Soccer: Exciting win launches Uni-Mount into playoffs

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A 4-3 come-from-behind win by University Mt Wellington over Waitakere City yesterday slammed the door on other top-four hopefuls.

Uni-Mount's win at Fred Taylor Park secured fourth place on the Southern Trust National League table and ended any hope for Napier City Rovers and Waitakere.

The interest in Sunday's final series is now sorting out second place, with either Central or Manawatu joining confirmed leaders Miramar Rangers in gaining a second life in the playoffs.

Napier's 3-0 home win over Dunedin Technical yesterday in the end counted for nothing, while Tauranga City went down 1-2 to Manawatu and Central's Campbell Banks scored one in each half to spark their 2-1 away win over Christchurch City.

Metro went down by the same score to Miramar at Albie Turner Field, but only after one of their best efforts of the season and bombing two chances to snatch late goals.

Willie Osborne gave Metro a flier when he scored after just seven minutes.

The equaliser came in the 36th minute when Tariq Imam drove home.

Graeme Little headed a pinpoint David Johnston cross into the net for the winner with 15 minutes remaining.

South African Leaveil Titus had two golden opportunities in the last five minutes, but failed to convert either.

The real action, though, was out west.

Thomas Edge needed just two minutes to tap home Waitakere's opening goal and, temporarily at least, stole the lead in the goalscoring stakes ahead of Little.

Edge had a chance for a second but gave the 38th-minute penalty to Bronson Keeler after Nick Farac had been brought down.

Three minutes later Paul Bunbury hit home from the spot at the other end when referee Ian Walker, who was unsighted and seemed to spend much of the game on a magical mystery tour, ruled hand ball against John Hannah.

Paul Temple rattled the crossbar with a freekick which could have been an equaliser right on the break. He made amends six minutes into the second half in providing the finishing touch to a Stu Roberts cross which snaked behind the flat-footed City defence.

Paul Hobson then smashed a 58th-minute first-time shot to regain the lead for City.

Then followed the goal of the game - perhaps the season - when Temple, who was lucky not to have been sent off at the end of the first spell for a tackle on Farac, ran on to a ball from Ghanaian substitute Sanni Polo.

Out wide, and without setting himself, he hit a 35m shot which soared over goalkeeper Scott Bishop and into the net.

Uni-Mount's Heath McCormack had the final say after Temple and Sheik Sahib provided the build-up and McCormack the telling touch.

Meanwhile, both Bluebird Chatham Cup semifinals will be played in Auckland, with Central at home to Eastern Suburbs and Uni-Mount having the home advantage against Christchurch City for the September 1-2 matches.