Match Report: Round 18 vs Auckland United
Northern League Round 18 Match Report: East Coast Bays vs Auckland United, Bay City Park, Saturday 3rd August 2024.
Bays Battle to hard earned draw
Bays were back at home after the battle down at Hamilton the previous week and there was a big crowd in attendance with it being Thomson’s last game for Bays. With Orlando injured and Moses suspended, James & Nathan came back into the starting eleven and Billy played just in front of the back four. An experienced substitutes bench had Logan, Liam, Will & Peter to call upon.
Auckland Utd started off quickly when a ball straight down the middle by Kamata was intercepted by Louie who was out quickly to collect. A foul by James on Colloty saw a free kick by Fay played into the middle but Nick was there to clear. Bays first chance came when Jack launched a long throw in from the right and Guy connected with a half bicycle kick that went tamely through to the keeper. A long ball down the right wing saw Malcolm away but he was tripped when trying to shoot and the shot went well over. A ball down the right wing saw Atkinson cross to the back post but none of his attackers were there and the ball was cleared. Atkinson had another break down the right and his cross/shot was deflected behind for a corner.
The Bays defence made a right hash of clearing a corner as it was allowed to roll right across the penalty box and after a bit of a scramble Takahashi tucked the ball home to make the score EC Bay 0 Auckland 1 after only 15 minutes gone. A quick break by Bays saw Guy link up with Malcolm and he was crowded out as he was about to shoot. Auckland Utd should have doubled their lead when Fay was clear through, but he dragged his shot wide past the post. Then a cross in from the left wing by ex-Bays player Codey Phoenix saw the ball headed to just outside the box where Beale volleyed over the top.
Utd made good use of the strong breeze in the first half with Curry launching a number of long balls over the top of the Bays defence. One of these found Colloty who fouled Jack before James put in a great block from Colloty’s shot, for a corner. Bays scored against the run of play when the midfield shut down a cross field pass. Callum slid the ball to Nick, who sidestepped a player, and stepped forward to let a right foot rocket shot go that powered over & past the Utd keeper. After 33 minutes the score now read EC Bays 1 Auckland Utd 1.
Bays then stepped up the ante. A ball from right to left found Ryusei who put Nathan through on the left wing. His cross was driven in but unfortunately Malcolm came up with a poor shot straight at the keeper. A cross into the Bays box was agriculturally hacked over the crossbar by Thomson. Auckland Utd captain Mogg was booked for a tackle from behind on Guy. Malcolm’s free kick was headed out to just outside the box and was met with a volley from Callum that sailed over the bar. A poor pass out from Louie was intercepted by Fay who played in Colloty, but luckily for Louie, Colloty put in a poor shot. Things were already getting a bit feisty between Thomson & Colloty when Thommo was fouled by the Utd striker. Colloty stupidly kicked the ball away and was rightly shown a yellow card. There was just enough time for Phoenix to have a left foot strike that sailed into the midriff of Louie.
The half time whistle went, and the half time score read EC Bays 1 Auckland Utd 1. The first half had been a fairly even tussle between the sides. Bays made a quick break down the right straight after half time that saw Guy away and moving into the middle before he was robbed of the ball. Billy played the ball down the right wing for Thomson to latch on to and he set up Malcolm who had a shot deflected to the keeper. Fay then had a rocket of a shot that Louie did well to push away. James was guilty of dwelling on the ball before being dispossessed by Fay who shot low down for Louie to make another fine save.
Guy then played in Nick who was tackled from behind in the box, but no penalty was given. The loose ball fell to Callum who shot over the goal, again. Guy was putting himself about and he won the ball again before powering forward and setting up Malcom for another shot that was blocked. Callum lost possession and Fay was off down the left wing. His cross sailed over Colloty in the middle and came off the shins of Beale who wasn’t really expecting to receive the ball past the back post. In the 66th minute Bays made two changes with Liam & Will coming on for Nathan & Ruysei. A minute later Auckland Utd made three changes with Haviland, Singh and Wallace coming on for Atkinson, Colloty & Kamata.
More good team play by Bays saw Guy play the ball up to Nick, who was heavily involved in most of the play. Nick played the ball against a defender for a corner. Malcolm’s corner was cleared to just outside the box where Nick volleyed over the top. Malcolm then had a left footed drive saved by the keeper. Utd made another change in the 74th minute when Mendoza came on for Beale.
The most controversial moment of the match came when Nick played Malcolm through. He dummied his way into the box and just when he was about to pull the trigger Malcolm was brought down from behind. It was a stonewall penalty and should also been a straight red card, but referee Riley Greenbury somehow turned down the appeals of the Bays players. The disappointment didn’t last too long as Nick turned his defender and let fly with a right foot shot that went just past the far post. Another ball was won by Malcolm who set Liam off down the right wing. His cross into the middle was just a bit too far in front of Guy for him to get to.
Fay was still a constant threat on the left wing and his cross to the back post just cleared Mendoza before going out for a goal kick. Thomson sent Liam away again and his cross was blocked for a corner. Utd made their last change with Mandizvika coming on for Phoenix. Another Bays cross into the middle saw Liam knock the ball down for Guy to have a left foot shot go over the goal. Utd thought they had scored with five minutes to go when a cross in from the right-hand side was bundled home by Wallace. But the goal was flagged offside and after the referee checked this with his assistant referee this was confirmed as no goal.
Bays still had time to make another change with Logan coming on for Thomson and Thommo was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch in his last Bays game. Mendoza then had another long range shot that was blocked by James, before being cleared. Bays then tried to lead a very quick counterattack and Will was clipped when speeding through the Utd defence. Again, no foul was given, and Will let his frustration get the better of him as he talked himself into a yellow card after a rant at the referee.
The final whistle finally went after what seemed like an age of injury time and the sides shared the points. Final score was EC Bays 1 Auckland Utd 1. A pretty fair result after a good ding dong of a battle but still a little bit disappointing after the poor decision on the penalty that should have been given. Nick was awarded the Bays player of the day and rightly so for his excellent all-round display and stunning finish. Good luck to Thomson as he moves to Australia and thanks for what you have done for the club. By the time you read this Bays would have played a game against new A League side Auckland FC at Fred Taylor Park in what is a pre-season game for them. Next Saturday is an away game against Western Springs at Seddon Fields, with a 5.30pm kick off. With Louie & Jack away, there will no doubt be some changes to the side. See you over there.
Final Score: East Coast Bays 1 vs Auckland United 1
EC Bays: L Caunter, N Maisey (W Stephen 66), J Edgeler, R Ishibashi (L Andersen 66), C Simmonds, N Gaze, T Nkoy (L Archer 90), M Young, J Caunter, B Jones, G-F Essome Penda
Auckland United: B Callinan, Y Aizu, B Curry, K Mogg, D Atkinson (B Wallace 67), C Beale (W Mendoza 74), O Colloty (I Singh 67), O Fay, H Kamata (R Haviland 67), C Phoenix (K Mandizvika 87), H Takahashi
Goals: East Coast Bays: N Gaze 34
Auckland United: H Takahashi 15
Unoffical attendance: 120,459
Photo Credit: Simon Harmer
