2025 Men’s National League – Week 8
Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Coastal Spirit
You wouldn’t normally assume that an international window would have much effect on National League happenings, other than maybe a couple of hearty diaspora call-ups, except that an international window means no A-League which means that the Wellington Phoenix didn’t have a senior men’s game. And that, friends, freed them up to put their entire bench from their previous match (except for Dan Edwards) into the Reserves side this week.
Anaru Cassidy, Gabe Sloane-Rodrigues, and Jayden Smith had already played last week. They were back again. As was Eamonn McCarron who played the first two games of National League and has been filling in as first-team backup while Alby Kelly-Heald restored his match fitness at this level. We also had Luke Brooke-Smith and Corban Piper adding to the fascination - both played a lot for the WeeNix last season but these were their first (and probably only) National League runs for 2025. Add in Luke Supyk who’s been playing regularly and we’re talking about six starters with first team contracts (including Anaru Cassidy who signed a scholarship deal last week) and that doesn’t even include McCarron who’s been on the bench for all four ALM games this season and Fergus Gillion with his career two A-League appearances.
Unlucky for Coastal Spirit to be the team that aligned with those circumstances. They’ve been having a tricky enough time as it is and this was tenth against eleventh in what could prove to be a wooden spoon battle. Then again, Coastal’s only win thus far came against Auckland FC so maybe they just peak against the ALM Academies. Two changes for Spirit with Noa Prestel returning in defence due to Kaleb de Groot-Green’s suspension, while Anaru Hibbs made his first National League start after coming off the bench last week.
The stacked WeeNix side promptly assumed some chunky possession albeit most of that was slow and in their own half. But Piper was retaining the ball up top, when given the chance, and he pulled one back for Gillion whose shot was tipped over by Adam Braman. Might’ve been going over anyway but no need to risk it. Braman then kicked away a Cassidy chance from close range and then somehow Corban Piper missed the target after a great set-up from Supyk, scooping his shot way over the top from ten yards. Piper would soon be booked when he attempted a volley and kicked the nearest defender instead of the ball.
Lots of Nix chances there and nothing to show for it. Coastal were able to get their bearings from there, using the extra man in the midfield (they were in a 3-5-2 again) to squeeze things wide and disrupt possession, also having some success via their press with the Phoenix still lagging with their ball speed. But that wasn’t a perfect salve and the Phoenix continued to ask questions. Cassidy put one on target after a clever dummy from GSR split the Coastal set-up and another wonderful save from Braman denied Supyk’s near post attempt after the Nix had built all the way up from defence. Meanwhile, Coastal’s briefer forays tended to fall apart with inaccurate touches/passes, leading to a frustrated Derek Tieku (the heavy wind was also a factor in that sloppiness). Thus we hit the sheds with no goals scored.
The first decent shot of the second half belonged to Max Chretien, who skipped past a couple of tentative WeeNix tackles on the edge of the area and then hit one on target for McCarron to save. Count that as a warning to the wasteful WeeNix, who went back on the attack with Sloane-Rodrigues throwing in some stepovers... but as we ticked beyond sixty minutes it remained 0-0 and GSR was subbed off along with Piper and Brooke-Smith (neither of whom had really gotten going). They’d reached their predetermined limits. Consider that a milestone for Coastal Spirit, although Luke Supyk was still out there and he stabbed wide from another killer ball from Lewis Partridge at right-back.
Cue some Coastal ramp-ups as they worked a few threatening set pieces and had Dylan Gardiner on his toes having to clear things away on several occasions. Multiple Nix players were booked for breaking up counters before they could get dangerous. Ah but then Luke Flowerdew was bumped over as he lined up a headed shot and just when Coastal were having their best spell, they’d coughed up a spot kick. Luke Supyk placed that thing and marked out his run up. Except hold on a sec because Adam Braman added to his already impressive afternoon with a great diving save to his right. Still the game remained scoreless... as it would continue to even after McCarron passed the ball straight to Chretien in the penalty area, the Nix keeper making amends by rushing out quickly and saving the attempted finish with an outstretched leg – if it wasn’t for his mistake in the first place, that would have been a fantastic bit of goalkeeping. S’pose it still was, in isolation.
The missed penalty might have knocked Supyk’s confidence because the next time he found himself in a great position to shoot he opted to pass instead. Fortunately, he passed to Luke Flowerdew who’d been buzzing around and making things happen for the WeeNix ever since he came on, definitely not lacking for confidence, and nor should he be when he’s capable of doing this...
Bang, there was the winner. In a game between two struggling teams, the clinical edge was often found wanting but not in that instance... and that was the difference. Just like how Flowerdew scored the winner against Wrexham, or his goal and assist in the win against Christchurch United a few weeks back. The WeeNix won both games against Southern League teams, how about that? All those prestigious A-League names in the line-up yet it was Luke Flowerdew who once again provided the clincher as he’s done so often this season. Sloane-Rodrigues was the best of the ALM inclusions while Gardiner was excellent at the back, especially in the second half.
Both Flowerdew and Gardiner have reason to feel like they’ve been overlooked for A-League opportunities thus far so these would have been statement performances... if it weren’t that they’ve been doing this week on week. Lewis Partridge was class too, put him in the same bag as those other two. Great win for the Nix following consecutive defeats in which they conceded a combined seven times, Eamonn McCarron therefore becoming the third different keeper with a clean sheet for this WeeNix side (Matt Foord did it against Christchurch Utd, Alby Kelly-Heald did it against Auckland Utd). Coastal’s best was without a doubt Adam Braman who deserved a clean sheet that he never got. Mason Stearn and Max Chretien were sharp too. But, mate, they just can’t score goals... only four from eight games is twice as bad as the next worst team. Looks like they’ll be eating their soup with a wooden spoon.
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 1-0 Coastal Spirit
Goal (Assist)
82’ | 1-0 | WP | Flowerdew (Supyk)
Christchurch United vs Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs entered this week with only one victory in the four matches since their 8-0 tonking of Coastal Spirit. Perhaps they’d find form against the other Southern League representative... or perhaps Christchurch United would snap their own drought having gone five without a win. Granted, short-term form is one thing but selections from both coaches suggested also an eye (if not two) towards the future. Jackson Cole returned up front for Christchurch with Shogo Osawa finally back in the eleven after four weeks of coming off the bench for some reason. Plus they also found room for Isaac Walker in the number ten role, with Noah Karunaratne dropping deeper to accommodate him. Western Suburbs brought George Green in at left-back and James Stuart in goal (no Quillan Roberts during international windows, mate). Reilly Marlow-Jones was also back in the eleven. With no Roberts, Tyler Freeman, or Jonathan Robinson... Wests were down their entire import collection with the exception of the hearty hombre Sebastian Sanchez.
Umbrellas were out on the sidelines as kickoff took place amidst persistent rainfall and the initial stages of the match felt equally as soggy as the conditions. Not a lot happening with passes missing targets and touches going astray. Until all of a sudden the Rams took the lead when one of those wobbly passes was picked off by Shogo Osawa who converted past debutant keeper Stuart. Slight instance of miscommunication between Green and Alifeleti Peini and the deadlock was broken.
After which came more of the same as muddled turnovers limited the action. Even Joel Stevens was spraying a few. Wests nearly equalised through a very similar chance to the one they conceded from when Kaelin Nguyen tackled Ben Stroud to spark a transitional attack that ended with Steven van Dijk making a sharp stop to keep Sebastian Barton-Ginger from adding to his five goals this season. Two major chances, one each, but only Christchurch United were able to score theirs. And the Rams had more in the tank. Ten mins before the break, Stevens had a pop and Stuart got low to make the save... except he parried it back out in front of him and Jackson Cole reacted long before any Wests defenders, pouncing to smack in a second. And with the sun (briefly) shining and confidence blooming, the Rams quickly added another when Cole hit Riley Grover on the overlap and his low delivery was missed by Walker near post but tapped home by Shogo Osawa in the middle.
The second half began with Charlie Beale getting Stuart at full stretch making a good save and then Stroud looked for sure like he was going to score from the corner until Ryan Harrison appeared out of nowhere with a miraculous goal-line clearance. Wests were hanging in there but they needed goals of their own and weren’t creating a lot. The Rams were moving the ball more fluidly, making it hard to find space. SBG did force another save after wriggling around the edge of the box – he’d been their most likely outlet all day, although when the goal actually arrived it came from a far more unlikely candidate. Big man Finn Diamond found himself lingering up top and showed some unexpected nimbleness to collect a pass in the area then turn and score. Right on, still plenty of time to get back into this thing.
Ain’t it funny how a goal can change things? Suddenly the Rams looked a little more hesitant, nerves emerging, and that allowed Wests to go on the charge with combinations now sticking and plenty of deliveries into the attacking third. Oliver van Rijssel probably should have done more to stop Diamond’s turn for the goal but he was spot on when he diverted a Marlow-Jones strike over the top. It got to where Diamond simply stayed forward as an emergency striker. However, Christchurch knew what was coming by this point. They kept their wing-backs deep and crowded those zones, slowing the game down and squeezed out the remaining seconds. Both teams turned to youthful benches which included season debuts for Tyler Horsby (CU), Yuto Yamamoto (WS), and Tareq Morgan (WS). In the end it was Christchurch United who held on to a 3-1 victory.
There you go, no more winless streak for the Rams. It was that 10-15 min spell at the end of the first half which won it for them here, with Shogo Osawa showing them what they’d been missing for the past month – three of Osawa’s four starts have been wins and they’ve only taken two points from the four games he played as a sub. Jackson Cole is a zippy exciting forward. Joel Stevens has had a quiet season but he’s always a class above when he plays. Steven van Dijk in goal was as good as he’s been during this National League. As for Wests, two of those concessions came from preventable scenarios and that’s tough to overcome. Particularly since their scoring seems to have escaped them... the eight they scored against Coastal are more than they’ve scored in the other six games combined. Equally concerning is that they’ve had two wins and a draw at home... and four defeats away from home. Luckily they’ve got two more home games forthcoming to try and climb a few spots on the ladder.
Christchurch United 3-1 Western Suburbs
8’ | 1-0 | CU | Osawa
35’ | 2-0 | CU | Cole (Stevens)
39’ | 3-0 | CU | Osawa (Grover)
64’ | 3-1 | WS | Diamond (Brady)
Miramar Rangers vs Auckland City
While it does seem like Western Springs and Wellington Olympic are headed towards a grand final showdown, having pulled away from the chasing pack, there’s still time for that to change and this game at David Farrington Park just so happened to feature the third and fourth placed clubs heading into this round. No need for Miramar to change anything other than Nico Bobadilla reclaiming his spot after suspension. It was announced midweek that coach Kale Herbert will be stepping down at season’s end giving them another reason to go out with a bang.
Auckland City have also had some coaching news because remember how Albert Riera was taking a one-year sabbatical? Yeah so he’s just been unveiled as the new Christchurch United coach for 2026 (Ryan Edwards is focusing on his “General Manager responsibilities” in light of the OFC Pro League stuff). That’s Christchurch United in the Southern League, not South Island United in the Pro League (who will be coached by Rob Sherman – and have just announced former Ram and current Auckland City forward David Yoo as their first signing). Riera’s desire to take a step back and refresh, spending more time with family, was perfectly understandable but it still turned heads to do so in a Club World Cup year. And his prospects of returning to the role were already looking dicey when he took a short-term gig in Vanuatu a few months ago. This now confirms he won’t be returning to Auckland City after all. Paul Posa (the actual ACFC coach) made three alterations with Mario Ilich returning, Ryan De Vries given a start as he broke the club’s all-time appearance record, and Reggie Murati also being included.
Miramar always like to play fast and perhaps that’s what drew ACFC out of their shells to give us a nice up tempo contest with David Yoo, Myer Bevan, and Ryan De Vries all getting early sighters away, even if none of those shots lived up to the capabilities of the blokes who hit them. It was also a game with plenty of chippiness and Gerard Garriga seemed to be involved in most of it (it was RDV who got booked twenty mins in as a result of those accumulated fouls... although GGG got his shortly after). Hence it wasn’t really a surprise when the breakthrough came from ACFC conceding a penalty, Nikko Boxall dropping a shoulder into Owen Smith. Second week in a row that Smith has won a penalty after getting goal-side of his marker and drawing contact. Martin Bueno did what Martin Bueno does from the spot and his Golden Boot lead expanded.
Pretty soon it was 2-0 and again Owen Smith got the assist. Not everyone counts winning penalties as an assist (The Niche Cache does, since why not? – only for drawn fouls though, not for handballs) but there’s no denying the glimmering beauty of the cross that Smith swung in for Theo Ettema to power home with his head. Garrow came out but got his angles wrong. Ettema’s header was unchallenged. Poor stuff from ACFC but made possible by Smith’s delivery... which came from a free kick, meaning City’s persistent fouling had bit them on the bottom yet again.
City have come back from two goals down already this season, salvaging a 2-2 draw away against Christchurch United. They’d conceded twice again here but those were arguably Miramar’s only two serious chances... and soon ACFC were on the front foot again seeking to whip the ball into the area. But Rangers did well to get numbers back and half-time arrived with the 2-0 scoreline intact. City returned and continued their search for goals, finally getting a crack on target when Garriga was denied by a diving Matt Oliver. Then guess what happened? Murati went into the book for a hard tackle on Albert Frances-Alles. Owen Smith lined up the free kick. Tim Fenton knocked it home at the back stick. A third assist for Smith. Another set piece goal. A second centre-back on the scoresheet.
Matt Ellis was chucked on early with ACFC getting desperate. They kept knocking on the door with aerials into the box... which is not really how you picture ACFC going about their business but Ilich did blast high from a second phase. Like so many of City’s shots here: he could have done a lot better with that. More in character was a delicious heel flick from Garriga setting up RDV who shot straight at Oliver. Better yet was Ellis’s attempt angling infield from the left, asking Oliver to make a diving two-handed stop. Then Mike Den Heijer caught the outside of the post with a long shot. All the while Miramar continued nursing that lead, holding the ball and frustrating City... who had Bevan strike one wide on the turn – incredibly, Bevan is still yet to score this National League despite starting every game – and Ellis looking slippery on the wing. That wasn’t enough. Rangers were winning tackles, winning free kicks, and winning the game. Christian Gray did hit the post for ACFC in stoppage time (a header from a whipped Garriga free kick) but it was too late to change anything by then anyway.
That was sluggish from Auckland City. They tried to be physical but kept getting there late or being overly aggressive, conceding fouls which ultimately cost them goals. They didn’t have a whole lot of clean ball and as with many other games lately they seem to be struggling with the service and positioning that’d allow their best forwards to do their thing. David Yoo and Myer Bevan simply aren’t putting up numbers like they usually do. This result mirrored their week one shocker against Birko and potentially ends their title defence. There was a cameo for Orlando Thorpe off the bench – first time that lad has played since getting sent off against Birko game in week one... his only two appearances have been in 3-0 losses, gotta think that’s unique within Auckland City’s storied history. Poor fella.
Miramar Rangers were excellent though, setting the tone for a physical encounter then using their pace and anticipation to get the better of it. Owen Smith logged all three assists to vastly extend his lead as the impending Assist King of 2025. Martin Bueno’s penalty takes him to seven for the season, two clear of Seb Barton-Ginger for Golden Boot with three rounds left. This is the opposite of ACFC, with Rangers getting maximum returns out of their star players. Theo Ettema was wonderful at the back. Matt Oliver did an outstanding job of getting out and punching the ball clear from those numerous crosses. And if you want an indicative tale of how well it all worked for Rangers, you only have to look at Andy Bevin and how cleverly he used his body throughout – you just can’t get the damn ball off the man. Considering what happened in the next game, Miramar Rangers are still right there in the grand final chase thanks to this result.
Miramar Rangers 3-0 Auckland City
26’ | 1-0 | MR | Bueno [p] (Smith)
30’ | 2-0 | MR | Ettema (Smith)
51’ | 3-0 | MR | T.Fenton (Smith)
Auckland FC Reserves vs Wellington Olympic
It took an age for this one to happen. Travel-related delays which pushed back kickoff by more than two hours and a switch from Fred Taylor Park to Riverhills that took this game from West Auckland to East Auckland would have had everyone in a bit of a spin by the time the whistle finally blew (aside from the three ex-Fencibles players in the AFC starting line-up: Eli Jones, Ryan Mackay & Aston Burns). Unchanged eleven for AFC as they faced probably their toughest test yet. Wellington Olympic were fresh from the bye having seen Western Springs jump ahead of them into first place. Springs had their bye this week so the Greeks could leapfrog them right back with a victory and to that end they brought Adam Supyk back into the walk-on side while Gianni Bouzoukis made just his second start of the 2025 Nats after scoring the winner against Western Suburbs a fortnight ago.
It doesn’t come easy against Wellington Olympic who are always a dynamic and aggressive proposition for any opponent. There wasn’t even twenty seconds on the clock when Jones had to parry away a JHS header from close range (after a bomb upfield from Scott Basalaj, the biggest boot in Aotearoa)... and less than three on the clock when Isa Prins drew some attention outside the box and slipped a pass to Bouzoukis. Everton O’Leary lost his footing on the artificial turf allowing GB to get onto his right boot and curl in a smart finish. 1-0 to the visitors just like that.
That’s only the third time that AFC have conceded the first goal and they lost both other matches when it happened. But this AFC team has been super resilient, extremely sound defensively, and always willing to get into the trenches. They should have been level immediately when some slick passing gave Dejaun Naidoo an open goal at the back post which he lifted over the top from maybe one metre out... probably less. The goal was open but the cross from Oliver Middleton was lifted slightly and heavy enough to make it tougher than it appeared. Nevertheless, that was a really bad miss. But, tell you what, that chance ushered in a really dominant spell of possession for the AFC Reserves. Finn McKenlay was tucking in and getting touches. Lots of one-twos between the O’Leary/Burns/James Mitchell triangle. The Greeks weren’t even pressing them... it was actually kinda slack. No doubt the long day’s travel took a bit out of them.
There was a nasty moment with twenty mins gone when McKenlay thundered a volley from a half-cleared corner only for it to clog Adama Coulibaly in the head, leading to an instant medical stoppage – thankfully it wasn’t as bad as it looked and he was straight back on after some treatment. The break helped Olympic regather their wits and they very nearly doubled their lead when Adam Supyk ran onto an Alex Solomon switch (maybe the second biggest boot in the league) only for his finish to roll just wide of the far post. Then came a comical moment as Bouzoukis got himself a yellow for shoving Burns into midair after he stood over Ben Mata who’d just won a free kick. If Burns was trying to tell Mata that he’d exaggerated the contact then the salmon flop of his own may not have aided his argument. It was all pretty funny, no dramas.
AFC were playing well but still losing, without yet getting that final cross or shot to stick. Again, they almost leaked a second when a deflected Bouzoukis shot dipped under the bar only for Jones to make an excellent save stretching backwards. Then after the break they breathed a sigh of relief when Isa Prins lifted a bouncing ball onto the roof as he ran in behind. This game was proving much scrappier than Olympic might have anticipated and they were letting a few too many of those half-chances go astray to feel comfortable. That tension then got a whole lot heavier when Finn McKenlay, who’d sprayed a few attempted long shots throughout, caught one just right for a tremendous equalising goal after 55 mins.
Olympic swapped out their wing-backs with Luke Stoupe and Jonty Roubos introduced and they still couldn’t get a foothold. Windy conditions mixed with AFC’s alertness made the long diagonals ineffective and there was no room through the middle with Mitchell and McKenlay doing a good job of condensing things from midfield. Plus AFC were keeping a lot of ball and starving the Greeks of opportunities... as well as searching for a winner of their own. Oliver Middleton went oh so close when he whacked a free kick off the outside of the post. Substitute Sam Lack was unable to poke home at the near post from a cross by Ralph Rutherford (another sub). Those instances were more than Olympic were mustering, that’s for sure. So when Auckland FC scored a stoppage time winner, it wasn’t even that shocking.
Ralph Rutherford had already made a couple of excellent runs up the left wing. When he angled one infield onto a Middleton pass and then whipped a finish past Basalaj and inside the post it made perfect sense... that’s what this game had been pointing towards. There was a hefty slice of added time left so Tor Davenport-Petersen put a header over and Solomon ripped a free kick that stung the palms of Eli Jones. Then the whistle went and the Auckland FC Reserves began celebrating their best win of the entire year, of the team’s entire existence.
Like, no kidding. They beat Birkenhead a couple weeks ago which would have previously held that belt but this was even more significant. And they were so good from start to finish (okay, not quite start... but almost). McKenlay was immense in midfield, whipping the ball around and dictating the play as well as scoring that thumping goal. Adama Coulibaly was equally superb in central defence – feels like most of his better games have come at fullback so this was proof he can cut it in the middle as well. He was always where he needed to be and kept scrapping that ball away. Guys like Eli Jones, James Mitchell, and Ryan Mackay were also significant within the result. Once again the AFC Ressies refuse to concede a second goal – it hasn’t happened for seven games running. Once again they took points off a team in the top half. It’s incredible how well they’ve settle into the National League, with massive credit having to go to coach Luke Casserly... as well as recognising the massive quality of young talent in this squad.
This isn’t too damaging for Wellington Olympic. They’re still clear in second place with games against Christchurch United, Auckland United, and Miramar Rangers to settle matters. If they win the next two and avoid defeat against Miramar then they’ll swoop into the final no sweat. But Paul Ifill won’t be chuffed at seeing such a lacklustre display after their bye... especially since the wins over Birkenhead and Western Subs had suggested they were finding their best form again. The Greeks are most potent when they’re playing imposing footy but for whatever reason they got imposed upon by a team of mostly U20s players here. Even despite scoring early. It was weird and it was uncharacteristic and it means they miss out on reclaiming top spot.
Auckland FC Reserves 2-1 Wellington Olympic
3’ | 0-1 | WO | Bouzoukis (Prins)
55’ | 1-1 | AFC | McKenlay (O’Leary)
90+1’ | 2-1 | AFC | Rutherford (Middleton)
Auckland United vs Birkenhead United
Keith Hay Park was the venue for the only Sunday match of the round. Auckland United versus Birkenhead United, neither of them in contention for the grand final. Auckland Utd elevated Matt Conroy to the eleven as well as keeping 18yo Shaan Anand on the wing. Taine Bracken and Oliver Campbell made their first starts of the term. Birkenhead Utd were without Leon van den Hoven which meant Devin Slingsby moved from wing-back to midfield. Alex Connor-McClean and Morgan Wellsbury were back in the eleven.
The game got going with Birko spending a lot of time on attack and shifting the ball around. AUFC held their turf with some hard-nosed defending but this was good early pressure from the visitors. Plenty of movement and good swarming midfield hustle. AU just couldn’t get their clearances to stick... until they won a free kick which Lucca Lim curled into the danger zone and Daniel Olaoye jumped on a loose ball, shrugged off the defender who was holding him back, and scored against the run of play. Alrighty then.
As often happens, the goal changed that run of play. Matt Conroy (who’d won the free kick) got busy with his dribbling abilities. Otto Ingham found plenty of touches. The first fifteen minutes were mostly spent with Birko on attack but the next fifteen were spent at the opposite end... and the fifteen after that were somewhere in between with Birkenhead finding a little more joy getting back into crossing areas, albeit without really stretching the AUFC defensive shape and with Bracken and Haviland winning most of those headers anyway. This was Bracken’s first start after coming off the bench last week - he’s an U20s loanee brought in from Hibiscus Coast, “commanding” was the word that AU used to describe him when they announced that move and yeah early impressions are that that claim stacks up. Respect to Dino Botica who attempted a bicycle kick for Birko at one stage, alas it fell wide. Otherwise nothing was coming clean for Birkenhead who still trailed at half-time.
Birko needed to find some different angles – which they did when they worked some byline stuff to pick out Curtis Hughes in space... who dragged his shot wide. The same bloke went close when some second phase finally fell Birko’s way in the area after a corner. Kai McLean made a good save on that occasion. This was better though. Tightening the screws. And that culminated, ten mins into the half, with another set piece scramble (this time from one of Slingsby’s long throws) which saw Morgan Wellsbury step in front of Takahashi and coax a penalty kick. Aaaaand then Kai McLean saved that too. Wellsbury took the spot kick himself but it’s okay since he made up for that miss by scoring from open play about two minutes afterwards, making a lovely run off the shoulder with Donkers knocking it through for him. Wellsbury was confident and convincing with the finish as McLean closed him down. Forget the penalty miss, that’s why this lad was equal top goal scorer in the Northern League. Now he’s on the board in the Nats.
That sealed another 15 minute spell of dominance from Birko but this time they kept it going. Auckland United turned to their bench with a triple sub (on came Oli Fay, Will Mendoza, and Nico Mancilla) yet they were soon behind when Curtis Hughes lifted a great ball into the middle which dropped for Kian Donkers to sidefoot home on the volley. That’s their other exciting young kiwi striker – Donkers is a year or two older and back from a spell in the Netherlands. Ah but another twist was to follow since this time Auckland United did find a response. The energy from their subs played a big part in their second goal, as did the class of Hideto Takahashi whose dinked ball dropped for Oliver Fay in behind and he flipped it over the line for 2-2. This match was up for grabs again.
Donkers couldn’t quite reach a ball over the top for Birko. Bruce Izumi had Gardner stretching to push his shot around the post down the other end. Then from the resulting corner, Hideto Takahashi shook his way free and flicked a header into the top corner, Gardner unable to slap it away, and what do you know Auckland United were back in front.
Birko resumed their earlier siege but with only ten minutes left they didn’t have a lot of clock to work with. Sammy Khan ripped one on target only for Takahashi to bravely throw himself into the way. Takahashi was there wherever they needed him. Daniel Olaoye missed a chance to seal the deal in stoppage time when he and Jedd White worked a 2v1 counter attack but it didn’t matter. Auckland United gapped it with a 3-2 victory to the delight of the home fans. Wonderful second half of footy with both teams holding leads, a missed penalty, some lovely goals, and some equally massive defensive contributions. End to end stuff for much of the way. That’s what we’re here for.
Auckland United only scored three goals in their first four matches, now they’ve scored eight in the last three. This was a match that could just as easily have gone the other way so gotta recognise the fact that AU were more clinical when it mattered. Hideto Takahashi, what a player, get him back in the Japanese national team. Taine Bracken impressed in central defence while Ross Haviland laid down another heroic performance and Kai McLean did pretty well in goal too – particularly dealing with the aerials. And not for the first time they got a decent impact off their bench. Considering that they had five players in the starting team aged 20 or younger, and that 23yo Mancilla was the oldest bloke on their bench, this was a very successful outing. Meanwhile, Birkenhead can at least say they’ve gotten Donkers and Wellsbury going from open play, that’s something. But they seem to be so fast and loose with their selections and perhaps that’s contributing to these wild swings we see from them, including within games. Birko have conceded at least three times in all four of their defeats. They could have gone fourth with a win but instead they sink into the bottom half and that defence won’t have it any easier against Miramar Rangers next week.
Auckland United 3-2 Birkenhead United
15’ | 1-0 | AU | Olaoye
57’ | 1-1 | BU | Wellsbury (Donkers)
65’ | 1-2 | BU | Donkers (Hughes)
73’ | 2-2 | AU | Fay (Takahashi)
80’ | 3-2 | AU | Takahashi (Fay)
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Springs | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 16 |
| Wellington Olympic | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 15 |
| Miramar Rangers | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 13 |
| Auckland FC | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| Christchurch United | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 11 |
| Auckland City | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 11 |
| Birkenhead United | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 9 |
| Auckland United | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 8 |
| Western Suburbs | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 7 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 7 |
| Coastal Spirit | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 20 | -16 | 4 |
| TOP SCORERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Martin Bueno | Miramar Rangers | 7 |
| Sebastian Barton-Ginger | Western Suburbs | 5 |
| Kaelin Nguyen | Western Suburbs | 4 |
| Jack-Henry Sinclair | Wellington Olympic | 4 |
| Gerard Garriga | Auckland City | 4 |
| Jonty Bidois | Auckland FC | 4 |
| Isa Prins | Wellington Olympic | 3 |
| Caspar McGavin | Western Springs | 3 |
| Ben Wallace | Western Springs | 3 |
| Reid Drake | Western Springs | 3 |
| Shogo Osawa | Christchurch United | 3 |
| MOST ASSISTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Owen Smith | Miramar Rangers | 7 |
| Shaan Anand | Auckland United | 3 |
| Isa Prins | Wellington Olympic | 3 |
| Alex Solomon | Wellington Olympic | 2 |
| Joshua Tollervey | Christchurch United | 2 |
| Tyler Freeman | Western Suburbs | 2 |
| Gianni Bouzoukis | Wellington Olympic | 2 |
| Nathan Walker | Wellington Phoenix | 2 |
| Riley Dalziell | Auckland City | 2 |
| Devin Slingsby | Birkenhead United | 2 |
| Louis Fenton | Miramar Rangers | 2 |
| Jordan Lamb | Miramar Rangers | 2 |
| Oliver Van Rijssel | Christchurch United | 2 |
| Dejaun Naidoo | Auckland FC | 2 |
| Daniel Normann | Western Springs | 2 |
| Jerson Lagos | Auckland City | 2 |
| Patrick Tobin | Western Springs | 2 |
| Myer Bevan | Auckland City | 2 |
| Oliver Middleton | Auckland FC | 2 |
| Kian Donkers | Birkenhead United | 2 |
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