Canty Dragons on verge of playoffs
DRAGONS ON VERGE OF PLAYOFFS
With three wins in three games, Canterbury United have emerged as a genuine ISPS Handa Premiership contender. Six points clear of Tasman United, and the head to head tiebreaker in their favour, the Dragons require just one point to secure the last semifinal spot - which should come against Hamilton Wanderers this Sunday.
‘‘We can only control our own destiny. Whether Tasman slip up or win, we can’t control that, so we just need to focus on ourselves this weekend,’’ says veteran defender Dan Terris. ‘‘The first goal is to pick up a win this weekend and if we qualify for the playoffs then great, but it doesn’t stop there. We’re right in the mix here and, with a game in hand, we’re just a couple of points off the top.’’ After picking up just one point from their first three games, Canterbury have amassed 25 from the last 11. CLEAN SHEET CRUSADE The last time Auckland City conceded a goal, Prime Minister Jacinda Adern was still yet to announce that she was expecting a baby. Ben Wade did the honours, striking in the 72nd minute to secure Southern United a 1-1 draw at Kiwitea St on January 13. Since then, City have played five more games, and nothing has got past Enaut Zubikarai in goal. They have had nine clean sheets this season, five more than any other team - can they make it 10 against Tasman United, who have scored in all but four of their matches? WANDERERS’ WAIT ENDS After winning for the first time in 24 matches on February 4 - 2-1 over Waitakere United - Hamilton Wanderers would have wanted to get back on the park as soon as possible. But thanks to the impact of the OFC Champions League on the fixture list, they were forced to have a weekend off. They are back home at Porritt Stadium, on Sunday, chasing their first back-toback win since joining the competition last year, but will find it tough against playoffs-bound Canterbury United. SOUTHERN LOSE STRIKER Southern United are on track to have the third-best season in their history, averaging a point per game with three to play, and with the Wellington Phoenix reserves, Hamilton Wanderers and Hawke’s Bay United to come, they could fin- ish with a flourish. But they will have to do so without striker Danny Furlong, who has returned to the League of Ireland, signing a two-year deal with Galway United. Southern have a stated goal of finishing in the top six, and without Furlong - the scorer of six of their 18 goals - getting there will be a bit more difficult.
OVERNIGHT BUS ADDS TO TASMAN’S MISERY
It’s a long way back from a loss to Eastern Suburbs, especially when you have to bus from Auckland to Wellington before flying home to Nelson.
A flight cancellation, which forced the team to travel 11 hours by bus before catching new flights, only added to Tasman United’s misery after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat. Tasman’s season is now hanging by a thread, requiring three wins from three matches, just to stay in the fight. Making the job that much harder, Tasman have lost captain Cameron Lindsay to suspension for their first must-win match, against leaders Auckland City on Saturday.