Match squad:

 

 

Lawrence, Dave (captain), Patrick, Jason, Stuart, Phil & Michael

 

 

 

Following the win in the 1^st game of the season, our 2^nd game against Canterbury was eagerly awaited.

 

 

 

The first half saw Bay City Strollers 50s having more possession of the ball than the visitors.  Fair but strong defending, organised from the back and supported by wingbacks led to Bay City being able to create the best chances of the half. Regretfully the Canterbury keeper was in good form to save any goal bound attempt.  This meant that the teams ended the 1^st half all squared at the break, coming off at half time with the game still level at 0-0.

 

 

 

Canterbury obviously had not read our script of continuing the winning streak from the first game and it was the away team who took the lead early in the 2^nd half.  However, the lead was short lived, when Jason struck the equaliser from a very difficult tight angle on the right, shooting with power and great accuracy to finally get the better of the opposing keeper.  The 2^nd half was suddenly a more even game with both sides having chances to take the lead.  But it was Canterbury, taking advantage of a stray back pass by Phil, who took the lead again.  With Bay City Strollers pressing to equalise for a 2^nd time, Canterbury again scored putting them into a 3-1 lead.  With a lack of substitutes and a hot, sunny, draining day, Captain Dave tried to lift the team and the pressure on the opposition paid off when Phil laid off a pass for Dave to beautifully strike it into the top right hand corner making the score 2-3.

 

 

 

The game became frantic with Bay City Strollers looking for an equaliser and both teams had chances at either end but it wasn’t meant to be for the Bay City 50s as the game ended with a 2-3 loss.

 

 

 

Positives from the game must be: (a) the fantastic holdup play from Michael waiting for his team mates to get up the field and support him, (b) the constant communication from Stuart to make sure the opposition were marked as they attacked and (c) the athleticism of young Lawrence in goal keeping the opposition at bay especially in the 2^nd half.  In addition to this, our defenders proved to be as much of a goal threat to the opposition as our more advanced players, with Patrick going close with thunderous shots whilst Dave and Jason (our 2 goalscorers on the day) had other attempts on goal going narrowly wide, saved by their keeper or blocked by stubborn defending.

 

 

 

A fairer result from today’s performance would of been a draw.  A very close game played in good spirits, helped by having a strict but fair referee.  Bring on our next opponents Ethelbert on the 27^th August (ko 11am)