Match Report: Round 4 vs Western Springs
Dettol Northern League Round 4 Match Report: Western Springs FC vs East Coast Bays FC, Seddon Fields, Pt Chevalier, Monday 6th April 2026.
Bays eventually prevail in topsy turvy battle to make it six points from Easter weekend
The second match of the Easter double header saw Bays travel over the bridge to take on the 2025 Northern League champions Western Springs, at Seddon Fields. Bays were looking to back up the three points gained at home on Easter Friday. Joe made a number of changes to the starting line up giving some of the players some vital rest with playing two games in four days. Into the starting line-up came Nathan, Harry, Peter, Nick & Ben with Cam, Marius, Ihaia, Louis & Moses on the bench. Liam moved across from left wing back to right wing back. A large contingent of Bays supporters were in attendance braving the big drop in temperature as well as constant light rain & drizzle. The three likely lads were on the balcony with their recent convert, Andy Brown in tow, making sure the banter was on the go with the home supporters for most of the game.
Bays were off to a bright start with Guy beating four defenders before shooting over. Liam & Peter managed to win the ball in midfield and the ball was played quickly to the corner of the box on the left flank. Nick cut inside his defender and planted his right foot drive across the keeper into the far corner of the next. After only two minutes gone the score was Western Springs 0 East Coast Bays 1. A dream comeback for Nick scoring so early on his Bays return. The game certainly needed to settle down but that was far from the case in the opening 10-15 minutes. A slip by Orlando saw McGavin break forward. He drew Louie out before passing to the left for Watson to side foot home the equaliser. After only 7 minutes gone the score was Western Springs 1 East Coast Bays 1.
A great ball by Ben saw Liam away. He played the ball back to Peter who crossed to the back post. But the ball was cleared from danger. Springs went further ahead when a shocker of a back pass by Nathan was hit way too hard and Jackson had no chance of stopping it as it hit him and went out for a corner. The corner from the right wing by Sykes was powered home by an unmarked Wallace in the box. After only 14 minutes gone the score read Western Springs 2 East Coast Bays 1. A good team move saw the ball quickly transitioned from defence to midfield and up to Liam. He found Nick who played a ball around the corner that was just a little too far ahead of Ben.
Down the other end a ball down the left to Cunnington saw a pass across the face of goal that Tayab shot wide. One of the Springs defenders spent too long on the ball and was robbed by Guy. With a two on one on offer Guy unfortunately took the wrong option instead of setting Ben away. Nick made another break down the left wing and found the overlapping Nathan whose cross cleared Ben at the back post. Cunnington was shown a yellow card in the 31st minute for a blatant dive by the byline. Orlando played a great ball down the right wing and Guy was away before getting a corner off a defender. The corner to the back post saw the Springs keeper and one of his defenders collide. The loose ball found Billy but he had his shot blocked.
Billy sent a long ball down the left wing. Nathan’s cross was spilled by the keeper but luckily for him the ball rolled past Ben. Ben’s corner right under the crossbar was flapped at by the keeper for another corner. Down the other end a Springs corner was cleared, and the ball made its way quickly up to Guy. Guy went on one of his typical bursts forward before eventually losing the ball to one of the defenders. Harry played a ball out to the right wing; Ben sent a cross in and Guy had a shot blocked. A Bays corner was then headed out and cleared away.
The half time whistle went, and the score was Western Springs 2 East Coast Bays 1. Both sides had contributed to a very attacking and entertaining first half. Just after half time a foul by Orlando on Wallace saw Springs awarded a free kick. Sykes sent the free kick down the middle, but Louie was out smartly to collect. McGavin then had a left foot shot saved low down by Louie. In the 50th minute Billy played a long ball forward. Guy battled with Steinmetz and won the ball off him. Thinking it may be a foul Guy briefly stopped and then moved forward to drive a shot past the keeper. The score was now level at Western Springs 2 East Coast Bays 2.
Liam played the ball forward to Ben down the right, who turned it on to Nick. His cross was blocked for a corner. The corner was cleared but the ball made it out to the right wing again where Ben’s cross was headed home by the flying mullet of Billy. Billy was in the perfect spot to stoop to head past the Springs keeper and after 55 minutes Bays had the lead again. This made the score Western Springs 2 East Coast Bays 3. Six minutes later the scores were level again when a Springs break down the left-hand side saw a cross in that was cleared to just outside the box. Watson picked up the ball and sent a shot from just outside the box that Louie admitted he did not fully see as it ended up in the corner of the net. After 61 minutes, the score was level again at Western Springs 3 East Coast Bays 3.
Bays then made three changes with Ihaia, Cam & Louis coming on for Nathan, Orlando, and Peter. Springs then made a break right down the middle, but Louie was out quickly to block the shot. Bays were unlucky not to take the lead when Ben had a left foot shot outside the box that beat the keeper all ends up but came back out off the base of the post. Springs made their first substitute in the 65th minute when Kurokawa came on for McGavin and a minute later Gibbins came on for Cunnington. Springs should have taken the lead again when a corner from the right-hand side was headed over by Wallace when he was completely free. From another free kick from Sykes, Alama volleyed home at the back post, but the ball had already crossed the byline. No goal but a corner was given instead.
Two more substitutes for Bays saw Moses and Marius come on for Guy & Nick. Liam had switched back to the left side when Cam came on. Liam made a break down the left wing, played the ball to Ben, then on to Moses and finally to Louis. He found an overlapping Cam who sent in a cross from the right went right across the penalty box. Ben then made a break down the left wing and crossed to the back post where Louis shot wide. At the other end a cross from the left to right saw a downward header by Tayeb right straight to Louie.
Bays finally took the lead again in the 78th minute when a ball from left to right saw Moses set up Cam. His cross into the near post found Ben who finished with a left footer just inside the post. After 78 minutes the score now read Western Springs 3 East Coast Bays 4. Bays continued with their waves of attacks. A break down the right by Marius saw a cross into the centre that was met by Louis who saw his shot come back out off the post. Louis then tried to return the favour to Marius, but the ball was just a bit too far ahead of him. As expected, Springs kept up the pressure trying for the equaliser and Bays were under the pump for the final five to ten minutes. A cross into the centre by Thomas was headed clear by Jackson. Cam made another one of his trademark runs down the right and his cross clipped the crossbar before being cleared. Billy headed a cross away and then Louie was out smartly to break up a quick Springs counterattack.
The final whistle finally went after what seemed like a never ending second half and Bays had claimed all three points in a highly entertaining game with lots of chances at both ends. Two games over Easter meant maximum points for Bays and we moved back up to third place in the table. Ben was awarded the Bays player of the day for his winning goal and great team performance. Final score was Western Springs 3 East Coast Bays 4. Next game is at home next Saturday against Fencibles with a 3pm kick off. See you all there.
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Final Score: Western Springs 3 vs East Coast Bays 4
Western Springs FC: E Connolly, J Alama, M Thomas, R Watson, C Sykes, B Wallace, O Cunnington (F Gibbins 66), P Tobin, N Steinmetz, C McGavin (S Kurokawa 65), R Tayeb
East Coast Bays: L Caunter, N Maisey (C Brown 61), J Jarvie, H Mason, B Hooper, O Thorpe (I Delaney 61), N Gaze (M Akimana 71), B Jones, P Harrison (L Wicks 61), L Andersen, GE Penda (M Zabarausskas 71)
Goals: Western Springs: R Watson 7 & 61, B Wallace 14
East Coast Bays: N Gaze 2, GE Penda 50, B Jones 55, B Hooper 78