Brown shines in Navy Blues win

Words: ACFC Media

Wednesday 18 November 2020

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Navy Blues debutant Cam Brown paid tribute to the hard work of fellow keepers Conor Tracey and Reagan Diver following his fantastic display in the 1-0 win over Eastern Suburbs AFC.

Brown, who made his competitive debut for Auckland City FC in last season's OFC Champions League, made his first appearance in the ISPS Handa Premiership and made three critical saves to shut out an aggressive Lilywhites on Sunday.

The New Zealand U-23 international made two stunning saves from Dan Edwards and then kept out a vicious shot from Kelvin Kalua to ensure all three points went to Auckland City FC in a thrilling game.

42' | 0-0

SAVE! Cam Brown makes another fantastic save to deny Suburbs an opener. #ACvES #ISPSHandaPrem #NavyBlues #StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/LzhNmAqWPO
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) November 15, 2020

"I'm pleased to get a start and happy I played well and made a couple of decent saves.There's definitely a couple of little details I can improve on and work on during the week. But its not a bad way to make a debut," he said.

Brown believes goalkeeper coach Enaut Zubikarai had a lot to do with the first save from Edwards after the Lilywhites youngster brought down the ball on his chest and slammed a powerful shot at him.

"We train for that quite a bit during the week and Zubi is really good preparing us for it and has got a couple of drills exactly like that and we do it in training - you have to try and make yourself as big as possible.

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"It just showed all the hard work we've been putting in in pre-season albeit its been short.

"Zubi coming in and really developing me personally as a goalkeeper, as well as working with Conor (Tracey) and Reagan (Diver) - a young boy coming through - I'm pleased for him because the work is coming off," he said.

Brown also had praise for Conor Tracey and Reagan Diver, his goalkeeping colleagues.

"Its a really good environment to work in and Auckland City FC has always been very strong in the goalkeeper department and its no different this year. We have three young goalkeepers in the mix along with Zubi its good healthy competition," he added.

The final word from Brown on an outstanding victory was the performance of former Navy Blues and current Lilywhites stopper Danyon Drake. Drake was also in the thick of the action halting a long range shot from Albert Riera and tipping an Emiliano Tade effort wide in the second half.

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By special request pic.twitter.com/W99k0NIdNU
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) November 18, 2020

"Danyon is a quality goalkeeper there's no doubt about it. I started celebrating Albert Riera's shot as I thought it was already in and Danyon's made a top save to keep it out of the corner so fair play to him," he said.

The next game for Auckland City FC is away to Hamilton Wanderers on Sunday 22 November 2020 at Porritt Stadium.

The game kicks off at 2.00pm NZST.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership
Sunday 22 November 2020
Hamilton Wanderers v Auckland City FC
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 2.00pm NZST