A very solid defensive showing secured a point for the Dunedin City Royals on their long trip to Nelson.
They drew 1-1 against Nelson Suburbs in the Men’s South Island League yesterday, moving to 14 points and remaining seventh on the table.
Ryan Christie and Tom Milton kept Nelson's danger men Trevin Myers and Lennon Whewell very quiet.
There were few clear-cut chances throughout and as the match entered its last 10 minutes, it looked like Tom Milton's well-taken free kick on 26 minutes, when his inswinging left-footed strike deceived keeper Corey Wilson, would give the Royals all three points.
The Royals nearly sealed the win in the 84th minute when Max Davidson’s header from a corner cannoned off the crossbar.
But despite Royals goalkeeper Jonathan Tucker twice denying Suburbs, they squeezed in an equaliser in the last minute, when Ben Polak’s shot looped up off Tucker and into the back of the net.
In other games the top three teams all won — Christchurch United beat Selwyn 4-1, Coastal Spirit were too strong for Wānaka in Central Otago winning 4-0, and Cashmere Tech overcame a fight back from Nomads scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win.
In the women’s South Island league Otago University continued to keep the pressure on the unbeaten Dunedin City Royals — who had the bye — with a 2-0 win over Roslyn Wakari.
The opening goal was scored by Ashley Geusebroek in the 14th minute — following up on a corner and with Roslyn at times causing the students trouble around possession the second goal, did not come until the 93rd minute when Charlotte Grey chipped the keeper from 30 yards out.
Coach Hamish Phillip said he was "happy with the performance and being solid across the park allowed us freedom of possession when we wanted".
The win leaves University in second place — two points behind the Royals and seven points ahead of third place Cashmere Tech who beat NW United 7-0.
Coastal Spirit beat Universities of Canterbury 4-1.
— Neville Watson
