Soccer: Solitary goal all it takes to maintain perfection

By TERRY MADDAFORD

It was never going to be a great game, with goals at a premium, but in the end national soccer league leaders University Mt Wellington were good enough to grab the one goal which saw off Dunedin Technical and enabled them to maintain their perfect three-from-three start.

The Clive Campbell-coached side have a one-point lead over Manawatu at the top of the Ansett NZ Club Championship, with a further three points back to Napier City Rovers.

Waitakere City finally got under way yesterday with a 2-0 away win over Christchurch City, while Metro, beaten 4-1 in Palmerston North by Manawatu, are firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table.

They now face the prospect of also having to play their next game against Central away, as their ground has been ruled unplayable.

University Mt Wellington had the better of the game against Technical at Bill McKinlay Park, but it was a disjointed affair with too much wasted possession and neither team able to string passes together.

The slippery underfoot conditions could take some blame, but it was more a case of two teams of players who looked as if they had never been introduced to one another, let alone played together.

The 61st-minute introduction of substitute Sheik Sahib sparked the only real life in the game, and the only goal. Within a couple of minutes, Sahib got deep and had a shot which Technical goalkeeper Matthew Maingay appeared to have covered, but to his horror he palmed it on to his foot and into the goal.

At the other end, Simon Eaddy continued his promising start to the season with a couple of fine saves for the leaders against a team much-rearranged from that which won last season's Chatham Cup final.

Across at Kiwitea St, Central won by that same one-goal margin in handing Napier City Rovers their first loss.

Inspired by the play of under-23 international Brad Scott, Central always held a slight upper hand, but it was not until the 83rd minute that Greg Uhlmann burst into the Rovers penalty area, played a one-two with Campbell Banks, and scored.

The visitors ended with just nine players after referee Ian Walker sent off Wayne Atkins (73 minutes) and Ricky Ravenhill (90 minutes) for tackles from behind.

Manawatu scored two in each half in beating Metro, who had taken the ninth-minute lead through Graham Green. Goals to Tristan McCormick, Jeremy Seales, Mark Tesar and Jack Eaton earned the home side a bonus point - only the second team in 15 games to do so.

Shane Gillies kick-started Waitakere's first win with his 13th-minute opener in Christchurch, while Kenny Harlock made sure of his team's first points with his 57th-minute effort.

First-half goals to Commins Menapi earned Nelson Suburbs their 2-0 away win over previously unbeaten Miramar. It was Nelson's first win of the season.