PREVIEW: Friday night matches to get Southern League round off to flying start

By Logan Smith and Harrison Ryburn

Surprise Southern League title contenders Coastal Spirit could be put to the test on Friday night with an interesting match against a Ferrymead Bays side capable of putting up a challenge.

Across town, having kicked off 15 minutes earlier, Christchurch United will continue their pursuit of National League qualification at home to FC Twenty 11.

Bays, the nominal hosts at English Park, will go up against Coastal Spirit, unbeaten this season in league, Chatham Cup and English Cup. Both sides arrive in strong form and should put on a close game.

On Saturday, English Park will play host to another interesting game, with UC Football welcoming Dunedin City Royals.

*Action from the recent match between Christchurch United and UC Football. Photo credit: Jim Watts Photography / @jimwattsphoto*

The Royals are higher on the table and won the reverse fixture 4-0, but have a terrible away record, with no points in their six away games this season.

Elsewhere, leaders Cashmere Technical should beat Nelson Suburbs and Nomads United play host to Selwyn United.

All three of Saturday’s matches will be available to watch live and free on the FIFA+ platform, while Christchurch United will stream their Friday match on the club’s YouTube channel.

Game of the week

The pressure is on for the top three teams, with the league title and National League qualification places on the line and little to choose between them on the table.

This weekend, it looks to be Coastal Spirit who face the toughest test, taking on a Ferrymead Bays side that have notched four league wins in a row, including a win against contenders Christchurch United.

It’s also a rematch from a thrilling Chatham Cup game that the Spirit, now into the semi-finals, needed extra time to get the win.

Can Ferrymead bring a flying Spirit team back down to earth? Expect a close one.

Players to watch

It was an almighty battle for Coastal Spirit up north in the Chatham Cup quarter-finals, and one man who shone was captain Joe Hoole, popping up with two well-taken equalisers in a game the Spirit eventually won on penalty kicks.

Not quite a week later, Hoole and his teammates will need to show their mettle again, with Ferrymead Bays very much capable of causing an upset.

Hoole’s leadership, and perhaps also his goalscoring contributions, could be critical again.

— Logan Smith

After scoring twice in a confidence-boosting 5-1 victory over UC Football two weeks ago, striker Lennon Whewell is now Nelson Suburbs’ joint top scorer with eleven goals.

While Suburbs have struggled for consistency, Whewell has been a constant goal threat, and boasts an impressive eight goals in his last five Southern League matches.

He’s someone Cashmere Technical will have to pay close attention to at Garrick Memorial Park on Saturday.

— Harrison Ryburn

Bold predictions

Nelson Suburbs have been an absolute enigma of a team this season; the only certainty with them is that they’ll bring entertainment.

After an impressive draw on the road against Coastal, they stumbled to a draw at home to Selwyn United, before responding in style, thrashing UC 5-1 last time out.

We’ve already seen in recent years how Suburbs struggle away to Cashmere and Christchurch United, so I think they’ll continue to be topsy-turvy and be on the wrong end of a 4-1 loss in Christchurch against Cashmere Technical.

— Logan Smith

Wins have been hard to come by for Nomads United and Selwyn United recently, who meet at Tulett Park on Saturday, but this fixture will offer the chance to pick up a valuable three points.

Selwyn suffered an 8-0 humiliation at home to Cashmere Technical in their most recent Southern League match, but have had two weeks to reflect since and I’m expecting them to respond with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away from home.

— Harrison Ryburn

Golden Boot

18 — Garbhan Coughlan (Cashmere Technical)
15 — Alejandro Steinwascher (Coastal Spirit)
12— Joel Stevens (Christchurch United)
11 — Trevin Myers (Nelson Suburbs), Lennon Whewell (Nelson Suburbs)
10 — Jack Hallahan (Cashmere Technical),
9 — Lyle Matthysen (Cashmere Technical)
8 — Satsuki Ito (Ferrymead Bays), Flynn Holdem (Nomads United)
7 — Spencer Barber (Nelson Suburbs), David Yoo (Christchurch United), Cameron Rean (Ferrymead Bays)
6 — Will Turner (Dunedin City Royals), Liam Cotter (Coastal Spirit), Gabriel Gallaway (Cashmere Technical)