Match Report: Round 12 vs Manurewa AFC
Northern League Round 12 Match Report: Manurewa AFC vs East Coast Bays, War Memorial Park, Manurewa, Saturday 8th June 2024.
Early Goal Blitz sees Bays grind out crucial away win
After the disappointment of exiting the Chatham Cup the previous Saturday, Bays returned to Northern League action with a trip to South Auckland to take on Manurewa AFC, at War Memorial Park. This was the start of the second round of matches after Bays had lost 3-0 at home on the first day of the season. With Billy suspended, James came into the centre of defence to partner Jack. Nick started in place of Thomson and Nicolai started in place of Ryusei. So, a new look attack was on from the start.
Manurewa started off quickly with Echague crossing into the Bays box from the left wing which led to a header away by Nathan. Five minutes later Manurewa were already two behind after a crazy couple of minutes. First up Orlando was fouled just outside the Manurewa box. Malcolm drove the free kick into the wall. The rebound came out to Nick who played the ball out to Nicolai on the right wing. Nicolai crossed into the penalty area and as he was about to shoot Moses was brought down for a penalty kick. Malcolm drilled the spot kick into the bottom right corner to make the score Manurewa 0 EC Bays 1. Barely a minute later Bays were two up when a long throw by Jack saw Malcolm leap above the Manurewa keeper and glance a header into the bottom corner. The score now read Manurewa 0 EC Bays 2 after only eight minutes played.
The home side started fighting back. Ramirez made a break right down the middle of the Bays defence and his shot was blocked by Jack for a corner. The first header was cleared and the next corner was headed wide by Manurewa captain Khan. Down the other end, another Jack long throw was dropped by the keeper but sparring his blushes his defence got the ball clear. Great team play saw Orlando put Guy through and his shot was deflected off a defender for a corner. The first two corners were put behind, but the third corner did the damage as it made it’s way into the net after a few deflections and a botched clearance by Hoyt, for an own goal. From our angle it looked like the last touch came off Nicolai, but he didn’t know much about it after being drilled in the back by the ball.
Twenty minutes gone and the score read Manurewa 0 EC Bays 3. Manurewa had to up their game and they did. First up Ramirez beat James in a tussle & crossed into the middle. Unfortunately for Bala he miscued his shot wide of the goal. Bays were now under the cosh a bit with Giraldo and Hoyt having shots blocked by a vigilant Bays defence. Luckily, a cross from the left hand side by Echague took a deflection to go out on the right hand side. Giraldo then volleyed a cross goal wards that Ramirez just failed to control. Ramirez then made another run down the middle and Giraldo’s shot went straight to Louie.
After a very quick start, Bays were forced to defend for long parts of the rest of the first half. But a quick break by Nicolai found Moses on the right and his cross drifted out past the back post. Manurewa did get a goal back in the 41st minute when Giraldo chipped a cross into the middle and Echague powered home a header to make the score Manurewa 1 EC Bays 3. Manurewa almost made it two just before half time but a great clearing header by James stopped that. Nick then made a great run from his own half and chipped the ball over the Manurewa defence for Malcolm to run after. Malcolm cut back inside his defender and his right foot shot was blocked. A Bays corner was headed on and Malcom had an audacious attempt with a bicycle kick. Giraldo set up Sakashita on the overlap and his cross was met by Hoyt. A combination of blocks by James & Jack saw the ball cleared from the danger zone.
The half time whistle went and everyone was trying to catch their breath after an action packed & hectic first half. Half time score was Manurewa 1 EC Bays 3. Straight after half time some good work by Orlando saw the ball through to Nicolai who seemed to be pulled back by Sakashita, but the referee ignored the calls for a penalty and even a yellow card for the foul. Guy was full of running all game and one chase saw him play the ball on to Malcolm who shot wide. Moses linked up well with Orlando, but the return ball was cleared for a Bays throw in. Bays should have increased the score after a comedy of errors in the Manurewa box, but the ball somehow was eventually cleared away.
Manurewa made their only change in the 57th minute with Eng coming on for Bala. Guy then linked up well with Nicolai, but his shot was mishit and the follow up from Orlando went into the side netting. Bays then made two changes in the 59th minute with Peter and Thomson coming on for Nicolai & Orlando. Manurewa thought they had scored when Hoyt miscued a shot to the back post that Echague shot home. But the offside flag went up and the goal was disallowed. A cross from Sakashita was headed behind by James. The follow up corner saw headers away by Thomson and Nathan. Moses was the first player shown a yellow card for a foul on Hoyt. A cross in from Hoyt saw Echague free but he sent his shot well over the crossbar. A corner on the right-hand side made its way all the way through to the back post but Khan placed his shot wide.
EC Bays then made two more changes with Mikey K & Sam coming on for Moses & Nathan. The Manurewa keeper was then lucky to stay on the field when a long ball forward found Sam. He went around the advancing keeper but was fouled just outside the box. Patkevych was shown a yellow card for bringing down Sam. Bays made their last change in the 76th minute with Yun coming on for Malcolm, who had run himself into the ground. Peter won a good battle in midfield before finding Thomson. He in turn found Yun who had a left foot shot go just wide. Yun then returned the favour setting up Thomson whose shot was blocked. Jack’s corner was cleared to just outside the box and was met with a fierce left foot shot that only just went wide from Sam.
Peter & Nick were battling hard in midfield and Peter made a couple of crucial block tackles to get possession back. Manurewa were still an attacking threat. First up Eng had a shot go just wide and then Echague set up Ramirez who had a wild shot go way over the goal. Peter received a yellow card for a deliberate hand ball offence and then things started getting a bit feisty in the game. Giraldo was shown a yellow card for putting his hand in Nick’s face that led to Nick being down for a few minutes. By now it was getting rather dark & cold so the supporters were hoping that the game would finish any time soon.
Guy was still selflessly chasing down the ball and one of these chases into the corner led to Nick having a shot from just outside the box being charged down. Mikey K received a yellow card for pulling back an attacker as his battle with Sakashita continued. There was one more scoring chance as Ramirez brought the ball down with his hand and his right foot shot was well saved by Louie. Eventually, a free kick was given for hand ball and not long after this the final whistle went.
The final score was Manurewa 1 EC Bays 3 and Bays had secured a very important three points on the road. A great way to back up the win against Melville a couple of weeks ago and three vital points moved Bays a further place up the table. Guy was named Bays player of the day, by coach Joe. No game this coming Saturday as it’s the next round of the Chatham Cup so the next league game will be at home on Saturday 22nd June against Bay Olympic, with a 3pm kick off. If he is selected to play this will be Nicolai’s 100th game for the Bays 1st team so come along & celebrate another club favourite’s milestone game.
Final Score: Manurewa 1 vs East Coast Bays 3
Manurewa AFC: V Patkevych, M Sakashita, K Ozaki, S Khan, J Hoyt, H Echague, E Ramirez, J L Giraldo, R Bala (W Eng 57), C Probert, D Morris
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, N Maisey (S Wilson 70), J Edgeler, C Simmonds, M Akimana (M Kolston 70), N Berry (T Nkoy 59), O Thorpe (P Harrison 59), N Gaze, M Young (JS Chang 76), J Caunter, G F Essome Penda
Goals: Manurewa AFC: H Echague 41
East Coast Bays: M Young 7 pen + 8, J Hoyt 20 Own Goal