Dunedin Tech 7, Spirit 0; May 16th

Dunedin Technical enhanced its lead at the top of the Footballsouth premier league when it soundly defeated Invercargill team Spirit FC 7-nil at Bayfield Park in Dunedin on Saturday.

Spotted among the more distinguished guests at the game was Southland football stalwart Dougie McIntosh
(He's the one in the middle with the shades...)

In superb conditions despite the volume of rain during the week former Southlander Aaron Burgess did most of the damage netting three goals for his team and stretching his tally on the goal scoring list to twenty one from just eight games. Burgess was also involved to some degree in assisting two of the remaining Tech goals.

This was a game that statistics and recent performances suggested Spirit was never going to win and that the score was not by a wider margin was due to the attitude of this Spirit squad which just will not give up under sometimes extreme pressure.

Although Milner seems to have given up here the ref had already blown for an infringement.
Not a bad pic though all the same...

For the first twenty minutes of the game and for a thirty two minute period in the second spell Spirit kept it’s more illustrious opponent from scoring.

The measure of their display can be gauged by the frustration often shown by Tech coach Mike Fridge as his team was unable to find a way through to goal during these passages of play.

The imposing figure of Tech coach Mike Fridge as he makes a point to one of his subs...
"Yes Mr Fridge sir"

Spirit was led with a player-of-the-day-effort from Scottish import Craig Milne and strong play from Matty Burgess and Dion Cameron in support of Milne.

Milner (Blue) keeping an eye, and a hand, on Burgie this time as defenders often do...
Burgess opened the scoring at the twenty minute mark when in a goalmouth melee Spirit keeper Mark Bugden was impeded and dropped the ball at the feet of the livewire Tech striker for an easy tap-in goal.

Two minutes later Spirit’s Brendon Lloyd attempted an audacious volley from long range which bought out a magnificent save from the Tech keeper. The shot and the save had the quite large crowd at the game buzzing.

That was Spirit’s lot though as an attacking unit and three quick goals from James Govan, Burgess’s second and an unfortunate own-goal by a Spirit defender put paid to the visitors hopes with the 4-nil deficit at the half time break.

This ball-girl was busy enough but had time to make a fashion statement

Andy Coburn started the second half scoring after five minutes of play with a neat finish after good Tech build up and five minutes later Burgess completed his hat trick for the day.

Then came Spirit’s strongest period of play and it wasn’t until three minutes from the final whistle that Tech was able to increase the score line with a finely judged angled shot from Nick Dale.

When it's 7-nil and all interest is gone playing with the dog seems a good option...

The local Donald Gray cup competition for senior men is proving to be a closer fought affair than many predicted and Saturday was no exception as play through champs McLellan Motors Queens Park was held 1-all for the second successive game and what looked on paper as a Waihopai win in the other game ended with a convincing 3-nil win to the Spirit FC Academy team.

Riverton took the outright lead in the women’s premier competition with
a convincing 4-1 win over joint top of the table opponent Southend United at Bain Park yesterday.

All the goals were scored in the first quarter of the game before the
shell shocked Southend team regained its composure to deny Riverton any addition to its total.

Vanessa Hamlin netted three goals for Riverton with Jessica Mallon grabbing the other.
Jasmine Middlebrook was on target for Southend.

Winton started the day level with the other two teams but dropped two points following its 1-all
draw with Thistle.
Winton retained the Ottley challenge trophy.
Susan Boniface Winton, and Hayley Munro Thistle, were the respective scorers.

In the remaining game Waihopai defeated Queens Park 2-nil with Gretchen Ireland scoring both goals.
 

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