White nets record-breaking five in Tech romp
Michael White is breaking records for fun in the Mainland Premier League.
Just three weeks after surpassing Gareth Turnbull as the MPL’s all-time leading goal-scorer, the former Canterbury United striker became the first player to score five goals in a game on two separate occasions.
White bagged five on Saturday in Cashmere Technical’s 7-0 drubbing of Nomads United at Garrick Park to continue their strong recent form in the league.
It was the second time White has scored five in a MPL match, having also done so for Ferrymead Bays against Western in 2015.
White is one of only six players to have netted five in a MPL game with the others being Manu Schafer (2002), Neil Murphy (2003), Stu Kelly (2005), Greg Feutz (2007) and Russell Kamo (2011).
When White netted his fourth in the 65th minute, he also brought up another milestone, scoring his 100th MPL goal and finished the afternoon on 101.
The 30-year-old is the MPL’s top goal-scorer this season with 14 already and with 10 league games left could eclipse his record from 2015 (24) for goals in a season.
Despite being without their second top goal scorer Lyle Matthysen and veteran Kelly, who was suspended for five yellow cards, Tech had far too much class for Nomads.
White scored a genuine hattrick inside 38 minutes and another late in the half from Daniel Thoms had them rolling at halftime, up 4-0.
The second goal from White resulted from a brilliant team effort, which started from goalkeeper Danny Knight at the back and involved 12 passes in the build-up.
Ferrymead Bays needed a 93rd minute added time winner from Chris Murphy to get past FC Twenty11 1-0 at Avonhead Park.
The result keeps Bays top of the table by a point from chasing Tech and Coastal Spirit, who are a further two points adrift.
Coastal remained third following a 2-0 victory over Western on Friday night.
Ryan Stanley opened the scoring for Spirit after 20 minutes and they were in control at the break when Englishman Jordan Ball made it 2-0 late in the half.
Coastal should have won by a larger margin, but were guilty of squandering chances in the attacking third.
They will have to be far more clinical in their next match against four-time defending MPL champions Tech on Saturday. It will be a busy three days for most of the MPL sides with the second round of the Chatham Cup on Queen’s Birthday Monday.
Nelson Suburbs scored four second half goals to crush bottom placed Universities 4-0 on Sunday.
In the women’s MPL, Johanna Hamblett struck twice as defending champions Cashmere Technical made it seven wins from as many games with a 2-0 triumph over Universities.
Jayda Stewart netted the lone goal as FC Twenty11 gained their third league win of the season, beating Waimak 1-0.