Match Report: Round 17 vs Eastern Suburbs
Dettol Northern League Round 17 Match Report: Eastern Suburbs vs East Coast Bays, Madills Farm, Saturday 19th July 2025.
Subs to the Rescue in more Late Drama
Northern League action saw the Mighty Bays head over the bridge for the only visit this season to the Eastern Beaches to take on highflyers Eastern Suburbs at Madills Farm, in Kohimarama. With Adam H suspended for picking up 5 yellow cards Billy partnered James & Jack in the centre of defence with Liam & Nathan the wing backs. Chase came into the starting line up in midfield and Bays probably had their strongest substitutes bench this season.
Bays were quickly on attack with a break down the right wing and a right shot by Guy deflected wide for a corner. Then a shot by Chase went way over the bar. Nathan gave away a free kick that was floated in from the right and a free header was put wide by Reid. Guy broke away down the middle but instead of a shot he took too much time on the ball and was eventually crowded out. Chase lost the ball in midfield and luckily Reid’s shot was way over the top of the goal. A foul on Billy saw no free kick and Reid had another shot that took a deflection for a corner. Bates crossed into the middle and Liam headed the corner away. A cross in by Jarvie was cleared by James Edgeler and from the resulting corner Jarvie sent a tame header straight to Louie.
Suburbs were full on attack now and from a quick break forward they were unlucky not to be in the lead when Billingsley sent a toe poke of a shot past Louie but luckily it hit the outside of the far post and was cleared away. A good move by Bays saw Billy move down the left wing and link up with Liam. He played the ball inside to Orlando who played a return pass to Liam who was brought down. Again, no free kick given. Echague beat Jack down the right wing and his shot was pushed around the post by Louie low down. Bates corner was punched away by Louie and Billingsley’s drive was just over. Guy then broke away and had his shot blocked. The rebound fell to Adam P, and he had his shot blocked by a diving challenge right in front of him.
Louie was then out quickly to intercept a Suburbs long ball midway between the penalty box & halfway. Suburbs then had a corner that was dropping under the bar before Louie pushed it over. The next corner was then headed wide by Irwin. Suburbs took the lead in the 35th minute after sustained attacks. A ball into the box wasn’t cleared properly by James Edgeler and a shot by Echague was saved by Louie. The rebound rolled along to the other side of goal and was tapped home by Jarvie. After 35 minutes gone the score was Eastern Suburbs 1 East Coast Bays 0.
Damion then played the ball out to Liam on the right wing and his cross was cleared away. A hand ball offence just outside the box saw Jack line up a free kick that went over the wall but also just past the post. Adam P then broke forward and after beating a couple of defenders his left foot shot went wide. A poor pass out of defence by Billy saw Jarvie away and he whipped in a left foot cross right across the penalty area with pace, but no attackers in the middle to tap home. Suburbs had another free kick headed clear and then after Damion was dispossessed Reid had a drive go over.
The half time whistle went, and the half time score read Eastern Suburbs 1 East Coast Bays 0. Suburbs were worthy of their lead and probably should have been leading my one or two more. Bays were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply but also Suburbs were very physical & robust with their challenges on the Bays players. Joe reacted at half time with Moses coming on for James Edgeler and playing at right back which meant Liam was pushed forward a bit.
The second half started off with Dalziell breaking down the right but his cross in went straight to Louie. A foul on Orlando led to a free kick which saw Jack send the ball over the wall but straight to the keeper. Good team play saw Adam P link up with Nathan down the left wing before playing the ball into Guy. He played the ball back inside to Adam P and his right foot shot went way over the goal. A ball forward by Damion saw Dalziell intercept just ahead of Guy. Bays then made two more changes with Nicolai & Cam coming on for Adam P & Nathan. This meant Liam changing flanks to the left.
Nicolai was straight into the action setting up Liam to cut inside his defender before having a shot blocked. Nicolai then set off down the middle of the park and as the defence backed off, he lined up a Exocet missile of a left footer that the keeper did well to push over the bar. Jack’s corner was headed on by Billy to Moses at the back post, but he skewed his shot wide. Jack tried his luck with a long throw, but Billy’s touch was just a little bit too heavy and went out for a Suburbs throw in. Chase lost the ball again but when Dalziell tried to play in Echague the ball was just a bit too far forward. Suburbs made a change in the 65th minute with Metchell coming on for Reid. Guy battled with Dalziell which led to a right foot shot by Liam that went over. A suburbs free kick was headed into Moses hands which led to a second free kick that was eventually cleared away. The clearance was swept up field to Guy who shot over the post.
Suburbs then made two more changes with Ramirez & Dunn coming on for Billingsley & Bates. A cross in by Metchell from the right wing was then headed over. Down the other end Jack sent a cross in from the left wing. Damion was on a run before being pushed off the ball. That was Damion’s last action as he was replaced by James Elder after 76 minutes gone. Bays were now bossing the game in their attempt to get back into the game. Jack played the ball through to Chase who sent Nicolai away and his shot went over. Bays made their final change in the 88th minute with Ryusei coming on for Orlando.
Another ball lost in midfield saw Karunaratne away and his cross to the back post saw a shot by Ramirez blocked and then cleared to safety. The equaliser eventually came in the 88th minute with a good team goal. After some good play Nicolai had a shot blocked but the rebound fell to James Elder just outside the box. He drilled a shot with the aid of a slight deflection that went up and over the keeper into the top of the net. The score was now Eastern Suburbs 1 East Coast Bays 1.
Bays then pressed for the winner. Nicolai sent a cross in from the right that saw James Elder head over. Bays were then almost punished when a missed clearance by Jack saw Metchell away down the right wing. He sent his cross to the back post that was missed by a comical air swing of a shot at the ball. Bays broke down the right wing and was crossed by Cam into the middle. The ball was cleared to just outside the box and was met perfectly by Chase to send a right footer past the keeper. But unfortunately, the shot was so cleanly hit it also hit the base of the left-hand post and bounced out to safety. There was still time for Suburbs to make another change with Stewart coming on for Dalziell. With the last attack of the game a ball into the box by Nicolai saw the home keeper and defence combine to clear just ahead of Liam.
The final whistle went, and the final score was Eastern Suburbs 1 East Coast Bays 1. A game of two halves really with Suburbs having the better of the first half and Bays definitely having the better second half. The Bays subs made a heap of difference, and all contributed to getting Bays back into the game. Another valuable point on the road and Bays are still unbeaten on the road this season. No game this coming weekend with the Chatham Cup quarter finals taking place so will see you all at the next league game against Auckland Utd at Bay City Park on Saturday 2nd August.
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Final Score: Eastern Suburbs 1 vs East Coast Bays 1
Eastern Suburbs: M Nevin, J Jarvie, K Kalua, A Raj, H Echague, N Karunaratne, A Irwin, N Billingsley (T Dunn 72), J Reid (J Metchell 65), I Bates (E Ramirez 72), R Dalziell (A Stewart 90+3)
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, N Maisey (C Brown 58), J Edgeler (M Akimana 46), O Thorpe (R Ishibashi 88), D Kim (J Elder 76), B Jones, GFE Penda, C Taylor, A Paulsen (N Berry 58), L Andersen, J Caunter
Goals: Eastern Suburbs: J Jarvie 35
East Coast Bays: J Elder 88