MATCH REPORT: Round 3 vs West Coast Rangers
Todays match report comes from ECB's roving match reporter Ian Overton – West Coast Rangers vs East Coast Bays, Fred Taylor Park, Saturday 9th April 2022.
Only shot on target all game by Rangers leads to a narrow defeat for Bays
Match day Three saw some changes in the EC Bays line up with Daewook Kim replacing Bailey Stevenson, who had Covid, and Judd Baker coming in for Zane Olla after an impressive showing from the bench the previous week. West Coast Rangers had former Bays players Josh Jones, Jamie Mason & Tom Damon playing for them.
Bays were on the attack in the first minute when a break down the left by Liam led to a cross that was claimed by the keeper. After six minutes Rangers were on the attack with Mason shooting straight at Louie. A minute later a long ball by Callum to Nicolai, whose shot was saved. In the eleventh minute a diagonal ball was played to Nicolai who got in behind the Rangers defence but his shot past the keeper rolled agonizing past the far post. In the seventeenth minute a Rangers free kick to the back post was headed back into the middle where Mason blazed over. Three minutes later a ball into Judd was played in, but just past the reach of Keegan.
In the 21st minute a long throw by Rangers led to a wild shot wide by J Alama. In the 23rd minute another break down the left by Liam led to a cross to the back post where Oscar had a shot blocked. Three minutes later great link up play between Callum & Keegan led to Callum having a shot saved. A great long ball by James down to Liam led to another cross being blocked for a corner. Another long ball up to Judd was laid off to Keegan but his shot was scuffed. In the 36th minute a Rangers free kick by McDowall went over the Bays wall but went straight to Louie. Just before half time Rangers had another long throw that was headed over and then a through ball by Alama was just missed by Dwamena. Then a break down the right led to a shot by Oscar going wide.
Half time arrived with the stalement at 0-0 but not for the lack of attacking chances. Four minutes into the second half another Rangers long throw led to a shot wide. A minute later Nicolai went on a run & his shot was saved. In the 56th minute a Rangers free kick was cleared, and Alama was booked for holding back a Bays player. The pivotal moment of the game came in the 59th minute when the Bays midfield carelessly lost possession of the ball. A swift counterattack by Rangers saw Kofi Dwamena break down the right and his cross was swept home by M Banks at the back post for 1-0 to Rangers.
Bays response was immediate with Liam breaking down the left, but his cross cleared everyone in the middle. Rangers made their first substitution in the 68th minute when B Gallagher came on for Bolton-Roberts. Three minutes later a Bays corner was met by Daewook, but his header came back off the post. In the 75th minute Zane came on for Declan and Darrah came on for Tom Damon, for Rangers. Three minutes later a cross by Judd to the centre and in trying to get to the ball it looked like Keegan was tripped. But no penalty given. The Rangers keeper comfortably claimed a Mikey K long throw. Bays 2nd substitution saw Codey Phoenix replace Mikey at left back after 82 minutes. Nicolai then had a right footed shot saved before Mason was booked for a forearm smash on Callum that was more MMA than football. With 89 minutes gone a break down the left by Nicolai led to a cross that was cleared for a corner. The corner was headed just over by Daewook.
On full time Rangers took off Dwamena and replaced him with M Pledger. Bays also made a substitution with the Macca attacker coming on for James Edgeler. In injury time a Bays free kick by Callum was headed over by Judd. Banks was then booked for kicking the ball away. A cross from Keegan was claimed by the keeper under pressure from Judd. Another Callum free kick was headed wide and in the last minute another free kick led to a cross back by Nicolai that was headed wide. Try as they might Bays just could not score. The final whistle went and unfortunately for Bays the result was a disappointing 1-0 loss. Great effort by all the lads and Callum was awarded Bays Player of the Day. Now it is back home for the Easter Friday clash with Onehunga Mangere.
Final Score: West Coast Rangers 1 vs East Coast Bays 0
Line Ups: West Coast Rangers: M Upton, J Jones, M Darrah, H Bolton-Roberts (B Gallagher 68), T Damon (Sub 75), J Armitt, D McDowell, K Dwamena (M Pledger 90), J Alama, M Banks, J Mason
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, J Edgeler, (J McKeown 91), K Kelly, C Simmonds, O Garcia, D Sweeney (Z Olla 75), J Baker, N Berry, M Kolston (C Phoenix 82), DW Kim, L Anderson
Scorers: West Coast Rangers: M Banks 59