Mid Canterbury Utd v Universities AFC.
The boys were going into this game off a great performance and 3 points in the previous week against Parklands, so they were pumped and ready for what Uni could throw at them.
Both teams had players out over the Easter break which meant you didn’t really know how this game was going to go.
MCUFC were missing the front 2 of Luke Martin and Nick Eden which gave way for Sam Willis and Millar McLauchlan to raise to the challenge.
Also returning was Luciano Drudi after serving his 1 game suspension.
The game started well and the boys managed to shake of some early pressure from Uni and stay solid at the back. MCUFC did start to look dangerous on the counter attack with Luciano and Millar linking up well to create a great opportunity for Willis, however his shot was well saved by the Uni keeper and the follow up from Ben Sutton proved to tight of an angle for him to get this in.
The back line of Zac Woolf, Joel Chand and Jack Dudley proved solid and held the Uni boys at bay, when they did get through Liam Sheppard was there to protect his goal.
Uni did get the break through 5min before half time when a free kick from the right wing wasn’t dealt with and fell to the Uni striker who slotted into the bottom corner.
Half time 1-0
The second half was much of the same, Uni applying the pressure and keeping possession and the Mid Canterbury boys standing strong and working hard. The midfield of Wes Torres, Oskar McLauchlan, Ben Sutton, Luciano and Nick Campbell worked tirelessly to keep up with the young and quick Uni lads. Uni eventually found that important second goal with 25 minutes left as the hard running had started to show the tired legs from the MCUFC boys. The Uni winger skipping past a few challenges to put the ball past Liam and make it tough for the boys to get back into this.
The game was sealed in the 84th minute when a cross into the MCUFC box wasn’t cleared and flew past Liam off the leg of Elkan Powley. The boys didn’t stop and they worked hard throughout but couldn’t find that breakthrough they needed.
The boys go into next public holiday with a week off and regroup for April 30th at home to Waimakariri United.
Full time UNI 3 - 0 MCUFC
^ Andrew Annable (Head Coach Senior Men's CPL)
Mid Canterbury United has appointed Helen Beal as its new football development officer, the first female in the role.
Beal replaces Darren Cavill and coached the Mid Canterbury United women’s team last year, a role she will continue again this season.
She hails from Northland, is a graphic designer by profession and has played and coached football for a number of years.
“I am really excited by the opportunity to step up and to support and develop the game in this district,” she said.
Beal said the timing for her was good because her eldest daughter had just started school and her youngest was at kindergarten.
She has already taken her knowledge and enthusiasm for the game to a couple of schools and has around 10 schools on her books.
Beal said she knew of another new female development officer at one of the Christchurch clubs, but did not know of any others in the male-dominated game.
She has already made her mark and recently introduced new football sessions for juniors on Thursday afternoons at Argyle Park.
Running until April 28, players are taken through drills and and play games if time allows.
No registration is needed and sessions for 4-6 year olds (Fun Kicks) go from 3.30pm until 4pm, for 7-9 year olds (Fun Kicks) from 4pm until 4.45pm and for those 10 and above from 4.45pm until 5.30pm.
Around 70 players attended the first session across all age groups.
“I’m planning on introducing something similar for junior girls on Tuesdays. Bringing them together will grow and develop skills and build confidence.”
Beal said she wanted more youngsters involved in the game and she believed there was a lot of potential to expand girls football.
“I’m already loving seeing the excitement on young faces and the enthusiasm to play the game.”
Last year 400 children played the game locally. Seniors kicks off the season on March 26 and juniors in early May.
Written by Mick Jensen for The Ashburton Courier