2023 Men’s National League – Week 5
Christchurch United vs Petone
Timing can can be slippery aspect of any endeavour. The National League is no different. This weekend saw the hosting of the annual Napier U19s national tournament, as well as a full round of men’s and women’s Nats fixtures. For some clubs that was irrelevant. For others they prioritised their first teams and sent the next in line to Napier. For others, they chose to allow their younger players to get amongst it at their own age grade – letting them go and try dominate some games which can also be a valuable experience within their development. It’s an each to their own situation. Christchurch United, whose U19s went on to win the satellite tourney in Napier, kept guys like Jago Godden, Aidan Lehan, and Nick Murphy around as they chase a National League title. Last-placed Petone, on the other hand, sent seven players to Napier who have played MNL this year. Including their starting goalkeeper. They finished runners-up to Birkenhead in the U19s championship.
That suggested a potentially brutal afternoon for the Wellingtonians. Christchurch United welcomed Eddie Wilkinson back to the starting eleven and will have been relieved to have Eoghan Stokes out there following an injury in week four. Paul Ifill also gave a debut to fullback Aidan Lehan. Pretty much at full strength as they sought to rebound after that shock loss to Manurewa. Petone didn’t have Oscar Boyce in goal so what did they do? It’s Petone so of course they found a Pickering to do the job. Jordan Pickering with the gloves. Additionally, Brynn Sinclair returned to the starters at CB and Jaga Scott-Greenfield got a go in midfield. Still a strong team even if they were without the engine man Sam Pickering.
It was an open contest to begin with, the Rams going close when Cam Lindsay thumped a volley, edge of area, with some sweet contact but off target. Sam Philip had a couple of sneaky nudges blocked by defenders inside the six yard box. But Isaac Snell also had a few cracks for Petone, while a couple of lapses in communication involving CU’s goalie Scott Morris caused gasps in the crowd. The Rams did tighten the screws as the first half went on. Lots of corner kicks with Aaron O’Driscoll always on the prowl. Stokes had a shot well stopped by J.Pickering. But Petone are a solid defensive side and they withstood that. Their young forwards were able to win a few free kicks spinning out of challenges to drag their team forward and five mins before the break Matt Brazier struck the post going 1v1 with O’Driscoll... so nearly the magic moment they were seeking. Instead Dan MacLennan scored about twenty seconds later for CU. Collected a long ball from Matt Tod-Smith and then picked out the bottom near corner.
Petone had three penalty shouts during the first half, none of which were adhered to. There was also a surge where they didn’t get the benefit of an advantage despite a counter attack brewing. Some officiating frustrations... yet they were only 1-0 down at the break. Jamaya Shearer twice almost tied things up early 2H only for Morris to get close enough to deny him with a trailing leg for one and to stay big and parry the other away. And Matt Brazier would’ve had a goal of the season candidate had his scissor kick not been cleared off the line. They did lose Sinclair to injury though, Sean Matthews replacing him for a MNL debut.
We’ve seen this pattern across both leagues where the clubs without much National League experience have lost a lot of close games because they don’t quite own those big moments or take advantage of their strong spells when they come along. This was the same thing. 57th minute and a turnover allowed Matt Tod-Smith to collect a one-two back from Philip and smack in a mean finish for twos. Petone had a solid ten minutes. CU had a solid ten seconds. Instead of 1-1 it was 2-0.
It was only 2-0 until it became 3-0, which might’ve happened when O’Driscoll lifted a swinging shot over the bar. Or when Philip tried to place one in the bottom corner where JP made a great diving save. Eventually it happened when Jago Godden was able to re-divert an off-target volley from MacLennan in the 83rd minute for the goal that had felt inevitable ever since the second one went in.
That’s the way it ended. The Rams helped themselves to a clean sheet victory, exactly what the doctor ordered. Tod-Smith was excellent with his all-round involvement. Scott Morris now leads the MNL with three cleanies. Dan MacLennan got the goods with a goal and an assist though Philip, Stokes, and Wilkinson all had their moments on attack as well – lots of options there. They found timely moments to score and they didn’t offer a hint of a comeback down the stretch. That’s how contending teams are supposed to comport themselves. As for Petone, it’s all experience. This was a tough game but the scoreline doesn’t reflect the ways in which they battled. They just need to be more clinical when the opportunities present themselves because you can bet that teams like Christchurch United are going to. In fact, you just read how they did.
Christchurch United 3-0 Petone
Goals (Assists)
41’ | CU | 1-0 | MacLennan (Tod-Smith)
57’ | CU | 2-0 | Tod-Smith (Philip)
83’ | CU | 3-0 | Godden (MacLennan)
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Cashmere Technical vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Another Tech home game brought us back to the luscious Nga Puna Wai complex as they sought to become the fourth team in five weeks to keep the WeeNix scoreless... granted the lads did score six in the other game. Cashy Tech had yet to keep a clean sheet themselves so those streaks couldn’t both continue. No Garbhan Coughlan for CT. Their star striker was absent presumably due to the U19s tournemant – given how he’s the club’s director of football and all that. Zander Edwards took his spot in the line-up, while Lachie McIsaac came in at left-back and Danny Kane at right-back.
On the Phoenix Reserves side they didn’t quite get the first team influx they’d have hoped for with the A-League beginning the same weekend. The Women’s Reserves have had the four leftovers in both weeks but some pesky injuries and a small squad haven’t left the fellas much wiggle room – probably because the first team is half academy players already. No players on first team deals for the Tech match... but they still had a solid team of 2023 regulars with only Joshua Tollervey making his first National League start of the year amongst this crew. Seth Karunaratne, Ryan Watson, and Anaru Cassidy all returned to the starters – with Josh Rudland and Charlie Beale called up to the wider first team squad for round one (Jackson Manuel was in that group too but he started at left back here so he must’ve been one of the ‘two to be omitted’).
No surprises that the WeeNix were moving the ball around confidently. The good thing for the Nix was that Sloane-Rodrigues was stretching his legs. We’ve been waiting for this. But he volleyed over as the first chance landed happily in front of him, a better chance than it’s convenience suggested. The bad thing was that it was all a little bit frantic. Tech don’t mind sitting deep and they know how to pounce. Aidan Barbour-Ryan had the scent, although it was Zander Edwards who stole the ball off McKay leaving only the keeper to beat only to shoot the wrong side of the post. His head was more accurate...
16 minutes gone and Cashmere Tech had the lead. Good cross from ABR, good header from ZE. Lyle Matthysen had a chance to make it two soon after but didn’t quite get the placement as Kelly-Heald made the save. No dramas. Danny Kane went moved the ball forward from fullback and then carried his run into the area where Seth Karunaratne caught him late and immediately realised his mistake. Tom Schwarz buried it. 2-0 to CT. Third week in a row that the WeeNix have conceded a spot kick.
Edwards managed to lob a bouncer over AKH though not cleanly and it missed the far post. Matthysen lashed one over after a slick run from Jacob Richards had led to a blocked shot. Tricky times for the Phoenix... yet there were times when their passing aligned like majestic visions, such as one move that ended with Tollervey seemingly about to dash through and score except that Matt Foord came sliding out to take the ball off his feet. Also the GSR stuff was not a drill. This was the prodigy in flow. He only turned 16 in July so don’t expect precision in his game just yet, focus on the raw ability: here is a young kiwi footballer who can dribble at full speed whilst changing direction and beating defenders. That’s rare. That’s what the in-house Phoenix folks have been trying to tell us. It took a couple of games for him to settle but now the message is getting through.
GSR had an opening early second half that he blazed over the top, unable to cut the deficit. Despite the 2-0 scoreline that first half still had some strong phases of footy from the WeeNix including ending it on the attack. It’s the same lesson their female counterparts also got dealt this weekend: errors are punished at this level. WeeNix teams of old would often be competitive for much of their games only for the bits where they lapse to be what decide the results. It’s not about whether or not they can do good stuff. It’s about doing good stuff better and for longer.
Tech weren’t exactly in game management mode. They had the ball in the net via Taguchi except the offside flag had already gone up. Zander Edwards looked like a man with a point to prove (not only because this was a rare start for him but also because he spent some time with the Nix Academy) while ABR was spinning out of tackles like he’s been doing all season. And you know their backline soaks up pressure like a sponge. They were where they wanted to be.
With half an hour to go, the WeeNix made a quintuple substitution. Five at once, including a season debut for Noah Karunaratne although he didn’t get to join his brother on the pitch because Seth was one of the five dudes replaced (as was GSR). Kailen Nguyen, Daniel Makowem, Matthew Sheridan, and Joseph Cornille were the other blokes introduced. Jackson Manuel got some midfield minutes as part of the fallout and he used that opportunity to draw a yellow card for battering Matthysen. Then, all of a sudden, the Nix pulled one back with ten minutes to go courtesy of Kailin Nguyen (scrambling from a Sheridan corner).
Game on. Taguchi thought he’d won a penalty for Tech after Cornille took him down but that got waved away. The WeeNix went back on the attack searching for a levelling goal. Most of their best stuff came through Sheridan, whether it be his corner kicks or his overlapping crosses or even one driven shot on target. He tried a loooong free kick at the very end too but Foord gathered it no dramas. The closest they got was a Dan McKay header from one of those corners which was cleared by the man on the post. It felt like Cashmere Tech were hanging on at the end... but we know them too well to think they don’t back themselves in those moments. 2-1 to Tech.
Good old Tech still finding a way without Coughlan in the ranks. They’re actually undefeated so far against non-Auckland teams. Lost to both City and United but otherwise have two wins and a draw. They face Manurewa next so that’ll be a feisty one. Zander Edwards took his opportunity nicely while Lyle Matthysen and Aidan Barbour-Ryan continued to stay busy. Tom Schwarz was superb... this team just knows how to grind things out.
The WeeNix are in a constant state of learning each season as the squad gets refreshed however the fight back at the end was worth plenty of encouragement. Particularly Matt Sheridan’s work off the bench. This was the first we’ve seen of him this season after some fine work in 2022. Doubt it’ll be the last. And let’s save the last word to recognise Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues because that kid has got something special. This was the first game where it really shone in the National League. Don’t even be shocked if he sneaks onto an A-League bench before that season is over.
Cashmere Technical 2-1 Wellington Phoenix Reserves
16’ | CT | 1-0 | Edwards (Barbour-Ryan)
24’ | CT | 2-0 | Schwarz [pen] (Kane)
81’ | WP | 2-1 | Nguyen
Auckland United vs Wellington Olympic
Now here was a tasty one. Third versus fourth in a league where only the top two teams advance. Wouldn’t call this an elimination game with four more rounds remaining but with Christchurch United in the process of winning as this one kicked off it’s damn near impossible to imagine how both these teams can make the final. It was the top scoring team, Olympic, against the one of the best defences, United.
Wellington Olympic got Jack Cawley back for this match. That’s good news. No Theo Ettema so Joseph Hopper took his spot in midfield. Gavin Hoy also earned a start off the back of some fine substitution offerings. Auckland United were without Dre Vollenhoven which meant Noah Billingsley came into the team right wing-back with Everton O’Leary swapping to the left side and Daniel Atkinson moving into that roaming creative role behind the two forwards. That was their only change after the 1-0 win over Petone. The Greeks were following on from two multi-goal draws in a row so defence will have been on their minds. Absolutely fascinating contest in so many ways. May the best team win.
You knew this was gonna be a fun one as soon as Ross Haviland clattered into Hamish Watson inside of sixty seconds. Watto must've held a grudge because he’d get booked half an hour later for needlessly following through and shouldering Haviland to the deck after the ball had gone. Nothing violent but it was petty... in a hilarious way. Meanwhile Joel Stevens had a go with a low free kick that Mack Waite tipped awkwardly around the post. Stevens also fired a low cross into the danger zone which Watson turned goalwards but Waite got across. Good shot, even better save. However the warning signs were there for the home side and in the 12th minute came a banger of a goal from Gavin Hoy. Stevens picked him out, edge of the box, and Hoy rolled smoothly onto his right foot then blasted past Waite for the early goal – the eighth one that WO have scored inside of 30 minutes this season.
Olympic were looking fantastic... then they made one mistake and it was 1-1. Cawley had his pockets picked and Atkinson slipped the ball towards an overlapping Hideto Takahashi. Old mate threw in the spin move like he was Joe Rokocoko back in the day and then stepped inside past another challenge and poked in a wonderful equaliser. So cool having a dude of that pedigree in this league, with wisdom to impart and also plenty of sizzle still in the boots.
Speaking of sizzle, Joel Stevens has a bit of that himself...
Said it before and shall say it again: nobody has a highlight reel of National League bangers as extensive as Joel Stevens. This isn’t even his first outrageous free kick goal of the season. Thus ten minutes after conceding, the Greeks were back in front as these two teams scrapped it out some more. Neither side giving an inch, always fighting through the contact. Lots of advantages were played by the ref. Lots of earfuls were received by the ref. Lots of running at the defensive lines. Lots of commanding work by the likes of Haviland and Ben Mata. There’s a reason the three goals that were scored in the first half were all speccies: because that’s what it took.
This was a real test for WO because they’ve been leaky at the back this year. Prone to getting caught short for numbers... and at 2-1 they definitely weren’t going to stop chasing that third goal. They were close to catching up with it on 55’ when Watson flipped a clever ball over his shoulder for Gianni Bouzoukis running past him. GB’s strike was slapped away by Waite. Watson then got his (last) final warning after tripping Yousif Al-Kalisy. Naturally, he disagreed...
If that’s not a definitive image of the NZ Men’s National League then dunno what is. Love this game. Love this league. Love a bit of Hamish Watson niggliness (unless you’re playing against him). Anyway, Stevens tried another free kick... low this time and tipped wide by Waite. Tam Dimairo came on for Olympic. Hiroyoshi Kamata was first off the bench for United. Will Stephen and Ishveer Singh-Dhillon would follow as they sought a second equaliser. Xavier Green had curler that didn’t curl and thus went wide. Josh Redfearn sent over a square ball that didn’t meet a friendly boot. Redfearn looked like he might be through on 75’ but Olympic got numbers back to shut it down.
But there really wasn’t much to feed off. You’d probably have to call this the best defensive display of the MNL so far from the Greeks. They still couldn’t keep a clean sheet, however with the game in the balance they hardly allowed a chance and all the while they kept pestering on attack. Watson tried a long shot that wasn’t far away. Sinclair had the ball in the net but he was offside and seemed to know it. Gavin Hoy was working his socks off winning and retaining possession. Eventually Gianni Bouzoukis sealed the deal. Signed on the dotted line. Cheque’s in the mail. Sweet assist from Jack-Henry Sinclair and GB was bound to bury it. There were a couple more chances for a fourth but don’t worry about it. As long they were on attack, United weren’t. That was the point. Wellington Olympic with the 3-1 victory.
And so Auckland United were dealt their first loss of the MNL phase. They were good but their opponents were better... and also had a little more variety on attack. Vollenhoven was missed. But Haviland had a blinder at the back while Takahashi and Waite were very good also. They were able to get season debuts for Fumiya Ito and Benji McCarthy late on. Hate to say it but they may need to beat Auckland City next week if they’re going to stay in grand final contention though.
Mate, that was prime Wellington Olympic. They scored three wonderful goals and could’ve had more, breaking down one of the best defences in the competition. Bouzoukis is now tied for top scorer with five. Sinclair has the most assists with six. Ben Mata was imposingly excellent at the back while Justin Gulley and Hamish Watson had strong games too. This was a big performance and an even bigger result.
Auckland United 1-3 Wellington Olympic
12’ | WO | 0-1 | Hoy (Stevens)
23’ | AU | 1-1 | Takahashi (Atkinson)
33’ | WO | 1-2 | Stevens
81’ | WO | 1-3 | Bouzoukis (Sinclair)
Napier City Rovers vs Manurewa AFC
Tying in smoothly with the U19s Nationals was a home game for Napier City Rovers at Bluewater Stadium. Both these teams were coming off victories. Rovers out-gruelled the WeeNix for a 1-0 win whereas Rewa shocked Christchurch United for a 2-1 triumph. These two aren’t competing for the final but that’s why this game was important: it was one that both clubs could see as winnable. A chance to see how they each track with expectations, as opposed to being underdogs with nothing to lose. Plus of course for Napier City this was their whole weekend. Napier football on Labour Weekend. The nation’s next generation looking on.
Rovers made a couple of curious changes. They missed Ta Eh Doe in midfield while Kaeden Atkins was only on the bench. Both had been ever-present. However Fergus Neil was back and George Andrew retained his spot in defence after an impressive game last time. James Mack and Sam Lack were the other two fellas brought in, each making their first starts of the term. Manurewa also mixed it up. No Dylan Morris so Sean Leadley made his first appearance, let alone start. Also Hayat Ali Tobita returned to the XI, as did goalkeeper Regan Diver.
There are nice ways for games to start and there are cruel ways. This was the latter, as the ball was sent forward immediately by NCR and Christian Leopard went over badly on his knee whilst competing for it. Looked like a nasty one, he’d need the stretcher. Injuries suck. Alex Mort came on in Leopard’s place.
Actual football commenced with NCR trying to make the play and Rewa happy to sit and counter... and the sit and counter strategy was working best as Monty Patterson nearly scored, lifting an effort over the keeper but onto the roof of the net as he attacked a long ball. Wee man Nico Bobadilla flipped a header on target too. Granted, Rovers were working just as hard and could’ve taken the lead themselves when Mort bounced a header onto the crossbar via a crucial touch from the fingers of Diver. Plus whenever Deri Corfe gets the ball there’s potential for funkiness. It was end to end with no breaths. A beep test of a football game.
As the half went on and a bit of tiredness emerged, that slight drop in intensity meant the fouls began to rise. Except against Corfe because nobody could catch him, so he skipped through several tackles and smacked a decent shot that Diver pushed away on 41’. As well as a turning volley that went high. Still 0-0 at the half but it was one of those 0-0s that had genuine possibilities to go in either direction.
Patterson thought he’d won a penalty early second half... ref disagreed. Corfe stung the palms of RD soon afterwards. Ronaldo Munoz had a pop at a dipping volley. Jim Hoyle made an outrageously good sliding block just as Patterson looked like he was gonna make the breakthrough. The back and forth was starting to lean more forth in favour of Rewa until Mohammed Muzakkir-Nabeel kicked Alex Mort in the face getting too enthusiastic over a loose ball. Mort picked up an injury and would be subbed for Atkins. It was right in front of the benches too so both coaches got to make their protests as MMN was yellow carded. Might’ve been some more words offered less than ten minutes later when the same dude lunged into another one and got a second yellow. Just as Rewa seemed to be grabbing hold of this one they were dropped to ten men.
Then they scored regardless. Boon Ozawa with the centring ball and Nico Bobadilla with the touch and shot, expertly done... up until he seemed to pull a hamstring in the celebration. From pleasure to pain. He’d be substituted before the game got back underway. Don’t see that every day.
That left twenty minutes for NCR to find a response. The best they could manage was long shots. Corfe had to keep dropping deeper to get his touches and was often too far away to spark stuff. Tino Contratti and Sammy Khan gobbled up deliveries into the area the whole way through, and whatever they didn’t get Diver claimed instead. Monty Patterson’s tricky feet gave them a counter-attacking valve. Manurewa kept their first clean sheet and won their second game. 1-0 was the final score.
Two on the trot and Rewa have gone from last to sixth in the space of a fortnight. Since switching to a back four they’ve only conceded once in 180 minutes. You wouldn’t have even known they were playing with ten given how efficient they were in that final twenty minute block. Napier City will feel that’s one they should’ve done more with but Doe was a loss in midfield and they never quite got control. They should get Jonny McNamara back next week though Leopard looks like his season could be over. It’s a rough one. Deri Corfe finally met an opponent he couldn’t score against after rippling the net in four consecutive games.
Napier City Rovers 0-1 Manurewa AFC
68’ | M | Red card for Muzakkir-Nabeel
70’ | M | 0-1 | Bobadilla (Ozawa)
Eastern Suburbs vs Auckland City
It could be argued that neither of the two undefeated Northern League teams were up to their usual standards through those first four weeks. The difference is that Auckland City have been winning despite not yet finding their flow whereas Eastern Suburbs had done everything but win. Subs hosted this one at Madills Farm on the back of three straight draws. They drew twice with Auckland City during the year. Perhaps it’d be third time lucky for one or the other.
Auckland City knew the importance of this game because back came regular goalie Conor Tracey, plus Liam Gillion finally got an overdue start and they also welcomed back Joe Lee who’d missed the last three matches. Takuya Iwata got the nod at left-back. Rayan Tayeb moved into an attacking midfield role with Gerard Garriga out injured and Mario Ilich only on the bench after missing last week. Also on the bench was Dylan Manickum, futsal king, in line for his first MNL appearance of the term. For Eastern Suburbs there was only one change to the side that drew 2-2 with Wellington Olympic: Adam Thurston picked up an injury last week so NZ U23s rep Ryan Verney earned his third start.
The key for Subs was to get Luis Toomey involved as often as possible and straight away there were signs of his running and passing ability, including a nudge in behind for Verney whose shot was expertly blocked by a sliding Christian Gray. However Tooms did miss a huge chance after six minutes as he glanced a Francis De Vries cross slightly off target. Also flipped a left-footed shot just wide of the post as well, part of a very energetic beginning from the Lilywhites.
That was more than anything City produced at the same time, granted they were defending in good numbers and seeking to push the ball when they could. Early stages here were also notable for a bit of leniency from the referee as both teams tried to make a physical statement. A few tussles between Toomey and Jordan Vale. Same deal for Angus Kilkolly and Stephen Hoyle. This was derby football, don’t forget it. Toomey got a warning after his fourth foul inside of 17 minutes.
Hoyle managed to put an overhead kick into the net after 20 mins but it only crept in because Tracey had been obstructed by an offside player. Kingsley Sinclair might’ve also done better with a volley he struck high, then he absolutely should’ve done better striking on his left after some brilliant work from Toomey had sent him into the area.
It was electric stuff from the Lilywhites... yet they didn’t actually have anything to show for it and just to illustrate the point Liam Gillion soon had the ball in the net up the other end. He was offside but the warning was heeded all the same: ACFC can turn it on at any given moment plus they have this pesky tendency to outlast teams deeper into matches. City were constantly looking for that lifted ball behind the ES defensive three and late in the first half almost got what they were after when Tayeb ran onto one and squared for Kilkolly... who got underneath his shot and put it over. FDV had whipped a free kick into the grasp of Tracey a wee bit earlier. Toomey drew a diving stop out of him a wee big after. Goalless at the break.
Howieson had a great chance called back for a foul before an FDV cross only just evaded Kalua at the far post. Both teams throwing hypothetical derby punches from the opening bell of the second half. Soon it was time for a Dylan Manickum introduction (in place of Gillion, who’d not been as effective on the left wing as he has been on the right lately). Suburbs kept winning corners so then Reggie Murati joined the action in place of Lee. Albert Riera going to be bench pretty early here – ES could take that as a compliment.
As it happens, they’d have preferred it without the compliment because those substitutions worked. Manickum immediately got to drifting into pesky areas and he wasn’t far off when he curled a strike aimed for the top corner. Meanwhile Regont Murati did this...
There it was. Lovely angled run inside and a perfect give-and-go with Cam Howieson. Then the finish off the post. No wonder he was stoked.
The Lilywhites threw on Jackson Jarvie and Jayden Scott. The attritional toll of this game was insane, with damn near half the players out there needing injury pauses at some stage – ranging from hard tackles to Campbell Strong copping a ball to the side of the head. Pretty sure Rayan Tayeb was the only starting midfielder for either team who did not succumb to the physio’s seductions at any point... must be the indestructibility of youth. That did set us up for a hefty amount of stoppage time, although before we got there Angus Kilkolly doubled the lead with a mean header from a Cam Howieson free kick. Beat Aaryan Raj to the aerial which takes some doing.
Wasn’t quite time to hang up the phone though. Dylan Laing-McConnell came on and wasn’t far from sliding onto a De Vries cross with his first involvement. Subs cleared the bench with Malcolm Young and Joe Jeremiah also sent out so AC responded with the power play of Emiliano Tade and Mario Ilich. Back and forth we went until the sixth minute of stoppages when Luis Toomey ensured that his excellent mahi wouldn’t go unrewarded when he flipped a direct free kick into the bottom corner to spoil Tracey’s clean sheet and give his team just a little hint of hope... but Auckland City held it down from there for a 2-1 victory.
That’s a superb win from the Navy Blues, overcoming a difficult opponent that they’ve struggled to break down previously to earn three points that probably now has them with one foot in the final. Or at least a few toes because they do still need to face Auckland United, Wellington Olympic, and Christchurch United so nothing gets easier from here. Cam Howieson had two assists from midfield because he’s amazing. Mike Den Heijer was overpowering in that deeper mid role. Four of their last five goals have been scored by substitutes.
The grand final dream is over now for Eastern Suburbs. They could win their last four games and still only get to 15 points which won’t be enough. As good as their defence is they haven’t kept a clean sheet and as well as they played in the first half of this match they didn’t score until the 90+6th minute. Napier City and Cashmere Tech can attest that even if you take your chances when you’re on top against Auckland City it still might not be enough. But it definitely won’t be if you don’t. At least they’ve got Luis Toomey who right now has elevated himself into the conversation for National League players you flick on the livestream specifically to watch. Francis De Vries was good too. It’s the same issue every game for the Lilywhites: they need a centre-forward to put the chances away. Get the feeling there’ll be a noteworthy transfer before the start of the 2024 campaign.
Eastern Suburbs 1-2 Auckland City
67’ | AC | 0-1 | Murati (Howieson)
81’ | AC | 0-2 | Kilkolly (Howieson)
90+6’ | ES | 1-2 | Toomey
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