BMAFC Run Riot in Knock-out Cup

After another glorious day of sunshine and a blanket cancellation of all games on Saturday, BMAFC 1st Team were desperate to play some footy and continue there success from last season in the Counties Manukau Knockout Cup.

Much to the bemusement of everybody, the match was transferred from Otahuhu's glorious #1 to their #3 pitch which looked more like the rolling green fields of a paddock, while their #1 was like a bowling green and dry as a bone.

These conditions only seemed to stir up BMAFC.

Pete Jones (stand-in Manager whilst Henri Habraken is away) applied some positional changes with Ant Schomaker (Captain) and Bryce Henney installed as the striking duo and new recruit Chris Wood slotting into central midfield. The call was to keep the passing short and quick! and release our strikers earlier. Brian Preston (Player Coach) demanded "No Complacency! Just because they were Division 3 it didn't mean they were going to be a walk over." As further motivation, Beachlands were reminded of how well they had done last year when they were in Division 5. (In 2010 BMAFC made it through to the semi-finals of the Counties Manukau Knock-out Cup, losing to eventual winners Papatoetoe 3-1).

After dominating for the opening 20 minutes, BMAFC scored though Ant Schomaker after he was crudely hacked down inside the box. Ant got up and calmly slotted home the resulting penalty. Bryce Henney was next on the score sheet after some more quick intelligent passing, and soon after James Gibbs drilled the ball home after a surging run form inside his own half. Ant Schomaker added three more to his tally and Shane Dalton notched his first goal of the season with a looping header on the end of some great work down the right flank. Half time score: 7 nil.

The half time talk was about keeping the tempo going, not letting up and not getting complacent. Well, the lads listened and within 2 minutes Bryce Henney had slotted his second. His hat-trick duly followed minutes later - as he rounded the keeper and about to slot home into an empty net, he was rugby-tackled by Otahuhu's keeper (purely out of frustration as his goal had been breached so many times already!) Bryce expertly slotted home the resulting penalty to make it 9 nil.

With Otahuhu reduced to 10 men and BMAFC with a healthy lead Pete Jones started to empty the bench. Ben Taylor was on for the tireless Shane Dalton, then Brian Preston was awarded a rest after almost being knocked out playing in a friendly for the O35's the previous day.

The goals continued to flow, Johnny Rist followed up for an easy tap in, and Bryce bagged a double hat-trick.

Johnny Rist capped of a fine performance with another goal before being substituted to give in-form reserve player Shane Gardner a chance to shine. It didn't take him long as he was on the spot to finish a good cross from inspirational captain Ant Schomaker, to slot home his first goal for the 1st Team. Ben Taylor also made his presence felt - after watching his effort rebound of the up-right he calmly regathered and slotted home. And Bryce Henney capped of a Man of the Match performance with two more goals taking his tally for the day to eight.

As Pete Jones duly pointed out after the match, despite that they were a very average side, we played brilliant football with quality movement and top draw finishing! A lot of teams tend to become complacent when 7 nil up at half time.

Not BMAFC, they were just ruthless!

By Brian Preston