Defending champions Auckland City have broken the highest-ever points tally record in style while the teams that will face each other in the semi-finals have been revealed after the final weekend of regular season action in the ISPS Handa Premiership.

Auckland had already wrapped up the minor premiership and a home semi-final some time ago but their remaining motivation in this evening’s Super City derby against Waitakere United was to break the long-standing record of 51 points, set by their cross-town rivals back in 2008. The Navy Blues did just that with a clinical display at a sun-drenched Kiwitea Street, outclassing a youthful Waitakere 5-2.

Much of the damage was done in the first half, in which Dylan Manickum found the net on two occasions after Fabrizio Tavano had given Auckland an early lead. Substitute Maro Bonsu-Maro added a fourth deep into the second spell before a flurry of late goals, a Tavano screamer being sandwiched by a Matthew Conroy brace for Waitakere.

City will look to continue their remarkable unbeaten run in hosting next weekend’s semi-final against Team Wellington, whose fate in facing the minor premiers was sealed on Saturday when the game between Tasman United and Canterbury United was cancelled due to the terrorist attack in Christchurch. It was agreed that the points would be shared in a scoreless draw, guaranteeing Canterbury third place and an away semi-final meeting against second-placed Eastern Suburbs due to their superior head-to-head record over Wellington, with whom they finished locked on points.

Now knowing they would be meeting Auckland in the semi-finals regardless of today’s events, Wellington had little to play for in their trip to Hamilton Wanderers but would still have been keen to post a win to take confidence into the play-offs. They ticked that box by hitting four, an Angus Kilkolly double being supplemented by further strikes from Andrew Bevin and Aaron Clapham while Stafford Dowling and Xavier Pratt replied for the hosts.

Outside of the play-off picture, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves signed off with just their third win of the season, coming from behind to defeat Hawke’s Bay United 3-1. Karan Mandair had given the visiting Bay an early lead but a Kieran Richards equaliser and two goals from Maximilian Batchelor – including one from the penalty spot – gave the ‘WeeNix’ a memorable finale to their campaign. The Hawke’s Bay cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of skipper Birhanu Taye with just over ten minutes remaining.

In the only match to take place on Saturday, Eastern Suburbs continued their momentum with a 3-0 triumph over Southern United, Callum McCowatt notching a double before Andre de Jong supplied a third for the home side. Those players were ironically involved in an individual battle to earn the regular season golden boot, which has now been claimed by 18-goal McCowatt, who pipped his team mate by two strikes.

The prolific pair will look to add to their totals this Saturday as Suburbs host Canterbury at Trusts Arena in the first semi-final while Wellington face a daunting visit to Kiwitea Street to take on Auckland City on Sunday. Both matches kick off at 2.35pm.

For the final ISPS Handa Premiership table and other information please click here

ISPS Handa Premiership Match Week 21

Eastern Suburbs 3 (Callum McCowatt 15’, 64’, Andre de Jong 69’)
Southern United 0
HT: 1-0

Hamilton Wanderers 2 (Stafford Dowling 34’, Xavier Pratt 90’)
Team Wellington 4 (Andrew Bevin 2’, Angus Kilkolly 62’, 72’, Aaron Clapham 69’)
HT: 1-1

Wellington Phoenix Reserves 3 (Kieran Richards 52’, Maximilian Batchelor pen 70’, 87’)
Hawke’s Bay United 1 (Karan Mandair 15’)
HT: 0-1

Auckland City 5 (Fabrizio Tavano 9’, 87’, Dylan Manickum 36’, 45+1’, Maro Bonsu-Maro 74’)
Waitakere United 2 (Matthew Conroy 83’, 88’)
HT: 3-0

Tasman United 0
Canterbury United 0
Match cancelled due to terrorist attack in Christchurch, scoreless draw deemed the result

Article added: Sunday 17 March 2019