The Dunedin City Royals have a six-point lead in the South Island women’s league.
The Royals took advantage of the Nelson Suburbs-Cashmere game being suspended due to a flight cancellation and posted a 3-0 win over local rivals Roslyn-Wakari.
Rose Morton opened the scoring after 18 minutes and Neive Collin scored in the closing minutes of the first half to give the Royals a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Morton claimed her second goal 18 minutes from time.
Otago University also helped strengthen the Royals’ lead at the top when they held Coastal Spirit to a 2-2 draw.
The students dominated parts of the first half but were left ruing two defensive errors, including one in the third minute of stoppage time, after Ansley Martin had equalised for University with a free kick two minutes earlier.
University had some nice phases of play early in the second half, one of which allowed Jemma McCormick to bury her chance to tie it at 2-2. Both goalkeepers made vital saves to ensure the points were shared, and University move one spot up the table.
In the ODT Southern Men’s Premiership, Green Island secured their fourth consecutive win, beating Queenstown 3-2 at the Events Centre.
Green Island took an early lead when Harry McLean crossed from the right to Finn Kruger, who clinically notched his seventh goal in recent games.
Queenstown rallied, and equalised seven minutes later when Tom Baldwin headed home following a long throw-in.
Green Island had the better of the first half, keeping Queenstown to quick counter-attacks, and regained the lead from a Matt Hanrahan header in the 40th minute.
Queenstown looked dangerous and attacked with pace, orchestrated by Nicholas Chambers, but Green Island extended their lead in the 53rd minute when Hanrahan won the ball and passed to Josh Kotkamp, who crossed for Harrison McLean with a well-taken finish.
The home team pulled one back in the 73rd minute through Rayn Walden but were not able to find the equaliser.
Roslyn-Wakari beat Northern Hearts 2-1 in Timaru.
Hearts took a first-minute lead without Roslyn touching the ball when striker Bailey Chambers lost his marker and guided the ball home.
He nearly doubled the lead two minutes later when his long-range effort was tipped on to the post by keeper Tom Stevens.
Roslyn equalised in the 12th minute when Nathan Wilkie headed in from Callum Smith’s corner.
Chambers again had an effort come off the woodwork, skimming the top of the crossbar.
In the second half, Hearts continued to play direct football, and Roslyn were guilty of spurning opportunities in front of goal.
Roslyn got the winner in the 83rd minute after some slick combination play down the right-hand side. Gio Pribaz cut the ball back, allowing Wilkie to score.
Hearts looked to have equalised straight from the kick-off but it was ruled out for offside.
Northern, finally back to full strength, overcame champions Mosgiel 3-1.
Sam Cosgrove opened the scoring in a crowded penalty box in the 16th minute. Mosgiel equalised in the 56 minute through George Duncan, and with Mosgiel having nothing to play for, the game was rather flat.
Northern substitute Nicholas Brett scored a goal that he will be talking about for years to come in the 78th minute, and Cosgrove’s goal in the 89th minute was even better — a long-range screamer that gave keeper Dan Robinson no chance.
Northern keeper Eli Urwin saved a Rhys Quarrell penalty kick in injury time.
The Dunedin City Royals continued their recent form with a 2-1 win over University. Max Stanley scored a late winner after Will Turner had equalised following the students’ 20th minute opener through Riley McLean.
Wānaka recorded an impressive 4-1 win in Invercargill over Queens Park.
John Plimmer scored a goal in each half before goals to substitutes Steven Sprowson and Jeremy Curtis made it 4-0 with 15 minutes to go.
Queens Park’s consolation was a last-minute penalty to Anton Fitzgerald.
— Neville Watson
