BMAFC Power into Cup Final

Beachlands Maraetai AFC 1st Team have qualified for the Counties Manukau Knock-out Cup Final in fine style - beating Division 1 side High School Old Boys (from Papatoetoe) 6-1 at Te Puru on Sunday.

The final will be decided in two weeks' time on the weekend of 11th-12th September, against a team and at a venue yet to be decided. There are two remaining sides - Manurewa AFC Over 30s Division 1 team and Mangere United's Championship Division side - due to do battle for the other Finals spot this coming Sunday.

The weather provided a mixed bag for Sunday's match which began in patchy rain and became torrential and icy cold towards the back end of the first half. After a short half time break, the weather too, broke and sunshine prevailed for the remained of the match. As for the football, Beachlands continued their habit of scoring early as player-coach Brian Preston, in a trade-mark move, headed an attacking corner home within the first five minutes of the game.

A tense battle ensued for a time as Beachlands struggled to maintain their possession - a consequence of their inability to settle into a composed, team-oriented attitude with the ball. HSOB's strikers were quick and at times elusive, and with their midfield finding open spaces with penetrating through-balls, the visitors had Beachlands' three-man defensive line stretched at times. However, HSOB's poor finishing, Beachlands' defensive determination and a difficult head-wind kept HSOB toothless in the danger zone.

With the ball won just on the Beachlands side of half-way, defender Mark Bignell nailed a perfect line-ball deep into HSOB's right corner, offering space for striker (and player of the day) Bryce Henney to chase down and apply some majestic individual skill to beat the scrambling defense and shoot past the keeper to score Beachlands' second goal. Momentum suddenly swung towards Beachlands and a third goal came before the break via a bazaar reverse-head from left wing Matt Henney - the well-weighted nod lobbed the ball over the out-stretched arms of High School's keeper.

The half time chat stressed the need for trust in one-another as, despite the 3-0 scoreline, the football was largely unflattering and further mistakes could prove very costly for Beachlands. High School Old Boys were behind on the scoreboard but well in the contest in terms of ability and desire.

Primed for a strong finish and with one hand clamped on victory, Beachlands rose to the occasion to impose their brand of football on the opposition. Quick, accurate passing from back to front helped Beachlands unpick the fabric of their opponents' structure. The gaps created allowed in-form winger Jonny Rist score his third goal in two games and stretch Beachlands' lead to 4-0. And soon after skipper Ant Schomaker launched a rocket into the back of the net for their fifth goal.

High School Old Boys continued the fight throughout the match and persisted with those penetrating through-balls, but their strikers remained unable to capitalise.

Towards the closing minutes of the match defender James Gibbs applied polish to Beachlands' scoreline - scoring his seventh goal of the year and Beachlands' sixth and final goal of the match.

HSOB earned their deserved consolation as a lapse in concentration in Beachlands' defense allowed for a relatively untroubled passage into the goal box, following a goal kick from the locals. And High School's tireless striker made no mistake with his shot - the solitary goal an unfortunate and unnecessary blemish on an otherwise solid performance at the back for the home side.

Keep an eye on this website for confirmation of the Final as it is announced...