Josh Jones got a few minutes late in the game against Forrest Hill last week. Today the 17 year old made his first start as a defender against Bay Olympic, turning on a man of the match performance.

Bays started well with early strikes from Dylan Stansfield and Dillon Barnett, but went behind in the 16th minute when a peach of a cross from Al Taaf Sahib found Nicholas Hindson who headed home from close range.

Bays came close two minutes later when Jack Beguely just failed to get on the end of a Barnett cross and it settled down to a period of attack and counter until just past the half hour when Bays won a free kick just inside the Bay Olympic half.

Tom Damon took the kick floating the ball to the far post where Beguely ghosted in to force the ball into the net between the keeper and the upright.

Bays continued to press, Stansfield warmed the keeper’s hands with a powerful drive and then saw a  further attempt touched on to the crossbar and over by keeper Cameron Brown.

Damon took the resultant corner, no one picked up Daewook Kim who headed down into the net and Bays were in front.

The final minutes of the half was frantic. Stansfield broke the Olympic defence only to have his run halted, Olympic went on the attack, Sam Campbell had a drive from the edge of the box which struck a defender and fell kindly to James Pritchett who swept home to level the score.

Then with the half into stoppage time, Bays broke from defence, a long ball found Beguely who outpaced the defenders and finished past a helpless keeper.

Half time 3-2 East Coast Bays.

Stansfield started the second half testing the Olympic defence but an Olympic attack saw Liam Anderson pull off a fine save to deny Hindson.

Just past the hour Bays won another corner and  Damon again found Kim who headed wide of the keeper into the net.

Bays now had a two goal cushion but continued to press the Olympic defence.

Stansfield hit the upright, Kim was blocked seeking his hat trick and Jones won the ball deep on his own half, went on a run deep into Olympic territory but couldn’t put away the final chance.

Stansfield continued to toil hard, creating chances. Had he a modicum of luck he could have had two hat tricks as Bays spent the final twenty minutes camped in Olympic’s half.

A good win, climbing two places and everyone played their part. Captain Tom Damon came close to claiming the man of the match with three assists and a fine all-round game.

Team:  Anderson,  Jones, Cox, Archer, Forrester, Damon Riley (Olla 81), Beguely, Kim, Stansfield (Khalifa 89), Barnett (Andersen 62)

Goals:  Beguely 31, 45   Kim 39, 64