MATCH REPORT: Round 19 vs Fencibles
NRFL Men's First Team Round 19 Match Report – Fencibles AFC vs East Coast Bays, Riverhills Park, Pakuranga – Saturday 6th August 2022.
Keegan at the Double to keep Bays in the hunt
EC Bays travelled over to the Eastern side of Auckland to play Fencibles at Riverhills Park, in Pakuranga. Only one change to the starting line up with Oscar coming in to replace Nick and Josh returning to the bench. Bays started off strongly and in the first minute Keegan broke down the right before his ball across the penalty area missed everyone at the back post (a common theme for this game). Liam then had a left foot shot blocked out for a corner. The opening goal came as early as the sixth minute when Oscar played a through ball into the path of Keegan who shot left footed across the keeper into the far corner for 1-0 to Bays.
Two minutes later Nicolai broke down the right, cut inside the defence, and his left foot drive went straight to the keeper. A minute later Oscar managed to shoot against the right hand post. Bays were almost caught out when a ball over the top by Hodgson found Harford running through but Louie was out quickly to clear the danger. Liam then put in a cross to the back post that Sam shot over. There was almost a bit of confusion at the back as another Fencibles long ball forward which Louie called for was instead cleared by Daewook & Mikey K got the ball to safety. Tweed then broke down the left, cut inside, & shot over the Bays goal.
Bays then turned up the pressure with Nicolai making another break, cutting inside, and his shot was blocked for another corner. There was then a succession of 5 or 6 corners with “Iron Man” Callum running from one side of the field to the other to take them all!!! In the 32nd minute Liam did well to block a shot by Hodgson. Liam was then unlucky at the other end when his left foot shot hit the base of the post and rolled away for a goal kick. Fencibles then forced a corner when Jones crossed and this was cleared by Daewook for a corner, as he was pushed in the back. Clarke played the corner across and Louie got a good fist to the ball to clear away any danger. Bays were almost punished again when Nicolai lost the ball in midfield but luckily Bulay’s shot was straight at Louie.
Just before half time a long throw from the left by Mikey K led to shots by Liam & Oscar being blocked. The half time whistle went with Bays leading 1-0 but they probably should have been leading by a couple more. Lots of chances created but a number of chances to put the game way beyond Fencibles were wasted.
The second half had only been going a short while when the Fencibles keeper Lewis had an absolute howler. He tried dribbling the ball out & didn’t hit his pass hard enough when trying to find his defender on the left. Instead, his pass went straight to Keegan who passed the ball straight back past the keeper into the empty net for 2-0 to Bays. Oscar then had a right footed shot just fly past the post. Dsouza was then booked for his many numerous fouls during the game. Fencibles then threatened briefly when a Dsouza free kick to the back post was met by a header by Grubjesic that has headed away from danger by Liam.
Bays then had a fast break led by Declan that led to a shot by Nicolai being deflected to the Fencibles keeper. Hodgson then had a left foot shot go just past Louie’s goal. Sam then made a break down the left & found Oscar who’s cross wasn’t strong enough to reach any Bays players. Liam then went on one of his trademark runs. His left foot shot cannoned off a defender for a corner and from Callum’s corner Nicolai had a shot from outside the box blocked.
In the 71st minute Fencibles made two changes with McSkimming & Alhamdan replacing Dsouza & Jones. Four minutes later Bays made two changes with Nick & Dan on for Declan & Oscar. Two minutes later Callum was dispossessed in midfield which led to Clarke breaking through and shooting over. Two minutes later Fencibles made two more changes with Maukau & Hough on for Harford & Bulay. At this stage Fencibles were taking the game to Bays in an attempt to get back into the game. Tweed had a left foot shot go right across the face of the goal & out for a goal kick. Logan played a great through ball to Dan but his right foot shot went over the top of the goal.
With five minutes to go Bays tried to stop the tide against them by making two more changes. James & Josh came on for Daewook & Nicolai. With two minutes remaining Bays lost the ball in midfield again, Hough made a break down the right and his cross was guide home by Tweed at the back post. The score was Fencibles 1 EC Bays 2 and Bays were a little bit under the cosh. Just before fulltime Keegan made a break down the left and his cross into the middle was just out of reach of Josh. Shortly after the final whistle went and Bays were relieved to come away with the 2-1 win. This sees them still in 3rd but still in the hunt for promotion right behind second placed Manurewa. Another good 3 points away on the road but a bit worrying that Bays didn’t kill the game off and were hanging on a bit at the end. Keegan was probably Man of the Match. Not just for his two goals but he was battered & bruised in a fairly physical & robust battle with the Fencibles defence.
This weekend Bays are back at home at Bay City Park to take on Metro and with any luck we keep up the winning momentum in the pursuit of trying to get promoted.
Final Score: East Coast Bays 2 vs Fencibles 1
Line Ups: Fencibles: T Lewis, K Tweed, S Jones (Y Alhamdan 71), S Fa’apoi, R Dsouza (K McSkimming 71), R Clarke, J Harford (C Maukau 80), L Bulay (D Hough 80), P Garofalakis, M Hodgson, J Grubjasic (K Bradley 89)
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, K Kelly, C Simmonds, O Garcia (D Morgan 75), D Sweeney (N Gaze 75), N Berry (J Coe 80), M Kolston, DW Kim (J Edgeler 80), L Andersen, S Wilson, L Archer
Scorers: Fencibles: K Tweed 88
East Coast Bays: K Kelly 6, 46
Official attendance: 11,223
