Football: Onehunga book semi-final spot

Onehunga Sports booked their first ever ASB Chatham Cup semi-final appearance on Saturday after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Melville United at Gower Park.

Semi-finalists in 2013, Hamilton's Melville took the lead at home in the 25th minute through Tewi Te Pou and the 1-0 margin remained the difference between the teams at halftime.

Five minutes after the restart the Auckland club - founded in 1957 - were level through former New Zealand U-20 international Sean Lovemore while 20-year-old substitute Daniel Culpan completed the turnaround with seven minutes to go.

Onehunga Sports coach Peter Martin - who guides the team along with Hiroshi Miyazawa - said the team is understandably excited to have reached the last four of the national club knockout competition.

"I think for the club and the group of players it's obviously a little bit of a buzz to be the first group to achieve that," Martin said.

But Onehunga didn't have things all their own way, and Martin's team was forced fight for their last four debut.

"They were really energetic and were causing us the odd bit of trouble but the message at halftime was to just keep doing the same things because we were creating chances."

"The longer the game went, a little more fitness from our guys and just that little bit better quality created enough chances to get the result. But there was one very scary moment at the end when we just about gave up an equaliser."

With time winding down, Melville's Leon Newell rounded Onehunga goalkeeper Alex Gibson but, from a narrow angle, the striker could only hit the post with his shot as the Hamilton club's chance of reaching back-to-back semi-finals dramatically evaporated.

The remaining three ASB Chatham Cup quarter-finals will be played on Sunday as defending champions Cashmere Technical of Christchurch travel to Dunedin Technical, Island Bay United host Napier City Rovers and Central United entertain Hamilton Wanderers.

ASB Chatham Cup 2014 - Quarter-finals

Melville Utd 1-2 Onehunga Sports (half: 1-0)
MEL: Tewi Te Pou 25'
OSP: Sean Lovemore 50', Daniel Culpan 83'

Remaining Quarter-finals - Sunday 27 July (all 2pm)

Dunedin Technical v Cashmere Technical #DUNvCSH
Caledonian Ground, Dunedin

Island Bay United v Napier City Rovers #IBUvNCR
Wakefield Park, Wellington

Central United v Hamilton Wanderers #CENvHAM
Kiwitea Street, Auckland