A classy Christchurch United put Nelson Suburbs to the sword at Saxton Field on Sunday.
The visitors scored five unanswered goals to hold their lead at the top of football’s Southern League.
Nelson started the brighter of the two sides in front of a strong crowd in perfect conditions and were the first to shoot on target after Aiden Higgs’ shot was saved by the United keeper Scott Morris.
On the half hour mark, Christchurch United were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, which Edward Wilkinson expertly placed inside the right-hand post and from that moment on the visitors looked in control of the game.
Just five minutes after the opener, Joel Peterson calmly found the back of the net after some sloppy passing from Suburbs allowed United to turn over possession near their own box before the ball found its way to Peterson on the left edge of the box before taking a touch and shooting inside the far post.
Once again Suburbs started the better of the two sides after the half time break and a rocket header from Eddie Sillars from a corner kick was well kept out by the Christchurch ‘keeper.
But that was as close as Suburbs got to a goal.
In the 62nd minute Christchurch again capitalised from a sloppy Suburbs pass that was cut out by impressive right back Jordan Spain who played in former All White Noah Billingsly, who laid it off to Joel Peterson for his second of the game.
Mika Rabuka then finished the game off for United, scoring a late brace, the latter thanks to some fantastic work from Wilkinson on the right-hand edge. After winning the ball he fizzed a pass across the face of the goal where Rabuka tapped in.
For Suburbs, there were moments of nice play, particularly from Ross McPhie and Ben Polak in the middle of the park. La Bu Pan was creative early but wasteful in the second half and Hamish Cadigan was assured at centre back, despite some heavy pressure from the United strikers.
Christchurch United remain top of the Southern League with 37 points, Cashmere Tech are three behind on 34 and Suburbs are in third place on 23 points.
