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Canterbury smash nine past hapless Manawatu

CHRISTCHURCH - Canterbury United turned on the style today at ASB Football Park trouncing a hapless Youngheart Manawatu 9-1.

 

The Dragons led 3-1 at half-time with a Darren White double and an Aaron Clapham free-kick special with Jimmy Haidakis responding for the visitors also from a free-kick.

 

After the break the home side showed Manawatu no mercy with further strikes from Russell Kamo with three, Julyan Collett and Tom Schwarz.

 

Aaron Clapham making his first appearance since early December added a second to his tally with a direct free-kick. 

 

Such was the mayhem in front of Matt Borren's goal there was confusion at the end of the match with the goal tally.

 

The scoreline equalled the ASB Premiership record for margin of victory. Ironically, Canterbury suffered the same indignity to champions Waitakere United  back in 2007/08 season.

 

Choosing the best Dragons player is a matter of opinion.

 

Canterbury coach, Keith Braithwaite, praised captain Aaron Clapham who played just over an hour in his comeback match.

 

He said: “Clapham ran the show today. When we needed to up the tempo and needed to slow it down "Claps" did it. It is sign of a good player [coming off an injury].”

 

Winger Darren White's contribution also caught Braithwaite's eye.

 

“We have been working on getting Darren White down the byline and sending in quality ball. I think someone at New Zealand Football needs to have a look at Darren White," Braithwaite said.

 

Braithwaite also picked out defenders Julyan Collett and Mark Johnston. But said he was disappointed to concede a goal.

 

That said, the Manawatu goal is arguably a contender for goal of the season. Jimmy Haidakis would have been almost 35 metres out, when he sent a soaring drive into the top corner past Canterbury goalkeeper, Adam Highfield, direct from a free-kick.

 

Sadly for the visitors that was the only highlight in yet another rather inept display.

 

The men in green struggled throughout particularly at set-pieces. 

 

The result leaves Youngheart Manawatu consigned to bottom place with just one point.

 

Canterbury meanwhile return to the top three - albeit on goal difference - alongside Team Wellington, while Waitakere United stay second courtesy of a superior goal difference of plus two. All three teams are on fifteen points with eight matches played.