In a commanding display, The Island Bay Alts FC secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Western Suburbs in their league home match at Wellington on 5 April 2025. The match kicked off at 12:30 pm, and the home side showcased their attacking prowess throughout the encounter, leaving their opponents struggling to keep pace.
The Island Bay Alts lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, designed to maximise their offensive capabilities while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Fred Smith took his position in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Bryan James on the right, Joe Cook and Aaron Fed in central defence, and Ajay Dhanjee on the left. Mark Peters operated as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking play between defence and attack. Ahead of him, Harry Demetriou and David Moffat occupied the right and left attacking midfielder roles, respectively, while the forward line featured Max Walker on the right, Gary Byrne as the central striker, and Andy Riley on the left.
The substitutes for the match included Rhiley Bell, Ben Leith, and Matt Allen, who were poised to make an impact should the need arise.
The scoring opened early in the match when Gary Byrne found the back of the net in the 8th minute, expertly converting a pass from David Moffat inside the box with his left foot. This early goal set the tone for the rest of the match, as The Island Bay Alts began to dominate possession and create further chances.
As the first half progressed, Western Suburbs struggled to mount any significant threat, with The Island Bay Alts controlling the midfield and pushing forward with intent. Just before the half-time whistle, Max Walker doubled the lead in the 45th minute, finishing from close range after another assist from Moffat, who was proving to be a key player in the attacking third.
With the score at 2-0, the teams headed into the break, and it was clear that The Island Bay Alts were in the driving seat. The second half began with a tactical substitution for the home side, as Rhiley Bell replaced Harry Demetriou in the 65th minute, aiming to inject fresh energy into the midfield.
The Alts continued their relentless assault on the Western Suburbs goal, and in the 73rd minute, Andy Riley added a third, converting a well-placed cross from Ajay Dhanjee with his right foot inside the box. The home crowd erupted in celebration as the team’s confidence soared.
The scoring was not finished yet, as David Moffat capped off a stellar performance by netting the fourth goal in the 79th minute, assisted by Riley. Moffat’s contribution was instrumental throughout the match, and his goal further emphasised the dominance of The Island Bay Alts.
In the closing stages, tactical substitutions were made as Ben Leith came on for Ajay Dhanjee and Matt Allen replaced Max Walker, both in the 80th minute, as the home side looked to manage their lead and maintain control of the game.
The match concluded with The Island Bay Alts FC comfortably securing a 4-0 victory, a result that not only reflects their attacking capabilities but also their solid defensive organisation. The performance will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they look to build on this success in the upcoming fixtures.
