1st Team Fail to Find 3rd Gear

Despite a 2-1 loss to last placed Three Kings Fatboys, and back to back losses for BMAFC's 1st team, the side still maintain second place on the competition ladder and five points adrift of the league leaders Western Springs.

The result sees BMAFC earn only 1 competition point from their last three fixtures to close out the first half of the year. From here, the draw repeats itself starting with the return match versus Bay Olympic at Te Puru next Saturday. Beachlands will look to turn around recent form which has seen them concede eight goals and score five in their last three matches - a shadow of how the side started their season.

The match against Three Kings at Te Puru Park was a patchy affair with moments of incision from the home side punctuated by positive counter-attacking from Three Kings. Unfortunately for Beachlands, those incisive runs failed to inspire any real pressure on Three Kings' keeper. With Beachlands' shooting radar well off target, Three Kings should have felt lucky not be behind by three or four goals in the first half.

As it was, however, an early Three Kings counter-attack resulted in a searching cross followed by an own goal when an attempted clearing header found the top corner of Beachlands' net. Trying desperately to turn their fortunes around proved to be their handicap as Beachlands simply tried too hard - players travelled too far with possession and failed to take the simple options on offer. The side were not playing as one and ultimately paid the price for their inability to find third gear as a unit.

Ant Schomaker managed to score a cracking goal before half time - the equaliser being the sole highlight for BMAFC. Three Kings second and decisive goal came from a breakdown in possession for BMAFC, a surge by Three Kings and finished off by a quality strike. Being 2-1 behind with plenty of time on the clock Beachlands were not out of the contest at any stage of the match but simply could not settle into the potent rhythm that characterised their earlier games.