Soccer: Winning coach's future unclear

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Clive Campbell stood back and watched as the University Mt Wellington team he coached played their way into the history books with a penalty shootout victory over Central United in a thrill-a-minute Chatham Cup final.

Minutes later, he spoke of the uncertainty surrounding his future with the club and his coaching career.

But Campbell went to great pains to ensure that any off-field problems with the club, who have joined North Shore and Christchurch United as the most successful in the competition's 78-year history, should not be allowed to overshadow one of the game's great occasions.

The record books will show the Mount - led by captain and man of the match Paul Bunbury - won 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw inside the normal 90 minutes.

Even an extra 30 minutes with the threat that the match could end with a golden goal failed to separate the cross-town rivals. It needed, in the end, the cruel shootout to find a winner.

Campbell, the first player to turn out in 250 National League games and last year's coach of the year, spoke with feeling about the players who had taken him through an emotional, 120-minute rollercoaster ride.

"The team have grown together. They are a tremendous bunch of guys. They deserve this," Campbell said as he again bypassed questions about his future at Bill McKinlay Park.

He did admit, however, that there had been problems midweek and that a meeting was planned soon to "sort things out."

Campbell spoke instead of the efforts of Bunbury and the rest of his team.

"Paul Temple and Leigh Kenyon were superb. Their running and the width they gave us made it difficult for the Central defence.

"Heath McCormack's two goals kept us right in it, while at the back Andy Brown was the steadying influence we needed."

And so was goalkeeper Simon Eaddy, who pulled off two great saves 105 minutes into the match to deny Central a golden goal winner.

"Unbelievable," Campbell said. "I can't understand why the Kingz are looking for a goalkeeper when they have Simon right on their doorstep."

Kenyon and McCormack provided the build-up, Travis Medhurst the finish as Uni-Mount went ahead after seven minutes. Daniel Aliaga equalised 21 minutes later.

Uni-Mount were back in front 80 seconds into the second half when Temple won the ball and found Bunbury.

He unleashed a shot which could have gone anywhere but found McCormack, who could only smile as the ball hit him and deflected away from Central keeper Ross Nicholson.

Campbell Banks got Central level again, then put the league champions in front for the first time after a quickly taken freekick.

McCormack's second goal ensured extra time, and from there the penalty shootout.

Bunbury won the toss and got his team under way. The spotkicks were traded to 4-4.

Up stepped Kara Waetford, who had been on the bench until he replaced the gallant Brown in the 97th minute.

He fired his attempt straight at Nicholson, who gleefully gathered.

That joy turned to frustration as linesman Paul Smith indicated to referee Steve Sargent that Nicholson had encroached. Waetford's retake found its mark for 5-4.

Needing to score to take things to sudden death, young defender Scott Greenhalgh stepped forward.

Eaddy, who had kept his side in the match with those brilliant extra-time saves, did not have to move as Greenhalgh fired wide.

Central coach Paul Marshall raced to console his young charge as Campbell and his team celebrated a sixth cup triumph.

Only twice has the cup been decided in this manner. Uni-Mount have won both, with Brown, also involved 11 years ago, saying he could think of no better way of saying, "that's it, I quit."

This was a memorable cup tie, at least for those at the ground.

The viewers on Television One could not say the same: the live broadcast was frustratingly cut short minutes from the end and before the shootout because of the network news.

In the curtainraiser, Ellerslie upset the formbook and denied cup-holders Lynn Avon a third Uncle Tobys women's knockout success with a 1-0 triumph.

Sue Taylor, who shares the coaching duties with Chris Milicich, headed home a 42nd-minute corner from Dana Humby to give the club their first silverware since 1973 when, in the inaugural season of women's football, they won the Northern Knockout Shield.