Soccer: Waitakere v Miramar in Chatham Cup final

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The odds-makers got it right, but not without some anxious moments, as Miramar Rangers and Waitakere City booked their places in next month's Chatham Cup final.

That might, however, turn out to be the easy part. Finding a ground and date for the final could be the challenge.

New Zealand Soccer will probably announce the time and place in the next day or so, but the recently favoured North Harbour Stadium is apparently out of the equation.

A Chatham Cup final in Wellington and possibly on a Monday night (September 6) is a likely scenario. The women's Knockout Cup final between holders Lynn Avon and Auckland rivals Three Kings will be played in Auckland, but is unlikely, as in recent times, to be the curtainraiser to the Chatham Cup final.

Waitakere City, chasing their fourth success in a final, but their first since 1996, were always a step ahead of a gallant Palmerston North Marist in yesterday's semifinal at Fred Taylor Park in Auckland.

England-bound Kris Bright gave the home crowd some hope as early as the third minute when he showed good control but was just off target with his attempt. Bright and James Slack were coach Tommy Mason's preferred attacking option, but it was central defender Hone Fowler who opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he scrambled home a header from a Michael Williams corner after Mauro Donoso had put the Marist defence under pressure.

Seven minutes later, the visitors were back in it when midfielder Nick Derbyshire hit the post and big Peter Halstead, who could put his hand up for a spot in any rugby front row, was on hand to hit the rebound hard and low into the City goal.

Bright, who could never be accused of over-working but was always available, set up and finished the match-winning goal.

He robbed Marist midfielder Yuki Tomomatu, played the ball wide to Williams and then raced to the centre of the goal to provide the final touch when the ball was played back in.

There were half-chances for the visitors in the remaining minutes but they hardly threatened to get back. Bright had the last chance but his shot on the run just missed the top left corner.

Victory for Miramar in the final would see them join Waitakere as three-time cup-winners but they might need a better all-round effort than they turned in against Eastern Suburbs to do it.

In a game played on a similarly good surface at Madills Farm in Auckland on Saturday, the visitors went ahead right on halftime when Bryan Little hit home after Suburbs custodian Richard Mills had stopped, but could not hold, a shot from Graham Little.

The second half belonged to the home side everywhere but on the scoreboard. The Billy Harris-coached side did everything but score in a second-half onslaught.

Riki van Steeden, George Wood, Nathan Robertson and Shaun Easthope all went close but could not turn those chances into goals.

In the women's match, Three Kings were ahead 3-0 inside 15 minutes with two from international Maia Jackman, and were too good for Seatoun, running away to win 5-0 to book their spot in the Knockout Cup final.

Lynn Avon also took a 2-0 lead over Massey University in Palmerston North but had to work hard to hold on for a 2-1 lead at the break. Three second-half goals settled the issue and gave Lynn Avon the opportunity for another Cup triumph.