MATCH REPORT: Round 13 vs Mt Albert Ponsonby
NRFL Men's First Team Round 12 Match Report – Mt Albert Ponsonby vs East Coast Bays, Anderson Park, Mt Albert – Saturday 11th June 2022.
Poor Second half leads to defeat after promising start to game
EC Bays travelled across the bridge to Mt Albert on a high after two wins the previous long weekend. More changes to the starting lineup saw Julyan start a league game for the first time for Bays and Bailey & Codey returned to the defence. Nicolai was back after a few games missed because of illness.
MAP started off quickly with Colligan making a break down the centre but was called offside. A minute later a very poor challenge saw Nicolai clattered over the sideline but neither the referee or assistant referee did anything about the dreadful challenge. A minute later saw a cross from the right lead to a downward header by Black that Sam got down well to save. Two minutes later a great ball from Liam into the centre was punched away by the MAP keeper under pressure from Keegan. Daewook won the ball in midfield and his through ball to Nicolai saw a left foot shot over. MAP then had a cross from the right that was met by a glancing header by Colligan that was comfortably saved.
The breakthrough came in the thirteenth minute when a Callum corner from the right was met by a powerful header by Daewook. The keeper did well to save but Daewook followed in for the rebound and drove a shot under the keeper for 1-0 to Bays. MAP’s reply was a corner headed wide by Black. Codey then had a cross shot spilled by the MAP keeper. The follow up corner was met by a firm header by Julyan that was saved on the line by a MAP defender. Bays next corner found Liam at the back post but his header was straight to the keeper. Good link play between Nicolai & Liam led to a cross into the centre that was just out of reach of Keegan. MAP then had a free kick on the right and Garcia’s fierce shot was blocked. Picken then shot poorly over after getting into a great shooting position. Keegan was then booked for a late tackle.
MAP then had a corner that was not cleared properly and the goalmouth scramble almost led to the ball rolling into the far corner of the Bays net. Bays then had a fast break down the left and Keegan’s cross was blocked. MAP then had a fast break of their own when Picken skinned Codey but luckily Declan was back to clear the danger for a corner. From that corner Cantle had a free header but put it over the top. Bays then had a corner to the back post that was cleared to outside the box. The ball fell to Declan but his half volley was blocked & then cleared to safety. MAP then had a corner that was confidently punched away at the back post by Sam. The half time whistle went and Bays were leading 1-0. After a great start, things just sort of dropped off the longer the half went on. Bays let MAP back into the game and they were probably a bit lucky to be leading at half time.
Five minutes into the second half Garcia was finally booked for numerous fouls on Nicolai. The resulting free kick was cleared and Declan had a shot over. Bays then had another corner but poor shots by Codey & Liam didn’t trouble the keeper. Eight minutes into the second half MAP replaced right back Gilbert with T Sudmann. Three minutes later Logan lost the ball that led to Julyan committing a foul just outside the box. From the free kick Colligan hit the post and the follow up went over. Three minutes later a ball by Daewook found Keegan. His cross to the back post was met by Nicolai who had a shot that was well saved. The follow up corner was cleared and Declan had another volley attempt go over the top.
A minute later Black was clear through on goal but Sam was out smartly to collect the ball under pressure. A Martin was then booked for a late tackle on Liam. Bays made two changes a minute later with Mikey K & Nick on for Declan & a struggling Logan. MAP brought on Rathburn for Picken. Three minutes later a lapse in defence saw MAP break down the left. The first shot from Black was saved but as the ball rolled across the field no one picked up Rathburn who shot into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Liam played a ball down the right to Keegan. His cross to the back post ended up just out of reach of Callum. Nick won a battle in midfield and his ball found Nicolai who had his shot saved. Two minutes later the Bays defence switched off again as a ball was played straight down the middle. Unfortunately, Bailey was the wrong side of his defender as Hindson turned past Bailey and his left foot shot found the bottom left corner again for 2-1 to MAP.
Bays response was to send on Oscar & Zane for Nicolai & Codey. Three minutes after that Oscar put in a great cross that unfortunately came off the shin of Zane. Four minutes later Oscar had a shot that ricocheted off a defender and out for a corner. Bailey then made a great run forward and Keegan shot over before the offside flag went up. Bays were fortunate not to be another goal down when Moody curled a shot just past the post. Bays then had another free kick that was cleared and came to nothing. Just before full time Mikey K launched a ball forward that was headed over by Keegan. The referee blew for full time shortly after and Bays had slumped to a very disappointing 2-1 loss. After such a promising first half the second half was poor and the MAP keeper didn’t really have to make too many saves. Daewook was named Bays player of the day. Next week it’s a trip down to Hamilton for Chatham Cup 3rd round action against Melville United at Gower Park.
Final Score: Mt Albert Ponsonby 2 vs East Coast Bays 1
Line Ups: Mt Albert Ponsonby: F Orduna, J Cantle, R Garcia, A Martin, J Moody, T Picken (T Sudmann 53), H Streamer, N Hindson, L Black, S Gilbert (B Rathburn 65), J Colligan
East Coast Bays: S Carpenter, B Stevenson, J Collett, K Kelly, C Simmonds, D Sweeney (N Gaze 65), N Berry (Z Olla 78), DW Kim, L Andersen, C Phoenix (O Garcia 78), L Archer (M Kolston 65)
Scorers: Mt Albert Ponsonby: B Rathburn 68, N Hindson 76
East Coast Bays: DW Kim 13
