Junior Navy Blues 2.5 year unbeaten run ended
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AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Dawson Straffon's late winner has handed Waitakere United a vital 2-1 victory over the Junior Navy Blues in National Youth League action today.
Waitakere United were kept at bay by a strong performance from overage goalkeeper Cameron Brown but Chris Zoririch's side were not to be denied on a pivotal day in the title race.
Keagan Maclou gave Waitakere United the lead midway through the second half courtesy of a swift counter attack but the home side struck back via defender Callum McNeill.
A second substitution by the visitors would prove decisive.
Straffon, on for Tafara Chawira for only eight minutes, popped up with a crucioal goal to maintain the visitor's 100 percent winning start to the season.
Auckland City FC had a late chance to draw level for a second time when skipper Aidan Carey saw his long distance shot saved by goalkeeper Liam Gilbert.
Gilbert, like Brown, was in good form for Waitakere United.
The result ended the Junior Navy Blues two-and-a-half-year unbeaten run at this level and saw their arch-rivals open up a three point gap at the top of the table.
It was also Auckland City FC's first defeat in a Super City derby in youth football since 2016.
Junior Navy Blues coach Kris Bright was blunt in his assessment of of his team's performance and the result.
AUDIO - Kris Bright assesses today's National Youth League defeat to Waitakere United
"It was pretty bad from our point of view.
"Waitakere United did exactly what I said they would do and what they would bring and I told the players how to deal with it.
"We knew our game plan but, plain and simple, the boys thought as we've done so well in the past few weeks winning 4-0 and 5-0, that the result would come and it didn't," he said.
Bright reserved praise for goalkeeper Brown, back from playing for New Zealand U-23 and qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.
"Cam Brown has come down for game time and he showed the rest of the team why he's in the first team - he was unbelievable today.
"It's frustrating when you have to say your goalkeeper was so good because it means you've had problems somewhere else.
"It was disappointing from our defence, midfield and attack.
"We'll try a lot harder, defend a lot better and care about the badge their wearing a lot better and get back to what we do best," he said.
When asked for a positive, Bright was curt.
"The pitch was nice," he added.
Elsewhere, Southern United took maximum points off of Wellington Phoenix with a 2-0 win in the capital while Eastern Suburbs AFC losing streak stretched to three matches after Tasman United dispatched them 4-0 in Nelson.
Tomorrow, Canterbury United take on Hamilton Wanderers in Christchurch at 2pm and Team Wellington will look at Hawke's Bay United as a must-win match now Auckland City FC have dropped points.
The Junior Navy Blues have a two week break before they head to Napier to take on Hawke's Bay United at Bluewater Stadium on Saturday 2 November 2019.
The match is scheduled for a 2pm kick-off.
Ends
FULL TIME | @WaitakereUtdNYL Inflict the first defeat in two and a half years for the #JuniorNavyBlues winning 2-1 here at Kiwitea Street. #ACvWU #NYL #JuniorNavyBlues pic.twitter.com/a4Dlh6f4L8
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) October 19, 2019
Match Details
National Youth League
Saturday 19 October 2019
Auckland City FC 1 (Callum McNEILL 77')
Waitakere United 2 (Keagan MACLOU 73', Dawson STRAFFON 86')
HT: 0-0.
AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 4. Nick MILICICH, 5. Dhanush CHANDRA (22. Micaiah PAPA 64'), 6. Callum McNEILL, 7. Matt HODGSON, 8. Miles PALMER, 10. Matthew ELLIS (9. Tawanda MAROWA 72'), 11. Deandre VOLLENHOVEN (25. BEN GALLAGHER 58'), 13. Malcolm YOUNG, 17. Thomas DRILLIEN, 23. Aidan CAREY [c].
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Sam BOTTOMLEY (GK), 15. Harry FREEMAN.
Head coach: Kris BRIGHT
Assistant coach: Adam BANNISTER
Goalkeeper coach: Jacob SPOONLEY
Property Steward: Matthew FRANICH
Team Manager: Christian DAWSON
National Youth League 2019 - Week 3
Saturday 19 October 2019
Tasman United 4
Eastern Suburbs AFC 0
Wellington Phoenix 0
Southern United 2
National Youth League 2019: Results
Week 1
Hawke's Bay United 3-6 Waitakere United
Wellington Phoenix 1-4 Canterbury United
Tasman United 0-2 Hamilton Wanderers
Auckland City FC 5-0 Eastern Suburbs AFC
Team Wellington 2-1 Southern United
Week 2
Southern United 0-4 Auckland City FC
Waitakere United 3-2 Team Wellington
Eastern Suburbs AFC 2-4 Wellington Phoenix
Hamilton Wanderers 2-1 Hawke's Bay United
Canterbury United 1-5 Tasman United
Week 3
Auckland City FC 1-2 Waitakere United
Tasman United 4-0 Eastern Suburbs AFC
Wellington Phoenix 0-2 Southern United
Playing Sunday 20 October 2019
Canterbury United v Hamilton Wanderers
English Park, kick-off 2.00pm
Team Wellington v Hawke's Bay United
Ole Academy, kick-off 2.00pm
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Player Profiles
Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 |  | WS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 |  | BO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 |  | MN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 |  | AU | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 |  | TC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 9 |  | MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| 11 |  | HW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 12 |  | EB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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