The Canterbury United Dragons have confirmed their semi-final berth in the ISPS Handa Premiership.

The Willy Gerdsen coached team claimed an important 2-1 win over two-time champions Team Wellington this afternoon at English Park in Christchurch to put the playoffs beyond reach for Southern United who came from behind to defeat a 10-man Tasman United side 2-1.

The result sees the Dragons climb to 30 points on the ladder only one point back from Team Wellington and Eastern Suburbs with the Lily Whites having a game in hand. Canterbury still have a chance of hosting a semi-final on the weekend of 23 – 24 March.

“I am really proud of the performance,” said Gerdsen. “We had a couple of players out and injured, and it was a great second goal from Seth Clarke. I am very proud of the way we played and the way we adjusted. They are a good side and are very well organised. That is the playoffs for us now secured so now we will see where we end up.”

Team Wellington Coach Jose Figueira said it was frustrating to leave English Park empty handed as they felt they deserved something from the game.

“It is a lesson for us again,” said Figueira. “In the first half we were controlling and dominating and we had two really good opportunities that we needed to take… perhaps that takes the game on a different course. But Canterbury are a good side. It was just a shame that we let the game get away from us.”

The Dragons took the lead soon after the break when skipper Gary Ogilvie converted from the penalty spot. The home side conjured up a promising attacking move and Adam Thurston was brought down in the box. Referee Ben O'Connell did not hesitate in pointing to the spot. 

Minutes later, Team Wellington skipper Andy Bevin continued his fine season when he found the back of the net to get the visitors back on level terms.

Gerdsen brought Seth Clarke off the bench for Luke Tongue and it proved an inspired change with the 18-year-old midfielder coming up with a superb winner with one minute left in regulation time.

Meanwhile, Southern United produced a fine come-from-behind victory over Tasman United. The Paul O’Reilly coached team, who began the weekend in fifth, six points back from the Dragons, looked to keep pace with their local rivals and hope they would slip up against Team Wellington. Their playoff hopes went when the Dragons won but it didn’t stop Irish forward Garbhan Coughlan scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to claim the three points at Trafalgar Park.

Tasman had taken the lead shortly before half-time when English defender Joe Ellul scored a rare goal with a superb finish for the home side. Ellul went from hero to villain in the second half when he was shown his second yellow card by referee Peter Linney in the 55^th minute. It proved a turning point in the game.

Southern had all the momentum coming home and Coughlan continued his rich vein of goal-scoring form. His two goals brought his tally for the season up to 12 and he is now joint leader in the ISPS Handa Premiership Golden Boot Standings alongside Callum McCowatt (Eastern Suburbs) and Sam Mason-Smith (Hawke’s Bay United).

In the final game of Match Week 17, the defending champions Auckland City returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over Hamilton Wanderers at Kiwitea Street in Auckland.

The Minor Premiers, who during the week dropped their first points of the season when they drew 1-1 with Southern United, looked to be cruising when they were 3-0 up in the 85^th minute.

David Browne opened the scoring when he converted a penalty in the 47^th minute. Twenty one year old Maro Bonsu-Maro scored his third goal of the season when he finished with a cheeky back heal in the 74^th minute and the game looked to be dead and buried when Cameron Howieson converted a penalty in the 80^th minute.

But the Ricki Herbert coached Wanderers stormed back into the game with Tommy Semmy and Martin Bueno scoring two in two minutes, but the defending champions held on to secure their 15^th win of the campaign.

Auckland City jump to 46 points – 15 points clear of Eastern Suburbs and Team Wellington – and remain undefeated in the ISPS Handa Premiership for the 2018 / 19 season.

ISPS Handa Premiership – Match Week 17 Results

Canterbury United Dragons 2 (Gary Ogilvie 51’, Seth Clark 89’)
Team Wellington 1 (Andy Bevin 55’ – pen)
HT: 0-0

Tasman United 1 (Joe Ellul 43’)
Southern United 2 (Garbhan Coughlan 82’, 88’)
HT: 1-0

Auckland City 3 (David Browne 47’ – pen, Maro Bonsu-Maro 74', Cameron Howieson 80' - pen)
Hamilton Wanderers 2  (Tommy Semmy 89', Martin Bueno 90')
HT: 0-0

For the ISPS Handa Premiership table click here

Article added: Sunday 17 February 2019