Auckland City remain on top of the ISPS Handa Premiership table despite drawing nil-all at home to Eastern Suburbs while beneath them the chasing pack went goal crazy.

Team Wellington scored six goals at home, including some of the highest quality, against Southern United while Hawke’s Bay United came from behind to beat Waitakere United 4-2.

Hamilton Wanderers registered a gritty 3-2 away win over Tasman United, while Canterbury United scored with one of the last kicks of the game to secure a dramatic draw against the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.

It was one-way traffic in the capital this afternoon, with Team Wellington putting on a second-half clinic after being ahead 2-0 at half-time. Jack-Henry Sinclair secured a double, including a screamer from distance into the bottom corner in the second half, while Rory McKeown scored his own stunning half-volley from the edge of the area.

The home fans were treated to some sublime football throughout with Oliver Bassett, Marko Stamenic and Hamish Watson all also getting on the scoresheet while Southern scored a late consolation goal when Garbhan Coughlan poked home.

Hamilton Wanderers were rewarded for a strong performance in Nelson with three goals and three points. They scored first with Derek Tieku converting a cut back in the box, before Tasman equalised through Matthew Tod-Smith and then took the lead when Jesse Randall rounded goalkeeper Matt Oliver to tap home.

Jake Butler converted a penalty to take the score to two-all, before Tommy Semmy scored the winner with an outstanding free kick.

La Bu Pan hit the bar from long range late on as Tasman searched for an equaliser but their afternoon ended on a further sour note when Cory Vickers saw red in additional time.

Waitakere United went down to a magnificent Hawke’s Bay comeback in Napier. With the scores locked at 2-2 deep into the second half, Ihaia Delaney popped up with two late goals to give his side a 4-2 win and put them third on the table.

Waitakere led 2-1 at the break and would have fancied their chances of a valuable away win but Hawke’s Bay finished the stronger, taking the chances on offer to reward their fans with the three points.

In Saturday’s early match, the Phoenix Reserves thought they’d done enough to win when Ahmed Othman scored his second goal with a diving header late in the match but Canterbury weren’t done.

They were handed a numerical advantage when Callan Elliot was dismissed just before Othman’s second strike with seven minutes remaining and made the most of it, having one goal ruled out for offside before a swift move on the break was rewarded with Juan Chang Urrea’s 97^th-minute equaliser to earn a battling away point.

Earlier the two teams swapped goals with the Phoenix’s Byron Heath scoring a fine chip from outside the area to give his team a 2-1 lead. Canterbury stalwart Aaron Clapham equalised ten minutes into the second half to set up a furious finish and the late goal drama.

In the gridlock derby, neither Auckland City nor Eastern Suburbs could find the net in an enthralling tactical battle. In goal, City’s Conor Tracey and Suburbs’ Danyon Drake were the stand-outs, keeping clean sheets and making crucial saves when the chances came.

Auckland City now have a three-point lead over second-placed Team Wellington while Hawke's Bay United are two points further back in third. 

For the table and more information on the ISPS Handa Premiership please click here

ISPS Handa Premiership Match Week Seven

Wellington Phoenix Reserves 3 (Ahmed Othman 11’, 84’, Byron Heath 19’)
Canterbury United Dragons 3 (George King 9’, Aaron Clapham 54’, Juan Chang Urrea 90 + 7’)
HT: 2-1

Auckland City 0
Eastern Suburbs 0
HT: 0-0

Hawke’s Bay United 4 (Ahinga Selemani 30’, Joshua Signey 69’, Ihaia Delaney 76’, 84’)
Waitakere United 2 (Jake Porter 13’, Lachlan McIsaac 45 + 2’)
HT: 1-2

Tasman United 2 (Matthew Tod-Smith 25’, Jesse Randall 45 + 2’)
Hamilton Wanderers 3 (Derek Tieku 12’, Jake Butler pen 51’, Tommy Semmy 56’)
HT: 2-1

Team Wellington 6 (Jack-Henry Sinclair 10’, 67’, Oliver Bassett 13’, Rory McKeown 47’, Marko Stamenic 49’, Hamish Watson 64’)
Southern United 1 (Garbhan Coughlan 72’)
HT: 2-0

Article added: Sunday 15 December 2019