The Christchurch football club edged the Dunedin City Royals 1-0 in the South Island women’s final at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday.
Cashmere, whose men’s team also won the Southern League to qualify for the national competition, were out to defend their title and picked up their first win over the Royals at the right time of the season. They lost 1-0 and had a 1-1 draw earlier this year.
It was a brilliant tussle between the Royals and Cashmere under the roof, neither team giving an inch.
Football Fern Annalie Longo’s early shot for Cashmere brushed the crossbar.
She showed her class all game and continued to make breaks to get her side in the right areas.
The visitors were fierce in the opening quarter and their breakthrough came in the 18th minute.
They crossed the ball nicely into the box with Anna McPhie and former Royals player Margi Dias chasing after it.
Eventually, it skimmed McPhie’s head to nestle into the back of the goal and give Cashmere a 1-0 lead.
The Royals had a couple of chances that went begging, but they found themselves in trouble again.
Cashmere were awarded a penalty from Georgia Kennedy’s tackle on Lara Wall, and Dias stepped up to take the shot.
A moment that could have put the game to bed for Cashmere was squandered when Dias’ shot went rolling outside the left goalpost.
It was a nice escape for the Royals, who started to put some pressure on, and it felt like they were on the brink of scoring.
Kennedy stole the ball down the left and squared it up for Shontelle Smith, whose long-range shot just hit the bar.
Raegan Potter, Kennedy and Smith had other chances that just missed the mark but the Royals kept attacking right until halftime.
They gave Cashmere a good scare but still the visitors led 1-0 at the break.
Bee Park and Freya Partridge-Moore were busy in the second half down the right side, trying their best to get something going.
Toni Power and Hannah Mackay-Wright were huge at the back for the Royals, putting in some booming long balls to put players in space.
Abby Rankin was prominent through the middle as well, always looking for work.
The Royals spent most of the opening 20 minutes in their half trying to get an equaliser.
A couple of corners went begging but it was good pressure.
However, Cashmere were unbreakable, denying the Royals any chance to level. They made a couple of nice breaks up field during the second half but never finished them off.
University finished their season with a 5-0 win over Nelson Suburbs. A first-half own goal was the difference until a late surge led to University bagging goals to Charli Marvin, Ansley Martin and a brace to Alisa Tuatagaloa.
Roslyn-Wakari finished with a 3-0 defeat on the road to Coastal Spirit.
In the men’s Southern League, the Royals’ game against Nelson Suburbs was postponed after Nelson’s flight was unable to land at Dunedin Airport due to wind.
A decision will be made today whether the game is rescheduled.
South Island league
The scores
Cashmere Technical 1
Anna McPhie 18’
Dunedin City Royals 0
Halftime: Cashmere Technical 1-0.
