Soccer: Upsets aplenty in first round of Chatham Cup

Underdogs around the country enjoyed their day in the sun in the first round of the Chatham Cup. Photo / Warren Buckland

Underdogs around the country enjoyed their day in the sun, with the First Round proper of the 85th ASB Chatham Cup throwing up a score of upsets including an early exit for a recent winner.

Clubs in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty federation league led the way as four clubs claimed the scalps of Northern League first or second division sides with Waikato Unicol's 2-1 win over Glenfield Rovers the pick of the bunch.

The better part of two divisions separated the sides before the match but the students made the most of home advantage and clinched victory through a 75th minute goal to Rob Sonntag, just five minutes after a Cory Hitchin penalty had cancelled out Hamish Utteridge's first half opener.

Otumoetai matched the scale of Unicol's shock result by edging Albany United 4-2 in a tense penalty shootout at Rosedale Park on Auckland's North Shore. Lee Robinson had given the home side an early lead but Matt Fisher drew Otumoetai level in the 68th minute. The visitors the held their nerve from the spot to reach to go into next week's draw for second round on Queen's Birthday Monday.

Ngongotaha and Whakatane Town joined in on the upsets dispatching Northern League second division sides Western Springs and Matamata Swifts 2-1 and 3-2 respectively, while Auckland Sunday leaguers Bohemian Celtic won a seven goal thriller against first division Forrest Hill Milford at Bill McKinlay Park.

Auckland/Northern conference side Waitemata also accounted for a Northern League side beating second division Onehunga Mangere United 4-1 at home.

The most notable scalp among 46 first round ties came in Wellington however, as Capital Premier League strugglers Stop Out knocked out three time winners Western Suburbs at Hutt Park with Martin Packer grabbing two goals in the 3-1 victory over the 2007 champions.

Upper Hutt City also knockout out a Central League side, putting two unanswered goals past Tawa away from home while for the second year running Lower Hutt beat bitter rivals Petone 2-1 with a late goal with Andrew Coad finding the winner in extra time.

The upsets continued in the deep south as Invercargill's Old Boys edged Southern Premier League side Green Island 3-2. Barra Toubet was the hero for the home side with two goals including the winner late in the game.

There are four first round fixtures still to be played on Sunday.

The draw for the second round will see the introduction of the last remaining seeded teams from the Northern and Southern regions as well as defending champions Wairarapa United from the Central region.

ASB Chatham Cup 2012

Round One

Northern Region (Northern, Auckland and Waikato-BOP Football Federations)

Hibiscus Coast 9 Kaitaia United 0
Oratia United 3 Kerikeri 2
Papakura City 3 Taupo 2
Whakatane Town 3 Matamata Swifts 2
Takapuna 4 Ngaruawahia United 1
Papatoetoe 2 Claudelands Rovers 0
Auckland Grammar School 3 Mt Albert Ponsonby 3 (a.e.t, 2-2 FT, Mt Albert Ponsonby win 4-3 on penalties)
Fencibles United 0 Mangere United 3
Albany United 1 Otumoetai 1 (a.e.t. Otumoetai win 4-2 on penalties)
Waitemata 4 Onehunga Mangere United 1
Manukau City 3 Old Blues 1
Warkworth 0 Lynn Avon United 3
Waikato Unicol 2 Glenfield Rovers 1
Norwest United 1 FOSS United 0
Beachlands Maraetai 1 North Shore United 6
Drury United 1 Westlake BHS 4
Ranui Swanson 3 Rotorua United 0
Ngongotaha 2 Western Springs 1
Bohemian Celtic 4 Forrest Hill Milford 3
Cambridge v Waiuku - John Kerkof Park, Sunday 2pm
Birkenhead United v Ellerslie - Shepherds Park, Sunday 2pm
Tauranga City United v Metro - Links Ave, Sunday 2.30pm

Seeded to Round Two: Bay Olympic, Central United, East Coast Bays, Eastern Suburbs, Hamilton Wanderers, Manurewa, Melville United, Onehunga Sports, Three Kings United, Waitakere City.

Central Region (Central and Capital Football Federations)

Waterside Karori 4 Brooklyn Northern United 1
Stop Out 3 Western Suburbs 1
Tawa 0 Upper Hutt City 2
Wellington United 1 University 0
Wainuiomata 0 Olympic 4
Petone 1 Lower Hutt City 2 (a.e.t)
North Wellington 0 Miramar Rangers 2
Island Bay United 6 Seatoun 0
Taradale 4 North End 1 (Played April 25)
New Plymouth Rangers 1 Red Sox 0 (Played April 25)
Byes to Round Two: Inglewood, Maycenvale United, Napier City Rovers, Palmerston North Marist, Wanganui City.

Seeded to Round Two (ASB Chatham Cup champion): Wairarapa United
Southern Region (Mainland Football and Football South)

Christchurch United 1 Western 4
Waimak 0 Cashmere Technical 6
Selwyn 1 Universities 3
Coastal Spirit 4 Ferrymead Bays 2
Halswell United 2 Nomads United 0
FC Twenty 11 7 Rangers FC 0
Wakefield 0 FC Nelson 2
Waihopai 1 Grants Braes 2
Queenstown Rovers 0 Roslyn Wakari 1 (a.e.t)
Old Boys 3 Green Island 2
University 4 Mosgiel 0
Northern 4 Northern Hearts 1
Queens Park 2 Pleasant Point 1
Nelson Suburbs v Richmond - Saxton Fields, Sunday 1pm

Seeded to Round Two: Caversham, Dunedin Technical.

Chatham Cup Round Dates
Qualification Round - April 25
Round One - May 12/13
Round Two - June 4
Round Three - June 23/24
Round Four - July 7/8
Quarterfinals - July 21/22(national draw)
Semi-finals - August 4/5
Final - August 25/26