Bay Olympic are the first team through to the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup semifinals after a 2-1 over Western Suburbs.
The Auckland team brought a counter-attacking gameplan to Endeavour Park in Whitby on Saturday and proved too tough for the young Wests team to break down.
Wests dominated possession, particularly for the opening half hour, but found themselves a goal down in the 32nd minute when Niklas Hindson smashed a spectacular volley from an acute angle past Wests goalkeeper Andrew Withers at his near post.
Wests were fortunate it wasn’t the second goal they had conceded as two minutes earlier centre back Kyle Adams had passed the ball straight to Bay Olympic striker Jared Colligan on the edge of the box. Withers was outside his far post at the time, but Colligan delayed his shot and Withers was able to get back to catch his tame effort when he eventually made it.
Wests continued to probe away as the first half wore on and were rewarded when Elijah Just was brought down in the box by Benjamin Billings. Owen Parker-Price stepped up to slot the penalty kick.
Wests started the second half well and fashioned a good chance for Xavier Green, but he lifted his shot from the edge of the box up and over the bar.
Bay Olympic grabbed the lead in the 57th minute through centre back Julyan Collett. Withers was unable to get a hand on a high cross, which fell to Collett. He then beat Withers on the ground and finished into the bottom corner.
The visitors set themselves to their task of defending the lead, maintaining their organisation and defensive structure. Wests continued to look good in possession up until the final third, where they just couldn’t find a way through.
Callum McCowatt had their best chance to grab an equaliser in the 65th minute after beating two players on the left edge of the box, but like Green his shot went up and over.
On another day, those players may have found the back of the net, but it wasn’t to be Wests’ day as Bay Olympic marched on into the semifinals.
AT A GLANCE
Chatham Cup quarterfinal
Bay Olympic 2 (Niklas Hindson 32′, Julyan Collett 57′) Western Suburbs 1 (Owen Parker-Price (pen) 41′). HT: 1-1.
– Stuff
