago replace goalscorer Burgess with Tom Connor.

88min

Sub: Otago's Tom Jackson has been cramping up and is replaced by Regan Coldicott

90min

We'll have four minutes of stopage time

90+3

Otago just killing the game off here, not allowing Canterbury time or room to get back into it. Ryan Faichnie picks up a yelow card.

90+4

FULLTIME: Canterbury United 1 Otago United 2. Derby honours go to Phelen's boys who move to within a point of Canterbury.