MATCH REPORT: Round 02 vs Fencibles Utd AFC
NRFL Men's First Team Round 02 Match Report – Fencibles United FC v East Coast Bays, Riverhills Park, Pakuranga – Saturday 1st April 2023.
Bays head to the Top of the table after comfortable win, but with many missed chances
After the first rounds encouraging win against Ngaruawahia, EC Bays headed over the bridge to Pakuranga to take on Fencibles. Despite the rain right through the first half the pitch was in exceptionally good condition. Bays made a couple of changes to the starting line up with Mikey K & Sam replacing Leo and David Brown. Also, great to see Bailey Stevenson back on the bench after his long-term injury last season.
Bays started off quickly and after only 2 minutes a Bays corner found Thomson who had his shot blocked. In the resulting scramble in the box Jack went down but no penalty was the referee’s decision. A minute later Sam had a shot saved for another corner. Fencibles were using the long ball to counterattack but Louie was on his toes to clear these away. Then Bays had three corners in succession with the third one being headed over by Sam. Down the other end James fouled one of the Fencibles forwards and the resulting free kick was played into the area for Louie to collect.
Bays were almost caught out when Clark played in L Bulay and his shot went past the post before he was flagged for offside. Some good link up play down the right saw Nick play a ball right across the middle that was missed by all the Bay’s attack. Dylan then crossed from the left and Moses blasted a shot way over. Mikey K played in a cross that was headed behind for another corner. Nicolai’s corner was cleared and Fencibles had a fast break again leading to Alfayad shooting straight at Louie. Nick was then shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Walker and Rodwell hit the free kick past the wall for Louie to punch around the post. The corner from L Bulay was then punched clear by Louie.
After 29 minutes Bays took the lead with an excellent team goal. Sam played the ball in from the left to Thomson who in turn played it into the path of Dylan. He turned and buried his left foot shot into the far corner for 1-0 to EC Bays. More great team play saw Nicolai’s cross from the right met with a firm header from Sam, that was well saved. Callum’s corner to the back post found Jack who headed wide. Dylan then had another shot cleared for a corner. Callum’s corner was caught by the busy Fencibles keeper. Fencibles almost equalised when a long ball was not cut out by Mikey K and Walker’s shot beat Louie but also beat the right-hand post. Bays had another break down the right with Moses cross going right across the box to be met by Dylan, whose shot was blocked for yet another corner.
Nicolai’s corner caused a scramble in the box and at the end of it Thomson shot well over. Callum then took a corner that saw Moses have a shot that was punched away. Down the other end Rodwell passed to Alfayad who shot left footed straight at Louie. A minute before half time the Fencibles defence made a huge error when Thomson intercepted a wayward cross-field ball. The ball was played across the penalty area and at the back post Dylan controlled the cross and shot into the bottom corner for 2-0 to Bays. Fencibles kicked off again and the referee immediately blew the whistle for half time.
So, at half time Bays lead 2-0 but it should have been a far bigger lead for the many chances that were created in that first half. Fencibles were certainly in the game with their quick counter attacks. Fencibles made a change at half time with Alhamdan coming on at the break. The rain had stopped during the break, and it stayed dry for most of the second half. Early in the second half Jack was guilty of trying the diagonal ball one too many times when Walker intercepted and shot well over the goal. Dylan then had a shot from the right blocked and from Nicolai’s corner Dylan had a flicked header go behind off a defender for another corner. Moses was then fouled twenty-five yards out from goal and Dylan’s free kick went wide of the right post. Nicolai was then through on the right-hand side of goal and his shot was blocked for another corner. From Nicolai’s corner Thomson scuffed his shot into the ground.
Good link up play by Nicolai, Moses & Nick saw Nick through a gap in defence, leading to Dylan’s shot being saved by the keepers’ feet. A loose Bays pass saw Rodwell shoot just past the right-hand post. Thomson played in Sam down the left, but a defender played the ball on to Sam for a goal kick. After 59 minutes Fencibles made a second change with Lonergan replacing an injured Jones. Dylan then played in Thomson who shot straight at the keeper. Fencibles then had a series of corners which were cleared before a foul on Jack. At the 67th minute mark Bays made two changes with David Brown + Declan replacing Sam and Nick. Bays kept up the relentless pressure. Firstly, Nicolai had a shot go wide and then Declan had a shot blocked. A ball over the top found Nicolai who lobbed the keeper, but it went wide of the goal. Moses played the ball out to Nicolai who set up Callum who scuffed his shot along the ground to the keeper. Callum then played in Dylan, whose shot was blocked.
After 78 minutes both teams made a change with Fencibles bringing on Parmar while Bays replaced Dylan with Oscar. Oscar was straight into it when he collected a ball from Nicolai & his cross was blocked for another corner. Four minutes later Fencibles made another change with O’Grady replacing Clark and Bays made a change also, with Bailey replacing Mikey K. Fencibles made another fast break which led to another shot by Walker straight at Louie. Down the other end Thomson was clean through but his mishit shot was straight at the keeper. Jack then intercepted a pass, burst into the box, and blazed a left foot shot wide & over. Parmar then had a chance but had his shot charged down. Declan then played in David, but he was crowded out when about to shoot. Fencibles had one last chance when Lonergan had a poor shot straight at Louie.
The final whistle went, and Bays had won comfortably by 2-0. The score should have been a lot higher, but the result meant that Bays were top of the table on goal difference after 2 rounds of the season. What was good to see was the many chances being created and both goals were a result of great team play. Callum was named Bays player of the day. Easter Friday sees a home game against second placed Ellerslie at Bay City Park and on Easter Monday Bays are away at Metro, in a rare afternoon game against these opponents.
Final Score: Fencibles Utd AFC 0 vs East Coast Bays 2
Fencibles Utd FC: T Lewis, S Jones, J Grubjesic, F Clark, H Alfayad, L Bulay, N Walker, J Rodwell, D Hough, M Papa, E Bulay
Subs: Y Alhandan 46, S Lonergan 59, H Parmar 78, L O’Grady 82
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, J Edgeler, S Wilson (D Brown 67), C Simmonds, M Akimana, N Berry, N Gaze (D Sweeney 67), M Kolston (B Stevenson 82), T Nkoy, D Stansfield (O Garcia 78), J Caunter
Goals: East Coast Bays: D Stansfield 29 & 45
Photos credits: @Phototek
