Match Report: Round 12 vs Birkenhead United
Dettol Northern League Round 12 Match Report: Birkenhead Utd vs East Coast Bays, Shepherds Park, Friday 30th May 2025.
Bays Topple League Leaders with great team goal & great defending at the end
After the crucial away win the previous Friday, Bays were on the road again with a Friday night trip to Shepherds Park to take on League Leaders Birkenhead Utd, under lights. Ryusei came into the starting line up with Damion carrying a slight injury and it was a welcome back to former Bays player Chase Taylor who returned to Bays from West Coast Rangers and was on the bench.
On a windy & cool Friday night Birkenhead started off well with a forward pass played off Liam for a corner. The corner was cleared to outside the box where a right foot shot went straight into a Bays defender and the follow up shot went straight to Louie. A cross in from the left wing was headed away by Jack. A long throw in from the right wing was left to bounce and Kawale’s header went straight to Louie. Bays first chance came when James Elder played a ball into Ryusei who twisted & turned before earning a corner. Orlando’s corner was too deep as it cleared the far post.
A cross in from Nathan saw a header by Liam go wide. Birkenhead made a break down the Bays right wing that saw a cross to the back post cleared by Liam. James Elder then linked up with Guy whose cross shot was parried by the Birkenhead keeper just past Liam who was charging in at the back post. A cross in from the right wing saw Guy try a back header but not enough contact on the header to trouble the keeper. A Birkenhead through ball right down the middle saw James Edgeler slide in and clear for a corner. Down the other end of foul on James Elder saw Orlando take a corner that reached the back post where Adam headed wide with a free header.
Ryusei then twisted is way into the box and played a pass off a defender for another corner. The corner was weak and led to a fast break by Birkenhead which finished up with one of the Birkenhead attackers diving in the box before the ball was cleared. Rostron then tried his luck from long range, but his shot cleared the crossbar by quite some way. Botica then played the ball in from the right-hand side that was flicked on, and the next header went wide. Adam was then shown a yellow card for a late tackle on one of the Birkenhead forwards. The free kick went around the Bays wall, but Louie was down smartly to save low down. A ball down the Bays left wing saw Chung turn inside and his deflected shot was saved by Louie. James Elder was brought down by Richards which saw James land on his shoulder that he previously dislocated in the Bay Olympic game.
The half time whistle went, and it was all square after an entertaining first half with the score reading Birkenhead 0 East Coast Bays 0. Both teams had created some good chances to score but no one put one away to leave the game all to play for in the second half. James Elder was unable to continue and came out of the changing sheds with his arm in a sling. James was replaced by Matt for the second half.
Good play by Bays saw Nathan away down the left wing and he linked up with Ryusei before getting the ball back. Nathan crossed into the centre where Guy dummied to shoot before setting up Liam for a shot that was blocked. Ryusei then found Orlando who shot straight at the keeper. Down the other end Hughes turned & shot but his shot was blocked on the ground by the sliding Nathan for a corner. Bays then had a fast break with Orlando away. He passed to Matt, but the return pass was just too short. Bays then made their second change with Chase Taylor coming on for Ryusei in the 61st minute.
Chase was straight into the action winning a ball in midfield and setting up Guy who tried to find Liam on the right wing. Another Birkenhead long through saw Suski through but he dived as he went into the Bays penalty box and was shown a yellow card for simulation. The only goal in the game came in the 66th minute when Billy played a long ball forward for Guy to chase after. He reached the by-line on the left before turning and passing back to Billy who side footed the ball past the keeper on the run. A great finish to an excellent break forward by Bays. Birkenhead Utd 0 East Coast Bays 1.
Birkenhead reacted straight away by taking off Suski and bringing on Rosen. A great run by Liam saw him beat 4 or 5 defenders before the keeper came out to clear before Liam could shoot. A cross in from Richards was punched away by Louie before being cleared away. In the 80th minute Birkenhead made four changes with Nabeel, Golding, K Richards & Bailey coming on for Preece, E Richards, Hughes & S Khan all coming off. Birkenhead almost equalised when Philip was through, but he shot into the side netting. Another ball down the middle saw Louie down to smother the ball but Chung followed through on Louie in a very unnecessary challenge that could have easily led to a broken arm for Louie. Chung was very lucky to just be shown a yellow card when it could easily been a red card offence. Birkenhead were away but a great covering tackle by Chase saved the day before Nathan cleared the danger.
Bays made another change in the 90th minute with Moses coming on for Orlando. Birkenhead were still searching for the equaliser with a cross in from Bailey being headed wide of the right-hand post. A late foul by Matt saw a Birkenhead free kick that saw even the Birkenhead keeper up in the Bays penalty box. The free kick in was eventually cleared when James Edgeler’s clearance hit a Birkenhead player and went out for a Bays goal kick. Shortly after the full-time whistle went and Bays had beaten the league leaders and kept them scoreless. A fantastic team result and another vital three points on the board. Billy was named player of the day by Joe and Bays had fully deserved their win. Part two of this weekends double header is the home Chatham Cup game against Western Springs at Bay City Park on Monday afternoon with a 2.00pm kick off.
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Final Score: Birkenhead Utd 0 vs East Coast Bays 1
Birkenhead Utd: K Smith, D Preece, D Botica, E Richards, C Hughes, M Suski, S Philip, R Kawale, S Khan, N Rostron, Z Chung
Subs: E Rosen 67, M Nabeel + T Golding + K Richards + L Bailey 80
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, N Maisey, J Edgeler, R Ishibashi (C Taylor 61), A Huskic, J Elder (M Matanyayire 46), O Thorpe (M Akimana 90), GFE Penda, B Jones, L Andersen, J Caunter
Goals: East Coast Bays: B Jones 66
Photo credit: Simon Harmer, @simonharmerphotography
