Soccer: Experience proves decisive for Central

Neil Jones (right) of East Coast Bays tangles with Central defender Greg Uhlmann during their teams' Chatham Cup clash at Bays City Park on the North Shore yesterday. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Central kept alive their hopes of another Chatham Cup triumph when they beat East Coast Bays 2-1 yesterday to reach the semifinals.

The Sandringham side, winners in 1997-98, are the only former cup holders left in the draw after fellow Aucklanders Eastern Suburbs were beaten 4-1 by Wellington Olympic at Madills Farm on Saturday.

In the other quarter-finals Halswell from Christchurch became the first South Island side to reach the semis since 2001 with a 2-1 extra-time defeat of Papakura, while Palmerston North Marist beat a depleted Lower Hutt by the same margin.

Central fielded half a dozen players who featured in last year's national league against an East Coast Bays team stacked with talented youngsters and in the end that extra experience proved decisive.

After 30 minutes Paul Urlovic provided the finish to capitalise on a chance created by striker Grant Young. Central led 1-0 at the break.

Young had a chance to make it 2-0 early in the second half when Phillip Edgington's attempted clearance left him unmarked in front of goal, but the South African shot wide.

After 74 minutes winger Luiz Del Monte, a prolific scorer for Manawatu in the national league last season, did make it 2-0 when he pounced on a loose ball, evaded some static defence and fired home.

Bays' two best chances fell to captain Nick Hyde. After a Rod Grove freekick had been headed back across the Central goal, Hyde's shot was blocked on the line. And he was wide with a volley when Central goalkeeper Ross Nicholson parried a freekick from Neil Jones.

The Central defence, anchored by Greg Uhlmann and Dean Tallentire, was finally breached three minutes into injury time when Jones briefly escaped the embrace of Tallentire to beat Nicholson with a fierce shot.

Eastern Suburbs' dream of recapturing their cup heroics of last century quickly turned into a nightmare.

A keeping error gifted Olympic's Graham Little a soft goal after 20 minutes and, though tall striker Nathan Palmer equalised, Suburbs were never again in the hunt as goals by Jared Curtis, Geoff Brown and Little completed the victory.

Papakura's expensive trip to Christchurch was in vain but the players certainly gave value for money. Halswell took the lead after 38 minutes through Michael Sands but the South Aucklanders drew level in the 78th minute courtesy of a 30m strike by Brett Godden.

Halswell sealed the win when Keith Grosvenor scored 11 minutes into extra time. It is the first time Halswell have reached the semis.

Palmerston North Marist and Hutt Valley were locked 1-1 at halftime after Peter Halstead had scored for Marist and Pedro Garcias had slotted a penalty for Lower Hutt.

Hutt's Phil Patterson was sent off in the 57th minute and team-mate Steve Gully followed him five minutes later, allowing Matt Silver to score the winner for Marist against nine men in the 80th minute.