Suburbs’ cup run comes to an end against favourites
Nelson Suburbs’ Chatham Cup run has come to an end, after the team conceded two penalties in a 2-0 semifinal defeat to 2016 champions Birkenhead United.
Hundreds turned out on a beautiful Nelson day at Saxton Field yesterday in the hope they would see the home team progress to their first final in New Zealand football’s oldest cup competition.
After a scrappy, goalless first half of few chances, the game came to life in the second half, but not in the way Suburbs would have wanted.
Birkenhead’s two goals came via the penalty spot in the 60th and 90th minutes. They were both converted by Christian Gray.
Suburbs came back into the match, with Labu Pan firing wide and player-coach Ben Wright having a shot on the turn well saved by the Birkenhead keeper.
Wright said the team had pushed the favourites all the way.
‘‘Obviously, we are disappointed – it’s hard on the boys,’’ he said.
‘‘But it was a fantastic effort, and one of the reasons were are so frustrated is that we realised we were not far away from one of the country’s top clubs.’’
Wright said the first penalty decision, for handball, was a 50-50 call. From the resulting penalty, Suburbs keeper Corey Wilson went the right way but couldn’t stop the shot.
‘‘It’s just those little, fine margins that decide the game,’’ Wright said.
He thanked the bumper crowd for their support.
‘‘Obviously, we are disappointed – it’s hard on the boys. But it was a fantastic effort.’’ Nelson Suburbs player-coach Ben Wright
It was just the second time Suburbs had reached the semifinal stage of the competition.
Birkenhead will now meet Wellington’s Western Suburbs, who edged Mainland Premier League champions Cashmere Technical 3-2 in extra time, in the Chatham Cup final in Auckland on September 9.