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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Football: No mistake, Bay Utd still underdogs

Anendra Singh
Hawkes Bay Today·
25 Nov, 2016 03:50 PM4 mins to read

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Surely Bay United goalkeeper Joshua Hill won't be left talking to the post away against Auckland City today. PHOTO/NZME.

Surely Bay United goalkeeper Joshua Hill won't be left talking to the post away against Auckland City today. PHOTO/NZME.

OPPOSITIONS going into a match against powerhouses Auckland City FC must relish their underdogs status.

That's because when the six-time Stirling Sports Premiership champions succumb they tend to push the apprehension levels of their rivals to a point where coaches start to thread their worry beads.

Will the Blues shrug off their cobwebs from last weekend's 1-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix U20s at Dave Farrington Park before they kick off at 4.35pm in a televised match against Thirsty Whale Hawke's Bay United at Kiwitea St today?

Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx lamented his men's inability to plant the ball into net despite creating numerous chances.

"That's life," Tribulietx had told the New Zealand Football website.

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The perceived quiet sense of exasperation from the Spaniard, translated, equates to:
"There's going to be hell for everyone else after I'm done with the boys during shooting practice."

Phoenix coach Andy Hedge wasn't putting on airs after the upset, admitting they "got out of jail" considering his men didn't deserve to win with the scant possession they had.

Consequently Bay United coach Brett Angell's men will have to bring their A game although coming away with one point in the opening round of the premiership last summer will do heaps for their confidence.

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Wing back Kohei Matsumoto was the Bay hero that day, grabbing the equaliser in the televised affair that left the O-League campaigners stunned.

Last Sunday Phoenix keeper Lewis Italiano kept the City foragers at bay before the 85th minute winner that New Zealand U20 representatives Sarpreet Singh and Logan Rogerson eked out with the latter doing the unthinkable.

Undeniably Bay United keeper Joshua Hill was the protagonist at Bluewater Stadium, Park Island, repelling waves of attacks from Canterbury United although the Dragons managed to find an equaliser (1-1) against the 10-man hosts in added time.

Surely they can't rely on Hill to do the same a week later?

Or can they?

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After all Bay captain Finlay Milne and his Beefeaters did perform admirably in putting up the storm shutters.

Perhaps the focus should be at the coalface of the visitors' line up.

The hunters and gatherers also made hard work of finding the net and their goal came from a Saul Halpin penalty kick.

Debutant striker Ben Everson looked a little out of sorts last Sunday but then one can argue that is expected in his first outing after he couldn't make an earlier appearance because he could not get his clearance in time from Thailand due to the death of venerated King Adulyadej, 88, the world's longest-reigning monarch, last month.

Fellow strikers Facundo Barbero and Sam Mason-Smith will have to be at their best with Halpin, never mind the fancy hairdos and ritzy facial sculptures to make the most of TV appearances.

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"I have two Japanese friends, Makoto and Toyoki, who are hairdressers in Auckland so I'll have my haircut after the game," says a laughing Matsumoto who is expecting a fair few Japanese fans because of City player Takuya Iwata as well.

The 27-year-old versatile Bay wing defender thinks Bay will come right when centre-mid Cory Chettleburgh returns next round from a carry-on seven-match suspension he picked up playing for Wairarapa United during winter.

No doubt Matsumoto wants nothing more than to score another goal against his former side today.

Fifth-placed Bay want three points, not one to stay in the race for playoffs whereas it's the second-placed hosts' last premiership outing before shifting gears to the higher echelons of the beautiful game.

The Bay have registered two wins, just as many defeats and posted a stalemate so a loss will make it a little difficult to munch through the turkey during Christmas.

Defensive midfielder Martin Canales Ramos is the only change in the Bay squad from last Sunday after collecting a controversial straight red card for a professional foul from behind at the edge of the penalty box.

James Hoyle comes in for him.

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