Soccer: Central wrap up NI title

By Terry Maddaford

A return to something closer to their best form was enough for Central United to beat Waitakere City 4-2 at Fred Taylor Park yesterday and wrap up the North Island soccer league.

City, unbeaten since Anzac Day and already through to the Chatham Cup final, battled bravely to come back from 0-2 to 2-2 before two Fred de Jong-inspired goals ended their hopes of a late title charge.

Dunedin Technical, who will play City in the cup final, grabbed a vital second-half goal to beat Caversham 1-0 to collect the South Island crown.

They will now play Central in the North-South grand final on September 8 - also at North Harbour Stadium - with the winners off to the Oceania club championship in Fiji.

Woolston's hopes of getting past Technical ended when beaten 2-0 away by Nelson Suburbs, who also needed Technical to lose if they were to have any hope.

De Jong had Central ahead after just eight minutes when, as Waitakere City goalkeeper Bruce Plunket charged back, he controlled the bouncing ball before unleashing a 45m dipper which dropped deftly into the unprotected goal.

Central brothers Mathew and Paul Urlovic capped an end-to-end move for 2-0 after 22 minutes but the home side replied within four when Darren McClennan capitalised on a Michael Ridenton defensive stumble to score.

Terry Torrens had Central goalkeeper Ross Nicholson at full stretch to tip away his long-range freekick three minutes into the second spell, but 18 minutes later, from another Torrens' freekick, Shane Gillies headed home.

That sparked Central. De Jong rode a challenge before finding Mark Elrick, who scooped the pinpoint cross home.

Seven minutes later, and 15 minutes from time, de Jong again held the ball up before sending Mathew Urlovic away on a successful solo raid.

There was always a bit of needle, with six players - four City, two Central - justifiably booked by referee Peter Warfield, who lost no friends in his step up to the big-time.

Waitakere complete their programme with away games against Napier City Rovers on Wednesday and North Shore in the race for second place.

At the other end of the table, Shore, who played out a dull 0-0 draw with Metro on Saturday night, need a good win over Waitakere to have any chance of a top-seven finish and the chance of a place in the proposed new-look national league next season.