DUNEDIN CITY ROYALS
Position: Third. Won: 6. Lost: 1. Draw: 1.
Dunedin City is in the hunt for the crown.
The Royals are sitting in third — on goal differential — and tied for 19 points with second-placed Cashmere Technical.
They have beaten Cashmere 3-2 already this season, their first win over the Canterbury team since 2016.
It was a major win for the Royals. Mentally, in particular, it was important to get over the "hump" and take Cashmere down.
"It also just showed that we’ve come on and developed from last season," coach Richard Murray said.
The league has improved and is more competitive from last season and Murray was "pretty happy" with how his team had stepped up another level.
"At the same time, we probably haven’t played as well as we can.
"You don’t want to peak too early, but at the same time, you want to be in the mix for those top two spots."
The Royals have won their past three games and it was important to carry that moment through, Murray said.
There were good wins over Selwyn United (5-0), Nomads United (3-0) and FC Twenty11 (3-0), and the Royals suffered their only loss to league leader Christchurch United (5-2).
They were showing plenty of resilience and growth already, and having experienced players had been key, he said.
"For us, the biggest thing is just tying up that defensive end.
"We’ll score goals, but not conceding’s the key."
Hayden Aish has been "excellent" in his first season, and Ben Stanley (seven), Connor Neil (six) and Oliver Peterson (five) all contributed goals.
Now it was important to push on and break into the top two.
"We’ve got to keep winning. That’s the key, and to do that you’ve got to put in good performances no matter what’s put in front of you."
The Royals play away against Coastal Spirit on Sunday.
GREEN ISLAND
Position: Seventh. Won: 2. Lost: 6
Seventh place almost seems a bit cruel for Green Island.
It has lost three games by only one goal, and another two games by two goals, leaving the Dunedin side further down the table than it would have liked.
"We would hope to have a little bit more out of the season so far," coach Jamie Whitmarsh said.
"We’re really close in every game and it’s maybe just an indication of us not getting more points just through probably a lack of experience, really, at certain moments.
"Somehow we just seem to lose our way a little bit and that’s costing us.
"I’m just disappointed because I don’t think where we are is a true reflection of what we are like."
Green Island beat FC Twenty11 2-0 and had a good 4-1 win over Selwyn United — its best performance from the first half of the season.
"What that did is it showed everybody and our boys what they’re capable of. That’s the benchmark we’re always striving to get."
Green Island suffered a tough 6-2 loss to Nomads United away, and lost 2-1 to Cashmere Technical and 1-0 to Coastal Spirit, but the latter games were ones Whitmarsh felt his team should have won.
"There’s a lot to take away from all our performances.
"With the exception of Nomads away, we’ve been really competitive in every game."
The second half of the season posed the opportunity to right those wrongs and Whitmarsh was thrilled with effort from his team so far.
Harrison McLean (five) is the side’s top scorer, sitting fourth equal in the league.
"I’m absolutely delighted with all our lads.
"We’re not far away. We’ve got a lot of people who are all contributing massively."
Green Island is home to Ferrymead Bays on Saturday.
