U-23: Davies winner rescues Navy Blues

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 24 July 2021

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - A last gasp winner by Rhys Davies hands Auckland City FC U-23 a frantic 2-1 win over a vastly improved West Coast Rangers U-23 today.

Rangers fielded an experienced line-up that featured the maximum number of five over age players that, combined with a clear physical presence, made for an awkward afternoon for Kris Bright's charges.

GOAL!!! Sam Clegg opens the scoring

A dour and patchy first half came and went without incident but it was the game's latter stages that set pulses racing.

Substitute Sam Clegg came off the bench to open the scoring and hand the Navy Blues U-23s control of the game, or so it seemed, until they conceded a late free-kick in a wide area.

Rangers animated supporters sensed the opportunity to nick a point had presented itself and when Francesco Marignoli got on the end of the free-kick to knock the ball beyond Finn Dockerty it looked like the game was up for City.

Referee Trevor Middleton restarted the game and within seconds City had the ball in Rangers penalty box where the visitors unravelled a series of errors that allowed Davies to grab what seemed a highly unprobably winner only moments before.

Coach Kris Bright sat his team down and read them the riot act with assistant Paul Drake.

"I feel bad for West Coast Rangers they were very compact throughout the game but we gave them a sniff of the points today.

"It was a close one even though we had 85 percent possession. We worked hard but the quality we want at Auckland City FC wasn't there today.

"We kind of played to the game plan but at the same time we had a lot of players hiding in possession. We didn't have anyone put their hand up and get on the ball and want to change the game.

GOAL!!! Francesco Marignoli equalises for West Coast Rangers

"West Coast Rangers were physical and tried to impose themselves on the game. We've had eight or nine chances to put the game away but didn't take them.

"It was one of those games where I thought if we don't stress, we'll score a goal eventually and thankfully that's come through right at the end," he said.

Bright said there was no question his team were playing too much football with careful monitoring of their minutes now a routine process.

"No Auckland City FC player plays more than a game-and-a-half in a weekend. I see it at other clubs with players playing full games for U-17s and then the reserves.

"We have a lot of players who play for Auckland Grammar and pushed on to the Auckland City FC first team but there was no school football this week.

"We had a very young team out there but only four or five school boys," he said.


Ends

Match Result
Lotto NRFL U-23 Premier Division
Saturday 24 July 2021
Auckland City FC U-23 2 (Samuel CLEGG 80', Rhys DAVIES (0+2')
West Coast Rangers FC U-23 1 (Francesco MARIGNOLI 89')
HT: 0-0.

AC: 1. Finn DOCKERTY (GK), 2. Riley SEXTON (21. Thomas HOLMES 53'), 4. Louie DANIELSON (20. Sam CLEGG 59'), 6. Wilson FISHER (c), 8. Alex SMITH (17. Conan REDDY 83'), 9. Finn McCRACKEN, 10. Ilham HAMEEDI (15. Marcel STODDARD 46'), 11. Jeremiah RUAWAHRE (3. Jesse GAGE 83'), 12. Rhys DAVIES, 14. Dempsey THOMAS, 19. Anthony DUNCAN.

COACH: Kris BRIGHT.
ASSISTANT: Paul DRAKE.

OTHER RESULTS

Saturday 24 July 2021
Eastern Suburbs U-23 5-2 Manukau United
Auckland United FC U-23 2-0 Hamilton Wanderers U-23
Birkenhead United U-23 8-1 North Shore United U-23
Western Springs U-23 0-2 Melville United U-23 
Bay Olympic U-23 v Northern Rovers U-23 

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