AUCKLAND – East Coast Bays added their name to the long list of Chatham Cup winners with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Dunedin Technical at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

A 35th minute own goal – of the head of Tech captain John Chisholm – proved the difference in a game where the teams created few clear-cut chances.

“At the end of the day it’s about putting the ball in the back of the net,” said losing Dunedin coach Mike Fridge “and in the end it was a Tech player it did that for East Coast Bays.”

“They’re a good side and they played some good football but if I’m honest I don’t think caused us too much trouble in the last third.”

I’m gutted for the boys. I don’t think we played well but to lose a cup final on a goal like that is sickening.”

In front of 3000 strong crowd – with a healthy proportion of ‘home’ support from the ranks of the neighbouring North Shore club – East Coast Bays made up for the disappointment of being prevented from re-entering the Northern Region League – with clubs from Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty – at the start of the season by claiming national honours with New Zealand football’s oldest prize.

While East Coast Bays have put increased emphasis on winning the 85-year-old trophy in recent years, the club had never made it past the quarterfinals until this season.

Bays coach Willy Gersden said the club had targeted the Chatham Cup from the moment it was excluded from its preferred winter league and forced to play in United Soccer 1’s inaugural US1 Premiership for clubs from its North Shore, Waitakere and Northland region.

“We’ve been focussed totally on the Chatham Cup from day one because our league is just not strong enough,” said Gersden.

“We will do everything to go back to go back to the old Northern League next year.”

“On our way here we have beaten teams from four different federations. We’ve got a good bunch of players with young players who have come through our ranks and some experienced players who have been around for a while.”

After an early chance to Tech’s Aaron Burgess, Bays shaded possession and territory stakes with a series of back post headers from corners and crosses the biggest threat to the Tech goal.

But just as Dunedin were beginning to reclaim parity in the 35th minute, a long throw from Bays fullback Ryan Zoghby – who later lifted the Jack Batty Memorial trophy for player of the final – found Chisholm at the near post whose header could only help the ball on towards his own goal.

With goalkeeper Nick Tarrant scrambling to cover, Blair Scoullar attempted to hook the ball back to safety but saw it rebound off the underside off the cross bar to give East Coast Bays the lead.

The goal rattled Dunedin Tech briefly but they survived a couple of scares to head into halftime just a goal down.

Tech rallied in the second half through talismanic striker Aaron Burgess who couldn’t quite find the space he needed to add to his season tally of 29 goals, while at the other end Tarrant saved first from Jack Beguely in the 52 minute and then from Dan Peat on the hour to keep the Southerners in it.

A series of late free kicks to Dunedin kept the crowd on a knife-edge until referee Michael Hester eased the tension with the sound of the final whistle to cue wild celebrations from the Chatham Cup’s newest holders.

Earlier in the day Lynn-Avon United continued their dominance of the Women’s Knockout Cup, wrapping up an eighth title with a comfortable 6-2 win over Christchurch’s Western in the final.

Story and photographs courtesy New Zealand Football Media

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81st Chatham Cup Final

North Harbour Stadium

September 13, 2008

Dunedin Technical 0 East Coast Bays 1 (own goal 35)

Dunedin Technical: GK-Nick Tarrant, 3-Tristan Prattley (6-Richard Smith 63), 5-John Chisholm (Captain), 9-Ross McKenzie, 10-Ricky Chidley (7-John Lang 76), 11-Michael Flaws (18-Nick Dale 87), 12-Aaron Burgess, 14-Campbell Parkin, 15-Sam Jasper, 17-Andy Coburn, 20-Blair Scoullar.

Substitutes not used: RGK-Zane Wilson, 2-Hayden Gunn.

Coach: Mike Fridge

East Coast Bays: GK-Aidan Gwilt, 4-Ryan Zoghby, 6-Nick Hyde, 7-Leigh Kenyon (Captain), 10-Daniel Peat, 11-Jason McKeown (5-Arvi Estrin 84), 12-Jack Beguely (14-Riley Webster 69), 13-Glen Forrest, 15-Joe Bresnahan, 17-Jeffrey Campbell, 18-George Suri.

Substitutes not used: RGK-Sam Jewell, 8-Daniel Morgan, 9-Arik Kubicki,

Coach: Willy Gersden