Challenge win keeps Dragons flying
by Staff Reporter at Linfeld Park
asbpremiership.co.nz

Canterbury United have built some momentum with a resounding 4-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix ‘A’ in the final ASB Challenge of the season at Linfield Park on Wednesday night.

Russell Kamo started and finished the scoring while Garry McDermott made the most of the start in midfield with a superbly struck goal effort from 20 meters out just after halftime to restore the lead that had been cancelled out by Nelson-sourced Phoenix A recruit Jordan Young after 30 minutes of play.

Gagame Feni added Canterbury’s third in the 52 minute with Kamo adding his second seven minutes later to cap a devastating 20 minute spell from the Dragons.

“It was an entertaining game and the Phoenix had some good young lads in there,” said Canterbury coach Keith Braithwaite. “We went one nil up and they fought back to 1-, but that 15 minutes in the second half settled it for us and I thought we were very good at times.”

Adding to their two away wins in the ASB Premiership that followed a mid season form slump, the victory keeps momentum building as Canterbury look to hold on to the final playoff spot in the ASB Premiership when the league resumes on February 12 after this weekend’s O-League break.

“The match came at a good time for us and it’s important that we were able to keep building, especially with the weekend off. We can now look forward to a big match against Waikato with a bit of confidence.”

Braithwaite also took the opportunity to rest and rotate some players, giving half games to Aaron Clapham and Gareth Rowe, among others while not even calling on Andy Pitman or Glen Collins.

Phoenix A coach Jonathan Gould fielded his youngest side of all eight ASB Challenge Series matches without the services of any of the senior players who have gone on to reappear in or in some cases graduate to the A-League squad after featuring in earlier challenges.

Three of New Zealand’s U-17 squad started the match with 15-year-old Bill Tuiloma joining Tim Payne and goalkeeper Scott Basalaj in the ranks for the first time.

The movement of players like Marco Rojas, James Musa, Tony Lochhead and Dylan Macallister into the top side has seemingly proved the worth of the series for the Phoenix and while the Phoenix record of four losses and four draws may not make pretty reading, Gould is adamant the series ticked all the development boxes as well for a wide range of teenaged players tasting a professional environment.

“We used 26 players under the age of 19 over the past eight games in a programme that’s been open to all.

Some have come in and played very well but they have all learnt lessons.”

“Canterbury are a big physical side and while we were technically good tonight we couldn’t compete physically.

The lessons tonight were that you can’t afford to switch off like we did for that three-goal period after halftime and that these players need to develop physically to accompany the development in other areas.”