Soccer: Melville gatecrash Cup final

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Melville United wrote another chapter in Chatham Cup lore with their deserved 1-0 upset win over Central United in yesterday's second cup semifinal.

Shrugging off the disadvantage of playing at "their place", Hamilton-based Melville booked their place in the final in a fortnight, where they will play heavyweights University Mt Wellington.

Given the celebrations after yesterday's game, one could be excused in thinking Melville had already won their cup final.

And that, coach Paul Nixon admitted, could be a problem in the lead-up to the August 17 final of the Bluebird-sponsored competition at North Harbour Stadium.

"It's an historic win for us," said Nixon. "But between now and then we have a very important league campaign to continue.

"We came here confident but we knew they are a very good footballing team.

"Given the way the game ebbed and flowed, I thought one goal would win it."

And that goal was a cracker.

After good half chances at both ends for almost an hour, the breakthrough came when Melville turned defence into attack, played the ball long to Stu Watene, who turned his marker, drew goalkeeper Ross Nicholson and calmly stroked the ball home millimetres inside the near post.

It was fitting Watene should cap a solid all-round game with the match winner.

"He is a good player," said Nixon. "He has been the club's player of the year for the past three seasons."

From Watene, who shared much of the striking duties with US-bound youngster Steven Holloway, up front to goalkeeper Eddie Trubshoe, who pulled off a couple of vital saves, this was a workmanlike performance from the non-national-league team.

In captain and defensive linchpin Gavin Douglas, Melville had the man of the match. Nothing fancy, just sound defensive play which ensured the home team's attack had to work overtime to find a way through.

Steve Callinan worked long and hard in spearheading the Central offence but was thwarted by good cover. Miro Major, too, had a couple of half chances but failed to beat Trubshoe.

Daniel Mortensen had perhaps the best chance for the home team when he ran on to a ball from Scott Greenhalgh and snapped a good shot, but Trubshoe did well to block.

Shane Pascoe had a couple of chances for Central but could not convert.

Playing the cup final will be huge for Melville as they take on a Uni-Mount team who also boast a number of younger players.

For Nixon, the worry will be the big North Harbour Stadium pitch and the amount of running he can expect from his team.

They were cramping in the last 20 minutes yesterday and will find the final just as big a test.

"I was getting a bit concerned with that," Nixon admitted. "It was a fast-paced game but cramp is not something we have had to worry about before."

Uni-Mount booked their place in yet another final with a 3-2 golden goal thriller over Hutt Valley United at Bell Park.

While Watene was Melville's hero, 19-year-old Joe Waugh showed out for Uni-Mount with a hat-trick.

He scored in the 14th and 16th minutes to give his side the early stranglehold before the home side came back with a 28th-minute own goal and a late equaliser from Stu Lochhead which forced the game into extra time.

With a penalty shootout just eight minutes away, Waugh settled it to ensure an all-northern final.

* The Uncle Tobys women's Knockout Cup final, the curtainraiser to the Chatham Cup final, will be a repeat of the finals of the last two seasons, an all-Auckland affair between holders Lynn Avon and Ellerslie.

Shrugging off the disadvantage of playing away, Ellerslie beat Claudelands Rovers 4-0 in the morning semifinal yesterday. Later in the day Lynn Avon scored a goal in each half to beat Nomads United in Christchurch.

Kirsty Yallop and Michele Keinzley scored for the holders in Christchurch, and Rebecca Sowden, Zoe Thompson, Maia Jackman and Kim Rowney found the net for Ellerslie, who will be chasing a repeat of their 2001 success.

In an ironic twist, the four semifinals were all won by away teams.