Football: Cup final fever building in the North

FC Whangarei player Joshua Appledorn will be hoping his team can repeat their goal-scoring form from last weekend when they face Kerikeri in the cup final of the Stafford Choat tomorrow in Tikipunga. Photo / John Stone

A new Stafford Choat champion will be crowned tomorrow when the final whistle blows between FC Whangarei and Kerikeri in the cup final.

Neither team made the final last year, but have stepped up when it mattered in 2014 - both earning their spot with strong showings in the semifinals last weekend.

Kerikeri, however, certainly did it tough, taking 120 minutes of play and a dreaded penalty shootout to separate them from defending champions Kamo in Kamo.

Kerikeri led by two at halftime, but Kamo struck back twice in the second spell to force extra time.

Despite having a player sent off, Kerikeri again grabbed the ascendancy to take a 3-2 lead but Kamo equalised with the last kick of the game to take the match to penalties.

In heart-stopping fashion, Kerikeri prevailed to win the shootout 4-2 and book their spot in the cup final.

Meanwhile, FC Whangarei came out on top of last year's beaten finalist Tikipunga 3-1 to set up the showdown with Kerikeri.

For the Kerikeri Football Club, this weekend's finals have extra meaning because they boast four teams involved in five finals to conclude the provincial knockout tournament.

The Kerikeri colours of blue and yellow will be flying high at Tikipunga and Morningside, with Kerikeri prems and reserves contesting the Stafford Choat Cup and Plate finals tomorrow while Kerikeri High School and Kerikeri Siteworx feature in the women's Knockout Cup and plate finals day on Sunday.

Kerikeri club chairman James Coleman exhorted the wider Far North football community to get along on either or both days and support the four Kerikeri sides in their respective quests.