Football's 2023 season kicks off

Nelson Bays Football 2023 season kicked off last Saturday with senior leagues playing their first fixtures.

Golden Bay Association Football Club’s three senior teams enjoyed mixed fortunes, registering a win, a draw and a loss. But that doesn’t tell the full story of a day on which they scored a total of 13 goals and featured a dramatic comeback – all achieved away from home.

Stingrays: Masters of the comeback

Beginning with age before beauty, GBAFC Stingrays, who are competing in the Master’s competition battled back from 4-1 down to salvage a draw against Motueka.

After a feisty first 20 minutes featuring some scrappy play, Motueka repeatedly breached the Stingray’s defence to score three goals in quick succession, despite some heroics from keeper Phil Smith. Stingray’s striker Chris von Roy then gave his team a lifeline when he netted Sam Hopley’s deflected cross.

In the second half Motueka struck again to extend their lead to 4-1 and seemingly secure the three points. But the Stingrays had other ideas and scored three goals – headers from von Roy and Hopley and a sweet volley from Rob Anderson – to level the score at 4-4 and secure the draw.

The Roli Muntwyler Player of the Day without hesitation went to von Roy for his effort, passion, determination and two great goals.

Mountain Goats scale new heights

Golden Bay Men’s First XI, the Mountain Goats, travelled to Wakefield for a Division 2 clash, and came a way with a convincing 1-5 win.

Luke Concannon opened the scoring after latching on to a defence-splitting pass from skipper Danyon Fleming. Shortly after, Sammie Van der Meer netted following a swift counter attack down the right wing. Wakefield were then awarded a penalty which was initially saved by Goats’ keeper Sam Lear but tapped in on the rebound to halve the home side’s deficit. Wakefield lifted their intensity searching for the equalizer only for the Goats to add to their tally courtesy of Thomas Vernay's pinpoint cross which Concannon dispatched with a powerful header.

With the score at 1-3 Wakefield were awarded another penalty but Lear saved to maintain his side’s two-goal advantage. As the Goats continued to press and Tim Van der Meer was rewarded for his tireless work rate and joined his brother on the scoresheet.

With five minutes left to play, it was the visitors’ turn to have a spot kick – Max Deveaux made no mistake smashing the ball into the back of the net with a perfectly placed and powerful strike, to take the final score to 1-5.

Shield Maidens cross swords with Swans

This season all the senior Women’s teams, including GBAFC Shield Maidens, are competing in the same division.

The Maidens opened their campaign against Nelson Suburbs Swans at Saxton Field. For the first 15 minutes neither side was able to break the deadlock – that is until April Orange struck a shot from outside the box and scored the first goal of the game, and the season, for the Maidens.

Although the Swans quickly levelled, the Maidens restored their advantage with a goal from Isla Foulds. Conceding another goal to the Maidens motivated the home side to press harder, and their work was rewarded with two more goals, taking the half-time score to 3-2.

In the second half the Swans struck first but the Maidens reorganised with keeper Bianca Honey reallocated to a midfield role where she fought through the strong Swans’ defence to score a phenomenal goal. The Swans attacking pressure resulted in them being awarded a penalty which they failed to convert thanks to a save by Aliana Bowden who was playing her first game in goal. The Maidens restored parity with Foulds’s second goal of the day, but the Swans scored a further brace making the final score 6-4 to the home side.

Results And Fixtures

BRIDGE

12 April. Patons Rock Individual Session 4. N/S: A Gray/J Edmondson 55%; E Bradshaw/R Smith 52.5%; K Van Der Struys/D Sarll 49.5%. E/W: H Curtis/A Foreman 61.5%; P Smith/B Burdett 61%; J Harper/D Perreau 44.5%. H/cap: N/S: A Gray/J Edmondson 56.5%; E Bradshaw/R Smith 56.25%; L Grubach-Hambrook/P Panzeri 51.5%. E/W: P Smith/B Burdett 60.75%; H Curtis/A Foreman 60.25%J Harper/D Perreau 46%.

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FOOTBALL FIXTURES 2023 SEASON:

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Men's Division 2: Golden Bay Mountain Goats

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Men's Masters Division: Golden Bay Stingrays

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Senior Women's Premiership: GB Shield Maidens

Women’s Premiership: Golden Bay Shield Maidens