The action in New Zealand Football’s pair of national knockout competitions is set to heat up a notch with the official draws for the next rounds of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup and Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup throwing up some massive clashes across the country.

The Kate Sheppard Cup is already down to the semi-final stage, although two quarter-final matches are still to be played after falling victim to the wet weather over the weekend. National U-20 women’s team coach Gareth Turnbull took time out from preparing his side for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to assist with the draw this morning at New Zealand Football headquarters and pulled out a pair of intriguing encounters.

Earning home advantage was Wellington United, who have progressed further than ever before in the Kate Sheppard Cup but will be in no mood to stop now against Dunedin Technical. Both will be in a confident frame of mind after Wellington came from behind to defeat Wairarapa United 3-1 in the previous round while Dunedin put four past Coastal Spirit.

The identity of the other semi-finalists are still to be found but it will be another big game nonetheless with each contender coming from the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League, the highest form of female football in the upper North Island. There will be at least one side from the country’s largest city in the semi-finals with Eastern Suburbs set to meet Glenfield Rovers in their rescheduled quarter-final fixture while Hamilton Wanderers will do likewise against Forrest Hill Milford United.

In the Chatham Cup, New Zealand Football’s Junior Development Manager Owain Prosser assisted with the draw as some lengthy journeys for all the away sides came out. East Coast Bays and Birkenhead United, both based on Auckland’s North Shore, will head down to Nelson Suburbs and Wairarapa United respectively while the other two quarter-finals will both be in the City of Sails.

The winner of the rescheduled clash between Manukau United and Mt Albert Ponsonby will host Christchurch’s Cashmere Technical while the talented youngsters of Western Suburbs will travel from the capital to try and wrestle the trophy out of Onehunga Sports’ grasp.

The quarter-finals of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup will take place on the weekend of August 4-5 while the semi-finals of the Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup are set for August 25-26.

The match details for all the fixtures will be confirmed shortly by the clubs and federations.

Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup Semi-Finals

Wellington United vs Dunedin Technical
Eastern Suburbs or Glenfield Rovers vs Hamilton Wanderers or Forrest Hill Milford United

Rescheduled quarter-final fixtures:

Hamilton Wanderers vs Forrest Hill Milford United
Sunday 22 July, 12pm, Porritt Park

Eastern Suburbs vs Glenfield Rovers
Thursday 26 July, 6.45pm, Ngahue Reserve 

ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Quarter-Finals

Nelson Suburbs vs East Coast Bays
Wairarapa United vs Birkenhead United
Manukau United or Mt Albert Ponsonby vs Cashmere Technical
Onehunga Sports vs Western Suburbs

Rescheduled round four fixture:

Manukau United vs Mt Albert Ponsonby
Saturday 21 July, 2pm, Centre Park

Article added: Tuesday 17 July 2018