MATCH REPORT: Round 7 vs Fencibles AFC
NRFL Men's First Team Round 7 Match Report – East Coast Bays vs Fencibles AFC, North Harbour Stadium Outer Field, Wednesday 25th May 2022.
Early Goals see off Fencibles onslaught where clinical strikes were the difference between the two sides.
Bays made a number of changes to the starting line up with Sam Carpenter making his debut in goal with Louie away overseas. Todd Gibbs started at the back in place of Bailey and Codey also started in defence. Liam was the new captain, while Louie is away.
Bays were into it from the off and in the first minute a cross into the middle of the Fencibles penalty box was sliced away by the defence for a corner. That corner was cleared to the outside of the box where Declan’s long-range volley went over. At the other end, a shot by Dymond was well wide. Early pressure told on the Fencibles defence when a stray pass went to Liam, who passed to Keegan, and he placed his shot into the bottom left corner for 1-0 to Bays after only 5 minutes gone. A brilliant ball down the outside left channel by Codey found Liam on the burst but he was just caught offside.
Two minutes later Bays had a lucky escape. Todd tried to play the ball out of defence and was robbed of it by Comber. His cross from the right found Dymond who’s right shot just shaved the right-hand post. Then a cross from the left flank produced a weak header by Tobin. In the 17th minute Liam made a great burst down the middle beating multiple defenders before the danger was cleared for a Bays corner. From that corner the Fencibles defence switched off as Keegan arrived at the near post to glance a header into the top left hand corner for 2-0 to Bays. Five minutes later Dymond was clean through but his shot was again wide. The next shot was deflected and the resulting corner lead to a shot wildly over Sam’s goal.
Five minutes later Sam made a great fingertip save around the post from a shot by Clarke. Another long range shot by Clark went well wide. Against the run of play Bays made a break down the left by Callum and his pass found Declan. Just as he was about to shoot Declan was robbed of the ball. Just before half time a ball was drilled in from the left by Codey that almost found Keegan at the back post. But a defender cleared before any danger occurred. The half time whistle went to the relief of the Bays team & supporters. Apart from the opening twenty minutes Bays were under the cosh for most of the first half and if Fencibles hadn’t been so wasteful with their shooting they could have easily been level at half time. Straight after the break the Bays defence weren’t switched on. James made a mistake that luckily lead to a shot going wide by Dymond. Clarke then had a shot wide and from a free kick Fa’apoi headed over the Bays goal. Fencibles then had a cross by Tobin run across the Bays box but not finding any other their attackers at the back post. After 55 minutes Bays had a rare break out of their own half with Liam feeding Oscar who had his shot saved. Fencibles then made their first change with Bulan replacing Clarke.
Three minutes later a ball down the Bays middle by Bulan found Dymond who beat the offside trap. His shot beat Sam but also the far post. Two minutes later a break down the right by Oscar led to a clearance deflecting off Oscar that went forward down the right wing. Keegan picked up the ball, turned inside his defender, and planted a left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner for 3-0 to Bays. Again this was completely against the run of play. Fencibles then had a couple of corners punched away by Sam before the third one was headed wide. After 65 minutes Bays brought on Nicolai to replace Oscar, who put in a great shift. The crosses kept coming in from Fencibles but James was in command of these, comfortably heading them away.
After 70 minutes Bays brought on Nick Gaze for Declan who was having breathing difficulties. Daewook then won a great midfield tussle and his ball down the right found Keegan. His cross to Nicolai was just a touch too close to the keeper. After 75 minutes Fencibles made 3 more substitutions while Bays brought on Bailey for Todd and Matt Beaton on for Daewook. Five minutes later James made a great block on a shot from Purkiss. Five minutes after that Hough made a break down the middle and was brought down just outside the box. From the free kick Fa’apoi drilled the shot under the jumping wall. But it was well saved by Sam. A minute later a long range shot was pushed around the post by Sam for his best save of the match. Another Fencibles long ball down the left was crossed right across the face of goal but captain Liam was there to clear the danger.
The final whistle went and the final score was 3-0 to Bays. This was a game of taking chances and Bays were certainly clinical with theirs whereas Fencibles will rue wasting the many chances they had. A fine hat trick by Keegan and a fine debut by Sam in goal where the highlights of a battling & gritty display by Bays for three well-earned points. Next up is a local derby at home against old foes Northern Rovers.
Final Score: East Coast Bays 3 vs Fencibles AFC 0
Line Ups: East Coast Bays: S Carpenter, J Edgeler, K Kelly, C Simmonds, O Garcia (N Berry 65), D Sweeney (N Gaze 70), M Kolston, DW Kim (M Beaton 75) , T Gibbs ( B Stevenson 75), L Anderson, C Phoenix
Fencibles AFC: J Clark, S Jones, S Fa’apoi, R Clarke, Z Tobin, K Tweed, H McDowell, O Comber, M Hodgson, R Dymond, J Rodwell
Subs: L Bulan 55, A Purkiss 75, P Garofalokis 75, M Hough 75
Scorers: East Coast Bays: K Kelly 5, 19, 60