Canterbury United

Waikato FC

5

0

George SLEFENDORFAS 3', 34', 34', 74
Matt THOMAS 68'

by John Donnachie at ASB Football Park
asbpremiership.co.nz

CHRISTCHURCH - Canterbury striker George Slefendorfas, had the Dragons fans in raptures scoring four goals, including a first half hatrick- as the red and blacks eased to a 5-0 win over Waikato FC at Christchurch today.

The Aussie import, making his home debut, revelled in the service provided by wide men Matt Thomas and Darren White.

Afterwards  he was quick to acknowledge his team-mates contribution to his four goal haul.

“They definitely made my job so much easier today. These guys are both so pacey and they know how to get the ball in the box.”

The match theme was evident from the start with White (also making his home debut) crossing for the inimitable Slefendorfas to squeeze home at the near post inside two minutes.

Then after a rather uneventful period during the half, the Australian came to life in a devastating 60 second spell.

First, he showed great composure and control outrunning the Waikato defence before shooting past a stranded Mark Fulcher.

And from the restart, he was on the end of a Matt Thomas cross, steering the ball home past the exposed Fulcher to complete his hatrick on 34 minutes. Ironically, the Aussie hitman should have scored before his goal blast.

He was one on one with the Waikato keeper but somehow he managed to shoot straight at him with the goal at his mercy.

Still the damage was done and there was no way back for the visitors who had actually enjoyed long periods of possession.

Their lack of penetration in the last third of the field was illustrated by Dragons keeper Adam Highfield finally been called into action on 42 minutes, smothering a long range Jason Hicks drive.

The second half while less entertaining still provided some memorable goals.

Dragons' Matt Thomas added a fourth as the match entered the last quarter, despatching a pinpoint finish into the far corner from a Darren White cross.

And soon after, Kamo and White combined with the former picking out a chap called Slefendorfas, who steered a header past the once again unguarded Fulcher to complete the rout.

A happy Dragons coach Keith Braithwaite, reflected, it was a good day at the office.

“We scored five excellent goals. We punished their mistakes-they wanted to play around their own area.
Look, it was a great team performance, it's definitely something we can build on.

 “Darren White is doing a fantastic job for us, and Matt Thomas was putting in quality ball. It was a solid team performance.

“I'm just as  happy with clean sheets. If you keep them, you are always in with a chance.”

Waikato FC coach, Declan Edge, remained bullish after his side's second consecutive five goal mauling of the season.

“We have to learn from our mistakes and to be more aggressive- but we want to continue our style of high line defending.

We felt at least some of their goals were marginal. They looked offside. [Still] we are a youthful team, the average age of our back-line is seventeen. We will get better.”

Canterbury are likely to improve as well.

With captain Dan Terris and Nick Wortelboer due to return from injury, Aaron Clapham is certain to return to his more accustomed creative role in the centre of midfield.

Otherwise, influential midfielder, Cole Peverley, did leave the field after the interval with an achilles niggle. But the substitution was a precautionary measure.

Canterbury United

V

Waikato FC

22. Adam HIGHFIELD (gk)

25. Mark FULCHER (gk)

3. Mark JOHNSTON

3. Jesse SMITH

5. Tom SCHWARZ

5. Tyler LISSETTE

7. Darren WHITE

7. Jason HICKS (THOMPSON 48')

8. Aaron CLAPHAM

8. Matteo BALLAN (H. EDGE 72')

9. George SLEFENDORFAS

9. Tyler BOYD

10. Russell KAMO  (BARTON 75')

10 Adam THOMAS (c)

11. Matt THOMAS  (YAMAMOTO 72')

14. Josh GREENE

15. Julyan COLLETT

15. Jessie EDGE

16. Joe MURRAY

16. Raymond HOW (KRAMER 46')

17. Cole PEVERLEY (SMITH 48')

18. Ryan THOMAS

Substitutes

Substitutes

1. Tom BATTY (rgk)

4. Mohamed AWAD

12. Andy BARTON (on 75')

6. Mike KRAMER (on 46')

13. Francis DE VRIES

11. Harry EDGE (on 72')

14. Josh SMITH (on 50)

12. Max TOMMY (rgk)

20 Ken YAMAMOTO (on 72')

17. Mike THOMPSON (on 50)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

-20'

Welcome to to the first ASB Premiership at the revamped hoem of teh Dragons, ASB Football Park. It's teh first ever national league match played on an artificial surface and the weather is great for it.

Team news: Matt Thomas has passed a fitness test allowing Keith Braithwaite to name an unchanged line up while for Waikato All WHites doctor Mark Fulcher replaces Neil Mouncher in goal and Mike Thomas starts from the bench.

0'

And we're off.

3'

GOAL! Canterbury are off to a flyer once again as Darren WHITE whips in a cross fro George SLEFENDORFAS who nips ahead of the goalkeeper to finsih what is his third goal of the season. 1-0

8'

Mark FULCHER pulls off a fantastic reflex save from Joe MURRAY's shot. Another cross from Darren WHITE who is looking dangerous, and often unmarked on the right. Murray connected with it from about teh penalty spot but FULCHER parried it away.

12'

The combination of WHITE and SLEFENDORFAS is causing trouble for Waikato. They're flirting with the offside line but look a handful for the visitors.

15'

Canterbury dominating here. Well in control

25'

Cole PEVERLEY tries his luck but FULCHER is equal to the shot, defelcting it round for a corner. Nothing comes from the corner.

29'

The Waikato youngsters are playing well through midfield with some technically competent players but probably lack some real threat in the final third. Canterbury look content to allow teh visitors to play in front of them and wait for the mistake.

27'

Aaron CLAPHAM gets a cross in for Russel KAMO but the target man puts his header over. Just couldn't get up enough to get behind it properly.

30'

Russel KAMO receives the game's first booking.

34'

 GOAL!! Wow. What a goal. after missing one he should have slotted about a minute ago, SLEFENDORFAS picks the ball up almost back at the halfway line and by the end of his run he's beat the keeper one-on-one. Canty up 2-0.

34'

 GOAL!! By George! a hatrick for SLEFENDORFAS with his second in a minute. Matt Thomas finds the striker in space within the box and SLEFENDORFAS has his fifth of the season. Canterbury 3-0.

40'

SLEFENDORFAS misses out on a fourth with the goal at his mercy. He is getting into some great positions and really could have had five already.

41'

Waikato register their first shot at goal, which Highfield saves. For all their territorial advanatage that stat probably sums up their day.

44'

WHITE and THOMAS combine to set up KAMO but he heads over.

45'

WHITE creates a chance for himself this time but puts it wide.

HT

Canterbury dominant and well worth their 3-0 lead. They have really got a cutting edge up front.

46'

SUB: Mikey KRAMER is on for Raymond HOW for teh visitors

47'

A Russell KAMO header is held by FULCHER at the second attempt

50'

SUBS both sides. Josh SMITH on for PEVERLEY (Canterbury) and Waikato bring on Mike THOMPSON for Jason HICKS

57'

Jesse SMITH puts Waikato's best chance of teh game over the bar

57'

And dowbn the other end SLEFENDORFAS misses again. He's had so many chances today, but he has got a hat trick so we'll forgive him. WHITE the provider agian.

58'

SLEFENDORFAS through on goal but the play is pulled back fopr a foul by SMITH

68'

 GOAL! Matt THOMAS adds a fourth for the home side with a deft finsih to meet Darren WHITE cross.

72'

SUB - Canterbury. Goalscorer Matt THOMAS is replaced by Ken YAMAMOTO

72'

SUB - Waikato. Harry EDGE come on for Adam THOMAS

74'

 GOAL!! SLEFENDORFAS again with a aheader this time from KAMO cross. Nice interplay from Kamo and WHITE on edge of area.

75'

Final sub for Canterbury: Andy BARTON on for Russel KAMO

76'

SLEFENDORFAS gets on the end of an Aaron CLAPHAM freekick but is well contained this time.

80'

10 to go. One way traffic at the moment.

82'

Andy BARTON has a crack from 20 yards out but can't add to the score

84'

Jessie EDGE gets a yellow for dissent after Darren WHITE is called for offside, and the Waikato player ironically applauds the ref.

90'

Jesse EDGE goes close with a lovely free kick that HIGHFIELD touches roudn the post.

FT

All over here at ASB Football Park and Canterbury have kept up thier impressive early season momentum witha 5-0 win over Waikato FC. Full report and reaction to follow.