New Zealand Football Championship
Dragons Roar, Otago Slumps..
Rab Smith 
The Canterbury Dragons broke a long drought by beating Otago United convincingly 3-1 in the New Zealand Football Championship match played at Carisbrook in Dunedin on Sunday
NZFC stats say that the win was the first Canterbury have notched over their Southern rivals away from home since 2005.
Russell Kamo scored the first of his two goals after 19 minutes when Otago failed to clear a header by Aaron Clapham and the sharp looking striker forced the ball past keeper James Waggett at the far post.
Otago looked less than composed at the back, since a major re-shuffle was required after regular centreback Chris Jenkinson returned the England. Two other defenders, Tom Sadd and Dave Shaw were also on the injured list.
Coach 
Malcolm Fleming played three at the back, Tim Horner, Mike Abbott and Tristan Prattley, but was disappointed at his midfield’s failure to track back and pick up the mobile Canterbury attack.
Otago was also without the injured striker Dave Dugdale, who watched from the sideline, accompanied by fellow absentees, Robbie Deeley and Rhys Henderson.
Keith Braithwaite’s Canterbury side dominated the first half hour, and in wet blustery conditions the teams incisive running found time and space to keep pressure on the home side.
Tom Lancaster made it 2-nil in the 31st minute when an Otago defensive mistake opened the door for a Canterbury break that produced a 2 v 1 
and the young striker scored with aplomb.
However Otago was slowly finding its feet, with Ryan Faichnie showing his ability to go past players, and only a couple of minutes after Canterbury scored, Dan Ede lifted the home crowd as he slotted a neat cut-back from Nathan Knox.
At 2-1 the match was pretty competitive. Both sides sought ascendance in a crowded midfield. Some clever skills and poise were shown by Canterbury’s Clapham, who formerly played in the USA and with Melbourne. 
Equally impressive was Otago’s Andy Coburn and Stu Kelly, but so often the final pass for United lost possession and Canterbury could definitely claim a better pass rate.
With coaches thinking about half time team talks, Fleming’s became all the harder as striker Kamo finished another breakaway move to create a 3-1 scoreline at the break.
Otago did better in the second half. Canterbury came under pressure with a late series of freekicks and corners, but steady form by Gareth Rowe and Dan Terris shored up the red defence, aided by a couple of fine saves by keeper Tom Batty.
Otago striker Knox had two chances to become hero, but with just the keeper to beat he missed goal completely, then trying to make amends he later hit a superb volley that trimmed Canterbury’s crossbar.
Fleming said,’ The better team won. I was disappointed with our midfield effort, and failure to put our limited chances away.’
The rare Braithwaite grin was a mile wide.’ We dominated in the first half and kept it tight in the second spell.’
‘ Kamo showed his appetite for scoring, and Aaron Clapham looked a class act, and at the back Gareth Rowe and Dan Terris were never in trouble…’
And the next match for Canterbury ? ‘ Ages away,’ said Braithwaite, not happy about the festive break and that NZFC erratic fixture list
‘ We get more days off than Father Christmas,’ said the Scouser.
Name |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
Waitakere |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
13 |
Auckland City |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
7 |
10 |
Manawatu |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
Canterbury |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
Otago United |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
7 |
-1 |
7 |
Wellington |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
10 |
-5 |
6 |
Hawke’s Bay |
6 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
-4 |
5 |
Waikato FC |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
14 |
-8 |
3 |
RESULTS
Sunday
Hawke’s Bay United 2 (Leon Birnie 11’ pen, 63’)
Waitakere United 2 (Allan Pearce 24’, Neil Sykes 28’)
Halftime: 1-2
Team Wellington 2 (Roddy Brown 26’, Trent Watson 80’ )
Waikato FC 1 (Dan Peat 38’ pen)
Halftime: 1-1
Otago United 1 (Dan Ede 32’)
Canterbury United 3 (Russell Kamo 19’, Tom Lancaster 31’, Aaron Clapham 42’)
Halftime: 1-3
Golden Boot
6- Seule SOROMON (YoungHeart Manawatu)
3- Andrew ABBA (Hawke’s Bay United)
3- Dan PEAT (Waikato FC)
3- Leon BIRNIE (Hawke’s Bay United)
NEXT FIXTURES, NZFC
Saturday 9 January 2009 – Week 9
YoungHeart Manawatu v Otago United