Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Eastern Suburbs

The first weekend of National League is always special but much love to Mr Chris Greenacre for making it even more so by giving us a present with his team line-up. Not only did the WeeNix host Eastern Suburbs at Fraser Park with three of their first-team scholarship players in tow (not Luke Brooke-Smith though, the youngest of them all is busy getting A-League preseason reps)... he also chucked in David Ball for good measure. The Nix import is a bit behind in his match fitness so he stayed back with the reserves to boost himself up while the rest of the ALM side faced Western Sydney in a friendly across the ditch. Ball captained this side too, of course. Luke Supyk was also in the starting eleven with a full contract but that’s likely to be a much more regular sight. Granted, Ball isn’t the first Nix import to play for the National League reserves - Yan Sasse and Gary Hooper both did it too.

The full team read: Dublin Boon in goal, Corban Piper and Dylan Gardiner in central defence, Luke Flowerdew right-back, Daniel Makowem left-back, Fergus Gillion and Lachlan Candy in midfield, Ball and Nathan Walker out wide, with Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues and Supyk up top. Seven of those players were in the squad for the Australia Cup loss to South Melbourne in early August. Interesting to see Ball used on the left edge rather than as a striker. Note the Corban Piper to CB conversion has now begun, having previously been a versatile midfielder with Birkenhead United. Makowem is also a natural attacker so there were a few positional projects with that A-League squad in mind.

Don’t underestimate this Eastern Suburbs side. Kane Wintersgill’s lot stayed highly competitive throughout the winter even while Auckland FC kept nicking their players... and few clubs in this country are better at sniffing out transfers than the Lilywhites (hence why they had so many dudes that AFC wanted). They’ve cashed in their U20 loan spots on Luke Mitchell (Hamilton Wanderers) and Kodie Nicol (Fencibles), both of whom went straight into the eleven. Also, Daniel Atkinson has come across from Auckland United and he nestled comfortably onto the bench alongside Thomas Golding who has spent the last two years in Oz.

The full Lilywhites side: Vadym Patkevych in goal; a back three of Kelvin Kalua, Aryan Raj, and James Mitchell; Ralph Rutherford and Matthew D’Hotman were the wing-backs; Campbell Strong and Joshua Galletly in midfield with Kodie Nicol a little more advanced; and Luke Mitchell joined Jake Mechell atop the tree. Something akin to a 3-5-2 shape. And, yes, that’s two Mitchells and a Mechell. Commentator’s dream.

Defensively, Eastern Suburbs have been awesome (although they didn’t have Nikko Boxall here) but scoring goals has proved trickier, with Jake Mechell netting literally half of their Northern League tally all by himself. Suburbs and the WeeNix are also two of the most deliberate teams going around as far as their tactical approach goes. Big coaching fingerprints on what they do. Neither is going to compromise for any singular opponent so there was a lot of clever passing from the back and evading the press from both sides... then not a lot else.

The Nix did have pace out wide so Nathan Walker and Luke Supyk each had some moments. But for the most part it was very patient... especially from Subs who regularly had Aaryan Raj putting his foot on the ball and simply waiting for the Nix to leave their shape before doing anything. The Lilywhites had a good spell mid-half with plenty of crosses keeping Dublin Boon on his toes. Then the Nix responded with a few counter attacks, from which Ball and Candy both fired shots over the top. Strong was booked for dragging back Supyk on one of those breaks. Mechell had already been booked earlier. ‘Twas a very tentative 0-0 scoreline at the break.

One thing Corban Piper won’t need much adjustment to at centre-back is winning his aerials. He’s a powerful lad and with Suburbs whipping in crosses as Plan A, he kept gobbling those up. Jake Mechell is no easy mark either. Looks like Chiefy’s onto something there. David Ball volunteered for a yellow card to keep Rutherford from bursting past him... then Bally put his feet up after his allotted hour of action. Some nice link-ups from Ball but overall pretty quiet from the Englishman. This was all about match fitness though and he got what he turned up for. Ryan Watson took Ball’s place. Suburbs made a triple change that saw Dan Atkinson and Jackson Jarvie in as straight swaps at wing-back and also Dejuan Naidoo came on for Nicol. Refreshers there from Subs who needed to up the ante.

It was still the defenders who dominated as the game crept closer and closer to its finish without hardly any big chances to speak of. Then suddenly Eastern Suburbs scored twice to strut their way to a 2-0 win. Nothing, nothing, nothing, then bang-bang. Folks always talk about playing the full ninety minutes (and beyond) and this was that. The first goal (81’) was scored by Thomas Golding after an Atkinson cross was deflected in his direction. The second (90’) from Naidoo sweeping home from another Atkinson cross. Atkinson, Golding, and Naidoo were all substitutes. This is a deep squad that Eastern Suburbs have amassed and everyone’s got a part to play. The WeeNix played very well for most of this match but didn’t quite have a ninety-minute effort in them, their substitutes being unable to have the same impact.

A reminder here that Naidoo and Rutherford spent time trialling with Auckland FC a few weeks back. Someone who didn’t (at least that we know about) but maybe should have is Aaryan Raj who was the best player on the pitch in this game. His patient and assured build-up play was occasionally annoying (though always effective) and the amount of times he stepped across and won crucial possession was huge. He’s a National League Rolls Royce. Also impressive were Campbell Strong in midfield and of course the impactful subs too.

Both goalies were decisive in getting out to the ball when they needed to. Boon’s also got a massive boot on him. The WeeNix can be pretty stoked with how Piper’s settling in at CB, while Walker and Candy were also useful, but they arguably lacked a more assertive focal point in attack – like Subs have with Jake Mechell. This was not a game where Mechell was very prosperous (aside from a few smart hold-ups) but he gives them direction and you can see from how they fizz those crosses in just why Mechell had such a fantastic winter season.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves 0-2 Eastern Suburbs

Goals (Assists)

81’ | ES | 0-1 | Golding

90’ | ES | 0-2 | Naidoo (Atkinson)

Coastal Spirit vs Wellington Olympic

Also on Saturday was the first of two Chatham Cup semi-final rematches. Coastal Spirit are in the National League for the first time. They made the semis of the Chatham Cup for the first time. They won the English Cup for the first time too. It’s been a superb season... and they’ve done some clever work in prepping for the Nats by using their U20 loan slots on Riley Grover (Christchurch United) and Zach Bryant (Ferrymead Bays) as well as a huge replacement addition in David Yoo (Christchurch United). Yoo played a little bit of lower league stuff in Portugal before returning to Aotearoa with the Rams this year. He and Joel Stevens bossed it for Chch United but it wasn’t quite enough to pip Coastal to MNL qualification... so he’s joined Coastal. Fair enough.

Wellington Olympic won 5-1 in that CC semi... although it was 1-1 late first half when Spirit’s Ellis Hare-Reid went off injured and they had to put an outfielder (Ryan Stanley) in goal. With Coastal Spirit having stocked up since then and with the occasion of Spirit’s first MNL match it shaped to be a lovely match-up at Ferrymead Park (first National League match... but their home ground was unavailable so they had to play it elsewhere, standard Natty League things).

Coastal Spirit had Ellis Hare-Reid in goal. They had Riley Grover, Alex Meaclem, and Daniel Boys in central defence with Matthew Bergin on the right and Weston Bell on the left. Mason Stearn and Joe Hoole in midfield. David Yoo in the pocket with Daniel MacLennan playing off Alejandro Steinwascher in the front line. Stearn, MacLennan, and Grover both used to play for Paul Ifill and Ekow Quainoo in their Christchurch United days.

Wellington Olympic did change a couple things from the Chatham Cup final. One of those was the addition of Aaron O’Driscoll to their back three, the Irish CB who was so excellent for Paul Ifill at Christchurch United last year before spending the winter season in Australia. He joined Justin Gulley and Ben Mata, meaning Adam Supyk played out wide on the left with Jack-Henry Sinclair performing those honours on the right. Joseph Hopper and Dan McKay came into the midfield. Of course it was Hamish Watson, Eddie Wilkinson, and Gianni Bouzoukis doing the attacking stuff. Heaps of experience. Heaps of expectation too as the defending champions of this competition.

David Yoo got as involved as he could from the get-go with plenty of touches and a shot that was pushed wide by Basalaj (as well as a couple other blocked shots). Grover didn’t know much about it but he nearly scored from a swerving free kick that came his way at the near post... maybe a slight touch from a defender threw him off. Coastal’s focus was on out-of-possession structure which frustrated the usually unstoppable Greeks and created a hectic atmosphere with both teams trying to go coast to coast. Heavy challenges ensued. Yoo was booked for a nasty one on Gulley, though only after advantage had been played, with Hare-Reid getting his positioning spot-on to save a Watson header at his back post. Wilkinson also ripped a half-volley into the sidenetting for WO.

Sadly, Weston Bell suffered an ankle injury and had to be replaced by Jack Mitchell not even thirty minutes into the match. That was a bummer but Coastal kept up their intensity and continued to prevent Olympic from finding their groove. That is very much not what the Greeks are used to, so on came Jonty Roubos, followed soon after by Tor Davenport-Petersen and Gavin Hoy relatively early in the second half. Yet it was Coastal who brought the next threat. They didn’t do much with a series of free kicks around the area but they did create an almighty scramble in the box when MacLennan squared a ball across goal. Gulley made the first of about three crucial blocks by Olympic defenders during that phase, always a white shirt in the way. Olympic chucked a couple free kicks towards the back stick themselves, looking dangerous with Watto and Mata hovering. Still the defences held. There was a loud shout when Boys seemed to bump Hoy in the area yet no dice there either. Watson found a rare bit of space in the area near the end and couldn’t direct a shot on target from JHS’s cross. Nope, gotta settle for a goalless draw.

Really commendable result for Coastal Spirit. They only made that one injury-enforced sub, otherwise riding the wave all the way into the shore with the blokes they started with. They definitely seemed to tire towards in the last twenty minutes but they hung on nonetheless. Alex Meaclem was immense at the back. Joe Hoole was everywhere in the middle. Dan MacLennan missed most of the year with injury but he was guy at the heart of his team’s brightest moments. Mostly it was a team display though. With a different formation for the Nats, Coastal produced a defensive performance that would be the envy of any club in the country: they kept Wellington Olympic scoreless for the first time since March when Auckland City beat them 1-0 in the first leg of the Ocenia Champions League qualifiers.

The Greeks may not have been able to find the room they usually do in attack, always running into extra defenders along the way... but to their credit they did exact the same thing back the other way. Standards never dropped. No need to panic. Justin Gulley was great and Scott Basalaj typically flawless. It didn’t happen for them for whatever reason but they knuckled down and at least ensured they didn’t lose. Points have been dropped but heads should not be.

Coastal Spirit 0-0 Wellington Olympic

Western Suburbs vs Cashmere Technical

What a wild ride these last few years have been for Western Suburbs. They were Central League champs in 2019 during the Declan Edge Era. Qualified for National League in 2021 in what became the South Central Series during the Ben Sippola Era. In 2022 they almost got relegated, only get be back to the MNL in 2024 after a second-placed Central League effort during the Alan Koch Era. Koch has used his North American connections to bring in a very high calibre of imports, though at the same time they have also rebuilt their local core.

For the match against Cashmere Technical at Endeavour Park, it was Guyana international Quillan Roberts in goal; captain Finn Diamond, Thomas Scott, and Alifeleti Peini in central defence with Cameron Brown and Canadian Connor Wilson at wing-back; NZ U19s midfielder Bruce Izumi started in the centre with help from Noah Tipene-Clegg; with American goalscoring machine Lucas Meek and up front with Cameron MacKenzie and Miramar Rangers loanee Sebastian Barton-Ginger in support to complete the set. Three high calibre imports, a few local prodigies, and some solid proven National League influences around them.

As for Cashmere Technical, there were no surprises. There had been chat that they might bring in Selwyn keeper Pieter-Taco Bierema as an emergency goalkeeper replacement on account of Danny Knight dealing with a shoulder complaint and Frewan Watts being out with concussion... but Knight was good to go for week one. Beyond that, chuck in a back four of Ben Lapslie, Danny Kane, Tom Schwarz, and Declan Tyndall. Alex Ballard and Matt Tod-Smith in midfield. Yuya Taguchi a little further forward. Aidan Barbour-Ryan and Lyle Matthysen out wide. Garbhan Coughlan the main man up front. All of those guys have plenty of MNL experience and once again that commanding consistency shapes to be Cashmere’s greatest asset. Well, that and Coughlan’s unstoppable goal-scoring prowess.

Western Suburbs are an academy team and there’s nothing academy sides love more than trying to build out from the back, so the Wests defensive trio got plenty of early touches. They also emphasised getting their wing-backs into the attacking third, meanwhile Cashmere Tech did their standard thing of defending compactly, competing physically, and then breaking in transition usually via the outlet ball to Coughlan. Lyle Matthysen drilled a shot over the top after one such move. Then, in the tenth minute, Coughlan burst down the left wing onto a quick throw-in, picked out Aidan Barbour-Ryan deep in the area, and ABR went bottom corner bingo for 1-0.

The goal only emphasised what had already been happening. Coughlan and the lads continued to find ways to get shots off, whereas Wests just couldn’t find the space. Lucas Meek’s only notable effort came from a free kick (after getting smashed in a challenge by Taguchi, who was booked). On target but saved low by Knight. Also gotta admit that the crossing from Wests wasn’t up to scratch for a team trying specifically to get into those areas. Ultimately, Cashy Tech were doing much more with much less. Clearly Alan Koch wasn’t enjoying what he was seeing because he made two half-time subs with Flynn Cave and Harry Fautley on for MacKenzie and Peini.

Nothing changed. Technical had a bunch of set pieces to begin the second stanza which put the pressure straight back on and soon enough that spilled into a second goal when Tom Schwarz sent a free kick soaring into the penalty area from within his own half. Diamond got up to beat Coughlan to the header but it fell to Yuya Taguchi who side-footed a lob over the stranded keeper. Soon afterwards, Coughlan set up Lyle Matthysen for a mean finish and, at that stage, all that was missing was a Coughlan goal of his own. He didn’t have to wait much longer. Tyndall stepped up from right back, acting like the winger he used to be by working a one-two with Barbour-Ryan. Coughlan slipped past him infield so Tyndall flipped a pass underneath to put the Irishman into the box without a shadow. You can guess what happened next.

Now that they were already 4-0 down, Wests finally whipped in some tasty crosses. The Technical CBs gobbled them up anyway. There was concern from the Techies when Matt Tod-Smith twisted his knee trying to shield the ball, going down in pain and having to leave his team to close things out with ten men since they’d already emptied their bench. Hopefully that was nothing serious to take the shine off an excellent team performance. MTS’s midfield partner, Alex Ballard, then cost himself a spot in TNC’s Team of the Week when he jumped in on sub Malcolm Young to concede a penalty right at the end. Young won it so Young took it... and he punted it low beyond the post. Whoops. Knight dove the right way but he didn’t even need to. 4-0 to Cashmere Technical was the final score. Emphatic.

So that was a bit of a slap in the face for Western Suburbs, aye? Their defence had been leaky throughout the Central League, yet they usually found the goals to cover for it. But here they saw Lucas Meek brilliantly marshalled by Danny Kane and their wide players were often doubled by the Technical wingers tracking back. Nothing going through the middle either. They just couldn’t make it work. We’ll see how they respond away to Birkenhead United next week.

Magnificent afternoon from the Cashmere Tech lads though. Kane shut down Meek so shout out to the other Irishman in this squad. Tyndall’s assist was fine reward for his efforts. Ballard and MTS in midfield were awesome, especially Ballard with how often he won possession. If the passes start to stick then the 19yo could go a long way. The attacking support crew of Taguchi, Matthysen, and Barbour-Ryan all scored goals but of course el hombre supremo was Garbhan Coughlan as always. A goal and two assists. Alex Steinwascher and Lucas Meek have popped up this year to challenge Coughlan’s title as Aotearoa’s top import striker and Coughlan’s shrugged them off like all the rest. A class above even the blokes who are a class above.

Western Suburbs 0-4 Cashmere Technical

10’ | CT | 0-1 | Barbour-Ryan (Coughlan)

54’ | CT | 0-2 | Taguchi

62’ | CT | 0-3 | Matthysen (Coughlan)

65’ | CT | 0-4 | Coughlan (Tyndall)

Napier City Rovers vs Western Springs

Oscar Faulds wasn’t supposed to be here. After supplying 21 goals and 6 assists in 14 Central League games, the Kiwi-Swede went back to Scandinavia for pro trials, first at a Danish second tier club and then at a Swedish second tier club (this was after a trial with the Wellington Phoenix too). He got covid whilst with the Danish club which restricted him to two training sessions and therefore the coach refused to sign him even though the technical director remained keen. Then he was all set to sign with the Swedish club, having done his promo pics and everything, only for the rug to be pulled out on Deadline Day for financial reasons. So here he is back in Napier for the National League season (a happy consolation) and within eight minutes he’d done this...

Yeah, that’s the guy, officer.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Napier City Rovers lined up with a 5-2-3 formation, their wing-backs happy to sit flat and form a brick wall of defensive clout. Danish import William Tønning was the keeper whose view was pleasantly obstructed by that wall. Brothers Stephen and James Hoyle were joined by Matthew Jones to form the central trio, with Liam Schofield on the right and Jack Albertini on the left. In the midfield were Ethan Richards and Cam Emerson. Then for a front three, we witnessed Adam Hewson, Kieran Richards, and Oscar Faulds. Ethan and Kieran Richards are also brothers.

Western Springs looked quite different than they did a few weeks ago. Theirs was a surprisingly young side, having managed to scoop up a few Auckland United folks after their club didn’t make the cut. Ben Wallace up front. Kurtis Mogg in defence. Both are also ex-Phoenix Academy dudes... as are the Manuel brothers Riley and Jackson. Yep, Springs had a pair of brothers too... and to take matters even further former NCR goalkeeper Oscar Mason lined up for Western Springs and his brother Harry would get about five mins off the bench for Rovers. Siblings everywhere you look. Mogg joined Pat Tobin and Aidan Carey in the back three. Jackson Manuel and Wan Gatkek formed an exciting midfield pairing with Riley Manuel higher up. Oscar Browne and Matt Ellis were the wide men. Reid Drake played off Ben Wallace up top. There ya go.

Gatkek and J.Manuel were all over the ball in the middle, moving it around and building possession. But it wasn’t leading to anything because Rovers kept jumping them. With a firm back five leaving no space to go through them, Rovers weren’t worried about width so they condensed things with their remaining five outfielders in search of pressing overloads. Springs managed to work around that with a couple of lobs over the top for Matt Ellis to chase after but then, having already conceded that eighth-minute Faulds goal, they leaked another one when Faulds picked off a Mason short-pass in the penalty area and fed Kieran Richards to make it 2-0. Returning the favour after Richards had set Faulds up earlier.

It got even better for Rovers when Hewson was clipped just inside the area after 25 mins. Faulds stepped up to take it and... you know what? He missed. Struck it off the post. But luckily for him can have an assist for that penalty miss because the ball rebounded to Adam Hewson who took a touch and picked his spot and made it 3-0. A cosmic reward for the fella who won the spottie in the first place. Incredibly, this was only 27 minutes into the game.

Honestly, it took until almost half-time before Springs created a memorable chance. It was Ellis once more, first with his pace down the left (Gatkek with a sweet through ball) and then chopping in to shoot. Tønning got a touch as it flew past the post and out for a corner. Reid Drake got in behind later on but hesitated to shoot and was closed down by Tønning, who did the same thing again when J.Manuel chipped one over the top. Then again when Ellis gassed past the defence in a rare breach of the Great Wall of Napier. Several opportunities to cut the deficit before the break. None taken.

Speaking of missed chances, Faulds got his feet tangled trying to follow up on a parried shot from Richards (after the Rovers press won yet another turnover) when you’d have bet on him to score. This was maybe thirty seconds into the second half. On we went, with Springs playing some genuinely nice football only to keep getting repelled as soon as they tried for the killer pass. There were a couple of times when tempers threatened to boil over as the challenges kept flying in. Eventually, Rovers scored a fourth. Again it came from a Mason giveaway, with Adam Hewson pouncing for his second of the day. There might have been a foul by Faulds just prior which Springs were annoyed about but still a completely avoidable goal to concede. Oscar Mason won’t have another day like this... maybe he got confused which jerseys to pass to, being back at the old stomping ground?

And that was that. 4-0 to Napier City Rovers in the most eye-opening result of week one. While their performance was built on defensive solidity, it’d be a lie to say they were negative. They hustled and harried and hounded all over the place and showed up their visitors for effort in that first half. The Hoyle Bros were amazing. Will Tønning had that crucial flurry of saves just before the break. Faulds got a goal and two assists without even playing that well. Kieran Richards and Adam Hewson were ruthless alongside him, demanding that future opponents respect them too rather than loading up on Faulds. Man-for-man this was a display that coach Bill Robertson ought to be stoked with.

Western Springs balanced things out with a much better second stanza but the damage had been done... and much of it was self-inflicted with two goals coming directly from their own keeper’s stray passes. On the one hand, the scoreline was harsh on Springs. They weren’t four goals worse. On the other hand, it could have been more than four as a non-jetlagged Oscar Faulds would potentially have pocketed a hat-trick with the chances he had. Perhaps we’ll see Emiliano Tade back for the Swans in week two?

Also, it probably didn’t go unnoticed at Bluewater Stadium that Napier City Rovers won 4-0 whereas Western Suburbs lost 4-0. Those two clubs finished exactly even on points and goal difference in the Central League, with Wests getting the second-place tiebreaker due to having scored one goal more than Rovers did. Almost as close as it gets... yet their National League starters were in complete contrast.

Napier City Rovers 4-0 Western Springs

8’ | NCR | 1-0 | Faulds (Richards)

16’ | NCR | 2-0 | Richards (Faulds)

27’ | NCR | 3-0 | Hewson (Faulds)

75’ | NCR | 4-0 | Hewson

Auckland City vs Birkenhead United

It wasn’t so long ago that these two teams met in the Chatham Cup semi-finals, with Birkenhead taking Auckland City to extra time before ACFC ended up advancing with a 4-2 win. They’re also familiar foes in the Northern League. Birko are back after missing qualification last year, Auckland City were fresh from a trip a trip to the United Arab Emirates where they were beaten 6-2 by Al Ain in the Club World Cup. Curiously, one of the goal-scorers there was Myer Bevan popping out from the wilderness after leaving his Canadian club Cavalry FC (where Jay Herdman is currently on loan) at the start of the year for personal reasons to return to Aotearoa with his young family. That ACFC return was a surprise to many (albeit a logical move), but apparently nobody was more suprised than Cavalry FC fans since he’s still technically under contract there. The word is that some combination of being an amateur team at a FIFA competition allowed Bevan to play without a “finalised deal”. Rightio. That probably explains why he wasn’t part of the sqaud to face Birkenhead though.

Albert Riera’s side did keep most of their dudes from that Al Ain game, with seven starters in common despite the travel and quick turnaround. Nathan Garrow was one of the changes. He started in goal, having recently moved over from Auckland United (effectively in place of Joe Wallis who’s moved to West Brom in England). Jerson Lagos held his fullback spot after also scoring in that CWC match (directly from a corner!), while Marco Lorenz played on the other side. Both of them were mid-season transfers too - from Manurewa and Western Springs respectively, though Lagos will be better remembered with Melville and Lorenz with the Phoenix Academy. Adam Mitchell and Michael den Heijer were familiar faces in central defence, as was Mario Ilich as the defensive midfielder. Gerard Garriga and Dylan Manickum got deployed as the eights. Then an enviable Angus Kilkolly, Ryan de Vries, Stipe Ukich front three completed the equation. Myer Bevan, Kailan Gould, Derek Tieku, Conor Tracey, and Nathan Lobo were the guys who got minutes in the CWC game who weren’t involved here at all.

Paul Hobson’s Birkenhead lined up in a 3-4-1-2 shape with 20yo keeper Marcus Nevin in goal (still a year older than Garrow in the opposing net). Andrew Cromb, Dino Botica, and Jaylen Rodwell made for a very solid back three. Everton O’Leary and Haris Zeb at wing-back... O’Leary having trialled with Auckland FC a few months back. Leon van den Hoven and Luke Jorgensen were in midfield. Curtis Hughes played under a strike-pairing of Daniel Bunch and 18yo Joby Reid.

Angus Kilkolly nearly broke it open after 18 mins, running off some lovely RDV work but stabbing his shot wide. That chance came about like lightning, not only because of how quickly City were able to work the move but also how out-of-place it felt within a highly competitive game which, up until then, had mostly been about passing triangles and appeals for fouls. However, Auckland City’s press was asking some questions and Birko were getting crosses in from Daniel Bunch. Kilkolly went even closer with an effort lashed off the base of the post after ACFC won the ball up high.

With the ref trying to keep a high bar for infringements, and both teams scrapping away, tempers were frayed on a couple of occasions. Ol’ Referinho had to slow things down and give the dreaded talking-to more than once... although it was Dylan Manickum who felt the officiating worst when he got on the wrong side of a referee screen...

The Haris Zeb vs Stipe Ukich duel was especially feisty, leading to chest shoves and some uncompromising words. Ukich got the best of that duel when he charged into the area, already being held back by Rodwell (who was on a yellow), to where Zeb came barging in and conceded a penalty. Botica was booked for arguing but it looked clear enough. Angus Kilkolly scored a hat-trick in the Chatham Cup semi against Birko and his spot kick was comprehensive. 1-0 to Auckland City mere minutes before half-time, one of those goals that completely changes the team talks.

The second half began with some supreme wackiness when Lagos dribbled back towards his own goal, lost the ball, and committed a foul on Curtis Hughes. Luke Jorgensen stepped up to take it but he couldn’t repeat what Kilkolly managed. Nathan Garrow with a fine low save to keep the lead intact. Unfortunately for Birko, as easy-come-easy-go as it may have been you just cannot waste chances like that at Kiwitea Street. Especially because Auckland City won’t give you that same let-off. Not so long after one young keeper saved a penalty, the other young keeper got caught on the ball by Angus Kilkolly who toe-poked it ahead and Ryan de Vries was locked-in all game so there was no doubt he’d gratefully embrace that gift and make it 2-0 after 54 mins.

Birko hit straight back when substitute Ardri MacArthur (on for the yellow-carded Rodwell at half-time) headed home at the near post from a Joby Reid corner kick. But then, as soon as that happened, Auckland City broke away with Stipe Ukich tapping in a goal of his own after a lovely team move, set up by Angus Kilkolly who was involved in all three goals. Birko subsequently used their other four subs all at once which was either a rark-up or a white flag. RDV came close to adding another goal, curling wide after an intercept on the left wing. 3-1 was how it ended.

That’s a slick victory for Auckland City who didn’t allow the Club World Cup effort to be a distraction in any way. It began with a confident showing from Nathan Garrow in goal, moved through Mike den Heijer’s commanding presence, and up into the fine mahi of their front three, with the full trio each getting goals. Kilkolly got two assists while Ukich won the penalty. RDV and AK were both excellent with their hold-ups and off-ball movement. Kilkolly played some lovely one-touchers while De Vries was so good in transition. Then there’s Ukich, 17 years old, bodying defenders and continuing to look like the outstanding prospect he proved himself to be in the Chatham Cup final. Think of the players that ACFC can add back into this team and that’s why they remain the powerhouse they’ve always been.

Admittedly, Birko were missing a couple players themselves. Specifically Monty Patterson and Sam Philip, two of their best forwards. Philip perhaps hasn’t had the impact he’d have hoped since moving to the club but Patterson was their top scorer through the Northern League and would have given them a presence up top to anchor their efforts. Both teams played some really smooth passing stuff at times, neither gave an inch in midfield, but Birko made a few too many mistakes and Auckland City put them to the sword for it. Hey guess what’s up next week? Wellington Olympic vs Auckland City. Here we goooo.

Auckland City 3-1 Birkenhead United

44’ | AC | 1-0 | Kilkolly [p] (Ukich)

54’ | AC | 2-0 | De Vries (Kilkolly)

57’ | BU | 2-1 | MacArthur (Reid)

60’ | AC | 3-1 | Ukich (Kilkolly)

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