By TERRY MADDAFORD
Party-poopers Melville United are looking to go all the way to the Chatham Cup final after emphatically knocking out North Shore United in quarter-final action yesterday.
The Hamilton non-league side's 5-0 home win ended Shore's dream of a record-equalling seventh cup triumph.
Melville and Lower Hutt City
- who knocked out another national league club in seeing off Manawatu 1-0 - will be joined in the semifinals by Central United, the only national league survivor, and University Mt Wellington.
After a quiet opening, Melville went ahead in the 28th minute through a Steven Holloway goal and went to the break with that 1-0 lead. In the second half, Shore conceded an own goal and then Sam Wilkinson made it 3-0.
Holloway netted from the spot for four and Wilkinson added his second to complete the misery for Shore.
In Christchurch, University Mt Wellington continued their chase for glory in the Bluebird-sponsored competition with a 1-0 win over Rangers in an evenly contested tie.
Seconds after Rangers had rattled the Uni-Mount crossbar, Daniel Ellenson got away to score, and his 69th-minute strike proved to be a matchwinner.
Central, seeking to continue their solid cup runs of recent seasons, wasted little time in taking a grip on their game against Island Bay United in Wellington.
Two Daniel Koprivcic goals inside 30 minutes had them on their way. Miro Major added the third 15 minutes from time.
Young Nick Malivuk's first-half goal was enough to get Lower Hutt City through at Manawatu's expense.
Lynn Avon's dream of retaining the women's equivalent, the Uncle Toby's Knockout Cup, almost foundered in yesterday's quarter-finals. They needed an extra time golden goal from Kirsty Yallop to see off a dogged Takapuna 1-0.
Lynn Avon are joined in the last four by Ellerslie who, aided by a Zoe Thompson hat-trick, beat Glenfield Rovers 4-0. The other semifinalists are Nomads (Christchurch) and Claudelands Rovers.
The draws for the semifinals of both competitions will be made tonight.
