Christchurch United have made sure they won’t be left holding the wooden spoon in this year’s Men’s National League after beating local rivals Cashmere Technical 4-1 in their last game of the season.
In an entertaining derby at the United Sports Centre, the Paul Ifill-coached United took bragging rights from a result that left both sides in the bottom half of the table.
Technical had early chances, with striker Garbhan Coughlan looking dangerous but unable to finish.
United made them pay with two goals in a minute midway through the first half.
The first came when a four-man move in the 25th minute led to Eddie Wilkinson weaving through the Tech backline and then hitting a perfectly-placed cross into the path of Joel Peterson who tapped in.
Main photo: The Wilkinson-Peterson partnership celebrate the first of their four goals.
Within a minute of the restart, United had doubled their lead. It came from a mistake by Technical goalkeeper Harrison Rowe who coughed up possession, which enabled United’s Dan MacLennan to set up Wilkinson who scored.
In the second half, both sides had chances but the goals came late.
In the 88th minute, Wilkinson played provider again, laying on another goal for Peterson.
Five minutes into added time, Lyle Matthysen pulled back a goal after being played in by substitute Declan Tyndall.
But United weren’t finished, and a minute later they added their fourth goal through Wilkinson.
READ MORE: Ifill ‘happy with progress’ as Christchurch United’s season winds up with derby >>>>
Result
Game played Friday November 25, 2022
Christchurch United 4 (Joel Peterson 25′, 88′, Eddie Wilkinson 26′, 90’+6′)
Cashmere Technical 1 (Lyle Matthysen 90+5′)
Standings
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday November 26, 2022
Auckland United v Napier City Rovers
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill, 1pm
Auckland City v Melville United
Kiwitea St, Sandringham, 3pm
Games to be played on Sunday November 27, 2022
Wellington Phoenix v Birkenhead United
Fraser Park, Wellington, 1pm
Miramar Rangers v Wellington Olympic
David Farrington Park, Wellington, 3pm
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