MATCH REPORT: Chatham Cup Round 02 vs Western Springs
Chatham Cup Round 01 Match Report: East Coast Bays vs Western Springs, Chatham Cup Round 2, Bay City Park, Monday 5th June 2023.
Bays come up just short in very competitive Cup game
After the big win in the league the previous week, Bays were at home for their second round Chatham Cup game against Northern Premier opponents Western Springs. A couple of changes to the starting line up with Jack injured and it was a welcome back to former Bays striker Keegan Kelly, who was celebrating his birthday. A decent crowd turned up to see a very competitive game in constant rain.
Bays settled down quickly and had the first attack with Dylan driving towards the right edge of the box. His cross was blocked for a corner and from Nicolai’s corner; a foul was called on the keeper. Western Springs relied on the quick counter attacks. A ball was played out to an unmarked McIntyre on the right and just as he was about to pull the trigger David intervened and the ball was cleared. Great link up play by Dylan, Nicolai & Liam left the later free to weave across the middle and Liam’s left foot shot sailed just past the post. Moses then linked up with Thomson and after a couple of return passes Thomson turned and hit his shot over. Liam then linked up again with Nicolai on the right before delivering a cross into the box that came off Dylan’s heels. At the other end, Springs had a corner that was headed away by James.
The first booking came in the 21st minute with Steinmetz being yellow carded for a late tackle on Thomson. Dylan put a cross in from the left but Liam could not control the ball and it was cleared to safety. A free kick on the left for a foul on Sam saw Callum’s free kick headed just wide of the goal by Dylan. A great bit of individual skill by Byamana saw him jink past defenders into the Bays box before his cross was blocked for a corner. From the corner, Louie punched the ball away and this lead to a fast counter attack by Bays. Unfortunately, Thomson trod on the ball when a break away was on. Oscar Browne was a constant menace to the Bays defence on the left flank. A pass out to the left side saw Browne turn and his left foot shot luckily went straight to Louie.
Bays were a little careless in possession a couple of times. Liam lost the ball and Byamana played in McIntyre. His shot was blocked for a corner and from that Byamana shot high & wide. Dylan almost opened the scoring when he turned Tobin but his shot hit the outside of the left post. Browne was almost in again but a great sliding challenge by Bailey saw the danger averted. Diver then made great back-to-back saves to deny Nicolai and then Dylan. David then crossed for Dylan to stoop low and his diving header was just wide of the post again. Nicolai then linked again with Liam and he crossed for Dylan to shoot straight at the keeper. Browne was in again and Louie did well to smother his shot before Bailey cleared. Thomson played a great ball out to the right and Liam’s cross was headed behind for a corner. The corner did not amount to much and the half time whistle went.
Half time score read EC Bays 0 Western Springs 0 but not for the lack of trying. Both sides had clear-cut chances to score but some good defending kept the game scoreless. Bays were very competitive against higher division opponents and held their own. Only a couple of minutes into the second half Dylan was through and just as he was about to shoot he was brought down. Luckily, for Springs the assistant referee had flagged for offside. Springs then had a free kick for handball. Ramsay played the ball to the back post but it was just out of reach of Tobin charging forward. Liam was then booked for a pull back on Browne as Springs tried another fast break. Springs almost took the lead when McIntyre was again free on the right. Louie came out to block the shot and did enough as the shot went under him before Dawanda put the rebound wide.
Springs did take the lead shortly after in the 56th minute when a corner was headed home at the near post as Margetts ghosted into space to glance a headed past Louie into the far corner. East Coast Bays 0 Western Springs 1. Three minutes later Springs made a change with Manuel replacing and injured Byamana. A minute later Bays brought on Nick & Mikey K for Sam & Liam. Nick made an immediate impact as he linked up with Dylan before playing a ball through for Dylan to hit a left footer past Diver for a deserved equaliser. East Coast Bays 1 Western Springs 1. Bailey made a clearance with a sliding tackle but Ramsay went over his legs and unfortunately, for Bailey he saw a yellow card brandished. Bays then upped the tempo. Nicolai drove straight down the middle and his shot saved low down by Diver. Bailey broke down the right and Dylan met his cross for another save low down by the busy Springs keeper. Nick then made a break down the left before going into the box and it looked like Tobin shoulder charged him off the ball. No foul given.
McIntyre was free again on the right edge of the box and his right foot shot went well over. Springs did take the lead in the 72nd minute when a ball was played down the left flank to Browne. His pace saw him skin the Bays defence and he hit a shot across Louie into the far corner. East Coast Bays 1 Western Springs 2. Springs made a change a minute later with Thomas coming on for McIntyre and Bays made a change with Oscar coming on for Bailey. Browne raced down the left, skinned Mikey K and in a repeat of his previous shot; he shot across goal towards the far post. Luckily, for Bays this time his shot rolled out past the far post. Bays were looking to get back into the game. Callum sent a free kick for a foul on Thomson to the back post. Moses was only able to get his studs on the ball as it went out for a goal kick. A long throw by Mikey K found Dylan and his hot was blocked. A cross from the right by Nicolai looked like a Springs defender but no handball handled it.
In the 82nd minute Bays made their last changes with Daewook Kim & Josh Coe replacing James & David. Springs also made two changes with Kelly & Coulibally replacing Gatkek & Dawanda. A rare loss of possession in midfield by Callum lead to a weak shot at Louie by Browne. Daewook was then booked for a hand in the face for former Bays striker Kelly. Another free kick for a foul on Josh was played into the box but after a fumble, Diver eventually collected the ball. Another free kick for a foul on Mikey K saw Dylan line the free kick up from straight in front of the goal about 25 yards out. The free kick cleared the wall and looked like it was heading in before a full-length dive saw Diver push the ball around the post for a corner. The corner did not amount to anything and the referee blew the whistle for full time. Final Score: East Coast Bays 1 Western Springs 2.
Therefore, a narrow loss sees Bays run in this year’s Chatham Cup over but the team can be pleased with how well they competed against a higher ranked side. A very competitive battle saw Bays create many chances without finishing them whereas Springs were clinical with their chances. Congratulations to veteran Daewook Kim on playing his 50th match for the Bays first team and to Dylan for his man of the match award. Next week it is back to league action as Bays travel to Stanmore Bay to take on Hibiscus Coast. See you all there.
Final Score: East Coast Bays 1 vs Westerns Springs 2
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, J Edgeler (DW Kim 82), S Wilson (M Kolston 60), B Stevenson (O Garcia 73), C Simmonds, M Akimana, N Berry, T Nkoy, D Brown (J Coe 82), D Stansfield, L Andersen (N Gaze 60)
Western Springs: R Diver, P Tobin, N Steinmetz, W McKee, T Byamana (J Manuel 59), O Browne, O Ramsay, W Gatkek (A Coulibally 82), K Dawanda (K Kelly 82), C McIntyre (M Thomas 73), J Margetts
Goals: EC Bays: D Stansfield 63 Western Springs: J Margetts 56, O Browne 72
Official Attendance: 82,921 plus Gordy Ross and his Blue Bucket Oompah Band
