January 12, 2014Score: 1 – 0
Match Report
ASB Football Park, Christchurch. Kick-off: 2pm (ASB Premiership)
WaiBOP United has been defeated by the narrowest of margins in Christchurch in the first game back following the Christmas break. A solitary Canterbury United strike from Federico Marquez ten minutes into the second half separated the sides on an afternoon of open, but largely fruitless, football.
For various reasons the WaiBOP squad that headed to Christchurch could be considered threadbare. Head Coach, Peter Smith, handed starts to both Tom Probert and Reid Drake (his first at ASB Premiership level) and also had two further youngsters on the bench in Scott Hilliar and Nate Kinney.
Despite that, the side gave a good account of itself, remaining competitive throughout. In fact, only a fine Adam Highfield save denied Jack McNab from claiming an equaliser with little more than ten minutes remaining. WaiBOP continued to push hard for the equaliser during the closing stages but it never came.
Such are the fine margins in this league that the narrow win pushed Canterbury into equal top with Auckland City and Canterbury United, while we must now look over our shoulders at the rapidly improving Southern United, who defeated previous leaders Waitakere United.
After three away games in a row we now head back to John Kerkhof Park for this Saturday’s match against Auckland City. Kick-off is at 5pm.
Lineup
| 1. Andy McNeil | |
| 2. Liam Higgins | |
| 3. Aaron Scott | |
| 5. Tyler Lissette | |
| 6. Masaki Nomoto | |
| 7. Mark Jones | |
| 99. Milos Nikolic | |
| 12. Jack McNab | |
| 18. Alexis Varela | |
| 23. Tom Probert | |
| 17. Reid Drake |
Subs
| 10. Nik Robson | Sub99 |
| 16. Scott Hilliar | Sub6 |
