East Coast Bays claimed a place in the Chatham Cup football final with a 2-1 win over Nelson Suburbs in Auckland today.
They now play either fellow Auckland side Glenfield Rovers or Dunedin Technical, who meet in Dunedin tomorrow, in the final on September 13.
Jeff Campbell scored the winner in today's semifinal from the spot 14 minutes from fulltime after the scores were locked 1-1 at halftime.
Joe Bresnahan had East Coast Bays off to a flyer in front of a home crowd when he capitalised on a mishandled Leigh Kenyon shot to swoop in for a fifth-minute goal.
Nelson's Frazer Maebule missed a chance to equalise in the 34th minute but Kidston Billy made no mistake six minutes later, dispossessing Ryan Zoghby then rounding Aiden Gwilt in the East Coast Bays goal.
Nelson started the brightest after halftime but it was East Coast Bays' Dan Peat, who would make the telling contribution, his weaving run into the area clumsily ended by Hamish Lewis before Peat stepped up to take the penalty.
Peat's effort was saved by Brent Fletcher but referee Kevin Stoltenkamp ruled Fletcher moved early and Jeff Campbell slotted the retake.
East Coast Bays 2 (Jeff Bresnahan, Jeff Campbell) Nelson Suburbs 1 (Kidston Billy). Halftime: 1-1.
