Imray, who missed out on the Jack Batty award in 2006 despite saving two penalties in Western Suburbs’ shootout win and was on wrong end of a spot kicks loss the following year, earned the MVP honours with a string of saves to protect Miramar’s lead at 2-0 and 2-1 and a crucial penalty stop shortly after Michael White had extended the lead to 3-1 with his 75th minute solo effort.
Tim Schaeffers felled Joe Edwards in the box to gift Bay Olympic a potential lifeline but Imray was more than equal to Nathan Strom’s firmly struck penalty, diving to his right and swatting the ball clear with his left hand to deflate a resurgent Auckland side and clinch Miramar’s fourth Chatham Cup title.
“I know Strommy, he’s a good lad and I thought he was going to smash it,” said Imray, “but I picked the right way and got lucky.”
“At two nil up we were quite comfortable but they nicked a goal and then second half they came at us and I thought they were on top for the first 25 minutes but the third goal killed them off and the lads held on at the end.”
Earlier, Schaeffers had given the Wellingtonians a 12th minute lead when he was first to react to a sweetly struck Darren Cheriton free kick that Bay Olympic goalkeeper Danny Robinson could save but not hold.
Schaeffers’ defensive partner Campbell Parkin – who tasted Cup final defeat with Dunedin Technical two years ago – extended Rangers’ advantage eight minutes later with a fierce close range finish after Dominic Rowe headed a Garry McDermott corner into his path.
Olympic pulled a goal back in the 34th minute via the head of Strom and carried the momentum into halftime and for twenty minutes after the break, but White streaked past Olympic left back Craig Wylie and made no mistake one on one with Robinson to make it 3-1 with 15 minutes to go.
Bay Olympic coach Shane Knowles was left lamenting missed chances.
“The goalkeeper got the Jack Batty trophy and pulled off some great saves, and missing a penalty didn’t help either,” said Knowles.
“We had plenty of chances but just didn’t take them.
“We thought at half time Miramar were struggling a bit and we could get round the back of them but that third goal killed it.”
83rd Chatham Cup Final
Bay Olympic: 1 (Nathan Strom 34)
Miramar Rangers: 3 (Tim Schaeffers 12, Campbell Parkin 20, Michael White 75)
Halftime: 1-2
North Harbour Stadium
Crowd: 1562
Referee: Mirko Benischke
Jack Batty Memorial Trophy (MVP): Phil Imray (Miramar)
Bay Olympic: 1-Danny ROBINSON (GK), 4-Ross McKENZIE (20-Julyan COLLETT 34), 5-Leighton WILLS (12-Andrew CAMPBELL 83), 7-Joe EDWARDS, 10-Colin GARDYNE, 11-Craig WYLIE (captain), 14-Tristan McCORMICK, 15-Nathan STROM, 16-Yoji TANABE, 17-Michael MAYNE (21-Peter NORRIS 76), 23-Richard BEESTON.
Substitute note used: 2-Daniel MARKHAM, 24-Triss CLARK (RGK).
Coach: Shane KNOWLES
Cautions: Julyan Collett 55, Yoji Tanabe 76
Miramar Rangers: 1-Phil IMRAY (GK), 2-Tim SCHAFFERS, 3-Michael WOODSIDE (captain), 4-Campbell PARKIN, 6-Sam JENKINS (15-David JOHNSTON 74), 7-Dominic ROWE, 9-Michael WHITE, 10-Wiremu PATRICK, 12-Darren CHERITON, 17-Michael EAGAR, 19-Garry MCDERMOTT (18-Michael SMITH 83).
Substitutes not used: 8-John SUTHERLAND, 11-Allen CHOTE, 22-Joe MORRIS (RGK).
Coach: Matt CALCOTT
Cautions: Michael White 56, Wiremu Patrick 73
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
For the latest news on NZ Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz