Canterbury United

Waitakere United

4

0

Matt Boyd 43
Russell Kamo 48
Tom Lancaster 55
Sam Miles 90+2

by Gavin Searle at English Park
nzfc.co.nz

Canterbury United handed Waitakere United its biggest NZFC defeat by a franchise outside of Auckland as the visitors were dispatched 4-0 at English Park today.

The win helped erase the memory of 3-0 loss to Team Wellington the previous week and more importantly got The Dragons play-off hope back on track moving them back into fourth spot ahead of both YoungHeart Manawatu's and Otago United. Waitakere now find themselves in second place on goal difference to arch rivals Auckland City.

Canterbury started well defensively with Waitakere dominating in the middle period of the first half with Canterbury keeper Tom Batty pulling off several outstanding saves to keep the Dragons goal intact.

Canterbury then scored on the stroke of half time from a free-kick which was whipped in by  Tom Lancaster, with an unmarked Matt Boyd heading past Danny Robinson.

Aaron Clapham continued his good form this season when he split the visiting defence with a great ball to the feet of Russell Kamo who fired home from to edge of the penalty box.

Lancaster then showed this class and quick thinking when Waitakere mishit a clearance which fell to Lancaster who hit the ball first time from 30 metres out when a touch may have allowed Robinson to recover in position.

It was a sublime peice of skill by Lancaster who along with Aaron Clapham have turned in some exciting performances this season.

The final goal came in stoppage time when Clapham looked to have scored direct from a free kick which had Robinson beaten but cannoned off the post.

Substitute Sam Miles attempted a bicycle kick but he miscued his shot but found the right hand corner of the net.

Canterbury coach, Keith Braithwaite, a devout Liverpool supporter said the result "almost made up for Liverpool being knock out of the FA Cup by Reading during the week".

"It was a great result coming after the result last week, everyone played their part so it was a tremendous team result".

"If there is a better pairing in the NZFC at the moment than Aaron and Tommy then I have yet to see them, they were both quality today", added Braithwaite.

Neil Emblen was refreshingly honest for a coach that had just watched his team defeated by a record margin.

"It was a disappointing result because it was a game we expected to win.

Canterbury stuck to their task well and took their chances that came their way and we didn't take our chances when we had them."

I felt Russell Kamo was fantastic up front and Lancaster and Clapham are real talents", added Emblen.

Canterbury now have travel away from home for their next two games two the bottom two sides, Waikato United and Hawkes Bay United and will be looking to remain unbeaten before returning home if they are serious about a play-off spot at the end of the season.
 

Canterbury United

V

Waitakere United

18. Tom Batty (gk)

1. Danny Robinson

2. Dan Terris (capt)

14. Jeremy Christie

5. Matt Boyd

3. Aaron Scott

6. Andy Pitman out 66

4. Tim Myers

7. Aaron Clapham

11. Neil Sykes out 68

9. Russell Kamo

7. Martin Bullock

11. Tom Lancaster

17. Jake Butler (capt)

15. Paul Dirou out 82

12. Roy Krishna

16. Daniel Burns in 85

15. Craig Wylie out 54

19. Darren Overton

8. Brent Fisher

23. Jordan Swaney

13. Dimas Da Silva out 54

Substitutes

Substitutes

1. Jordan Buchanan (rgk)

22. Liam Litte(rgk)

12. Nick Wortelboer in 63

19. Dakato Lucas in 54

20. Dominic McGarr in 85

18. Zane Sole in 54

21. Ben Harris

24. Luke Adams

24. Sam Miles in 82

5. Neil Emblen in 68 

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Welcome to English Park were overnight rain will make the pitch soft with light rain failing on and off. Canterbury United have been dealt a blow with Garerth Rowe not passing a fitness test which will not make the home sides chances against the league leaders any easier as they look to bounce back from a 4 - nil loss against Team Wellington last Sunday. 

1 min

Play is underway

1 min

First chance to Canty but shot from Pitman too high

4 min

Quick free-kick by Canty nearly catches Waitakere out as Clapham squares ball to Overton but shot straight to Robinson

9 min

Waitakere wins first corner of game but Sykes puts ball wide

12 min

Great point blank block by Canty keeper, Batty sees shot from Da Silva go wide for Waitakere corner

13 min

Batty another good save to deny Krishna

20 min

Free flowing game but Waitakere starting to like the more likely to score 

30 min

Canty win corner but comes to nothing

35 min

Both defences cutting out any half chances at the moment

37 min

From wide outside area Wylie shot over bar for Waitakere

39 min

Caution: Krishna (Waitakere) in the book for foul on Boyd

42 min

Fisher has shot in turn blocked bu Canty defender

43 min

Caution: Myers Waitakere foul on Kamo right on edge of area 

43 min

GOAL 1 - 0 From resulting freekick Boyd heads Canty into the lead

45 min 1+

Half time 1 - 0 Canty take the lead to the break with Waitakere maybe having the better of the chances

46 min

Back under way

48 min

GOAL: 2 - 0 Kamo put Canty 2 up after great ball from Clapham

54 min

Double sub for Waitakere

55 min

GOAL: 3 - 0 Robinson only half cleared ball out to Lancasrer who hit first time from 30 metres

63 min

Sub for Canty Wortelboer on for Pitman

68 min

Sub for Waitakere Emblen on for Sykes

70 min

RED CARD Krishna second yellow card for foul on Burns

75 min

Waitakere looking for opening goal but Canty determined to keep clean sheet

82 min

Sub Canty Miles on for Dirou

83 min

Caution Scott into the book for Waitakere 

85 min

Sub Canty McGarr on for Burns

90 min

3 mins added time

90 min  + 2 min

GOAL 4  - 0 From Canty free kick Clapham hits post with miles scoring from a mis que

FT

FULL TIME 4 - 0 Canty wins put them back into the top four with Waitakere dropping back to second place