It has been a dream season for Cashmere Technical so far and the Christchurch club hope that continues when they host Western Suburbs in the semi-finals of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup this weekend.

The Deane Hutchinson-coached side claimed the Mainland Premier League (MPL) title two months ago and more recently won the Southern Football League (SFL) which saw the best five teams from the MPL and the best three teams from the Football South league to establish the best team in the South Island.

Cashmere have a further chance to win more silverware on Tuesday when they take on Coastal Spirit in the final of the English Cup, but right now they are focused on the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup.

They are looking forward to taking on Western Suburbs to have a chance to add to their two Chatham Cup titles they won back to back in 2013 and 2014.

“All of the boys are really excited,” said experienced midfielder Gary Ogilvie.  “It is a semi-final and any semi-final is a great opportunity but to have the added history and prestige of the Chatham Cup is huge for the boys and something that we have been working towards and looking forward to all season really.”

Cashmere Technical have been impressive on their run to the final four. Most recently, they defeated the Kevin Fallon-coached Manukau United away from home to keep their cup dream alive.

“We didn’t know too much about Manukau. Heading up there was difficult with us being from the South Island, and not hearing too much from the North Island teams, but we went up there with confidence and we have been coming into some form in the last couple of months. I thought the way the boys came back from conceding an early goal was really good for our character. We have got that good team spirit and we are looking to use that this weekend against a strong Western Suburbs side.”

Western Suburbs were just as impressive as they knocked out defending champions Onehunga Sports with a 4-1 victory. Ogilvie, who works for Mainland Football as their Youth Development Officer, said they know a bit about Onehunga after being knocked out by them in the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup semi-finals last year.

“So we know what a good side they are and to beat any team 4-1 is a great effort. We know that they are going to be a strong side. We know that they train five or six times per week, which we don’t have the luxury of. We know that it will be difficult and they will be organised and they will have some really good individual players as well as some strong organisation. We are expecting a really tough game, but we are looking forward to that challenge. We are looking forward to playing against a different side to what we are used to.”

Ogilvie, a mainstay for the Canterbury United Dragons midfield in the ISPS Handa Premiership, said the Cashmere Technical squad has taken a huge amount of confidence from their successful season in 2018, and they still have more they want to achieve.

“First and foremost, it is all about this weekend and trying to make the final,” he said. “Winning the Chatham Cup is a big part of our history. We still have a number of lads that were part of winning the trophy in those two years and every time there is a new player who signs, the boys make sure they know the history and how much this competition means to this club.” 

Ogilvie has never made the final of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup which has a history that dates back to 1927. In the last two years the team has gone on a good run, making the quarter-finals and semi-finals and he is hoping to see a large home crowd tomorrow at Garrick Memorial Park.

“Most of the leagues down here have almost ended so we are hoping to get a good crowd and that the South Island and Christchurch will get behind us,” he said. “We are also looking out for Nelson Suburbs’ result and are really pleased that two South Island teams are into the semi-finals. It shows how far the MPL and the Southern League have come. We are hoping to get a good crowd behind us on Saturday and Nelson can do the same on Sunday.”

ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Semi-Finals

Cashmere Technical vs Western Suburbs
Saturday 25 August, 2pm
Garrick Memorial Park, Christchurch

Nelson Suburbs vs Birkenhead United
Sunday 26 August, 2pm
Saxton Field, Nelson

Article added: Friday 24 August 2018