PREVIEW: Moment of truth looms for Christchurch United in Southern League

By Logan Smith and Harrison Ryburn

Southern League title holders Christchurch United know fate is in their hands when they meet a Coastal Spirit team three points ahead and yet to lose in 2024.

With qualification for the Men’s National League on the line, United badly need to cause Spirit’s first loss when they face each other at Linfield Park this Sunday.

The round gets underway at Avondale Park where FC Twenty 11 and Dunedin City Royals meet.

FC Twenty have lost every game this season, while the Royals have lost every away game, so one of those runs must end, providing the Royals don’t encounter travel issues again.

Airport fog deprived them of last weekend’s game against UC Football.

At Garrick Memorial Park, frontrunners Cashmere Technical should sweep UC Football aside, and will then pay close attention to the match between their title rivals on Sunday.

And finally, on Saturday, Selwyn United play Ferrymead Bays on the artificial turf at Foster Park.

Nelson Suburbs get another Sunday home game, and it promises to be a good one. Nomads beat them in the reverse fixture, but considering the league table are still underdogs.

Sunday’s duel between Coastal Spirit and Christchurch United will have the major bearing on the title and national league places.

Four matches will be streamed on FIFA+, including both of Sunday’s matches.

*Cashmere Technical’s Yuya Taguchi drills the ball into the roof of the Nelson Suburbs net. Photo credit: Jim Watts Photography / @jimwattsphoto*

Game of the week

All was looking a bit lost for Christchurch United after a tough run of results, with Nomads knocking them out of the Chatham Cup and Ferrymead Bays putting a serious dent in their league aspirations with an upset win.

But they’ve quietly got back on track again, with three Southern League wins in a row, including an 11-0 shellacking of FC Twenty 11, which has significantly boosted their goal difference.

Yet Coastal Spirit are another challenge entirely; coach Robbie Stanton’s men are still unbeaten in 2024 and they will be desperate to maintain their place in the National League spots. Spirit also won the return fixture 3-2 in dramatic fashion.

It feels like a season-defining game even with a few rounds still left, and it’s free to watch on FIFA+.

Players to watch

Dunedin City Royals forward Connor Neil is set to return to the Southern League side after missing the past few matches, but he still arrives in form.

After their match against UC Football was postponed, Neil featured in the Royals’ reserve team match in the Southern Premiership, banging in a hat-trick and showcasing his ability to anticipate chances as they defeated Queenstown 6-0.

The Royals should create plenty against cellar dwellers FC Twenty 11, so Neil could replicate such a significant goal contribution at Southern League level this weekend.

— Logan Smith

Winger Kenshin Hayashi is one to watch out for in the Coastal Spirit side for Sunday’s blockbuster clash with Christchurch United.

Formerly of Ferrymead Bays, he’s been one of a raft of new signings at the club this season and started all but one Southern League game.

Hayashi opened the scoring against his old side last weekend, and I’m backing him to put in another strong performance at Linfield Park on Sunday.

— Harrison Ryburn

*Action from last weekend’s 3-0 win by Coastal Spirit against Ferrymead Bays. Photo credit: Jim Watts Photography / @jimwattsphoto*

Bold predictions

The goal differences of all bottom three teams are looking worrisome, and I don’t fancy their form coming into tough clashes this weekend.

FC Twenty 11 face a Dunedin City Royals team that smashed them 7-0 in their last visit, Cashmere are overwhelming favourites to beat UC Football and Selwyn United’s form has taken a downturn ahead of their fixture against Ferrymead Bays.

I’ll predict the Royals, Cashmere and Ferrymead to each score at least five goals.

— Logan Smith

This weekend feels like last chance saloon for Christchurch United if they are to regain their place in the National League this season.

Head coach Ryan Edwards and his side will have put a lot of preparation into this one, and a victory would draw them level on 36 points with Spirit.

It really does build as one of the matches of the season, and I’m picking United to spring a vital victory away from home, by a 3-2 scoreline.

— Harrison Ryburn

Goal of the week

Aidan Barbour-Ryan’s goal for Cashmere Technical against Nelson Suburbs has been judged NZ Football’s Goal of the Week.

Enjoy it here …

Golden Boot

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