Navy Blues enjoy winning Chatham Cup debut

Words: ACFC Media

Saturday 5 June 2021

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC enjoyed a winning debut in the Chatham Cup after defeating a plucky Ellerslie AFC 7-0 at Kiwitea Street today.

José Figueira made ten changes to the side that defeated Auckland United FC with goalkeeper Cam Brown, defenders Adam Mitchell and Andrew Blake coming into the backline to join the only player to feature last week in Brian Kaltak.

Brooklyn Heath was given his first team debut making him the sixth player to graduate from the club's U-23 set-up to the Northern League this season.

He was joined by Matt Ellis and Dre Vollenhoven who added further youth to the line-up while Adam Thurston, skipper-for-the-day Mario Ilich and Dominion Road Derby goalscorers Reid Drake and Dylan Manickum were all handed starts.

Ellerslie made a solid start defending well for the first half hour and might've taken a shock lead after just three minutes when Ryan Morrow scooted clear of the Navy Blues defence only to drag his shot wide.

Ellerslie AFC goalkeeper Masilian Veejian's first real save of the game didn't materialise until the 25th minute when the Ponies keeper palmed away an Thurston free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors Rowan Corbett saw another effort palmed away by Brown before Thurston forced Veejian into a good save moments later.

The deadlock was eventually broken by Thurston after when he burst into the Ponies penalty area, evaded two defenders then slammed home an unstoppable shot past Veejian to net his first goal for the club on 33 minutes.

Navy Blues nerves were eased when Manickum doubled the lead four minutes later after Veejian palmed another Thurston effort straight into the New Zealand Futsal players path.

The Ellerslie AFC goalkeeper pulled off another two commendable saves just after the restart when he parried a Manickum volley then dived bravely at the feet of Thurston.

But Thurston got the better of Veejian when he clipped a clever spinning lofted right foot shot over Veejian and into the net for a skilful third.

Veejian was kept very busy and pulled off a stunning save to deny Heath a debut goal when he tipped the youngster's measured right foot volley over the bar but he was unable to prevent Dre Vollenhoven adding a fourth with a blistering long range volley that gave Veejian no chance..

With the result all but confirmed Figueira gave Kristoff Muller his first team debut when he replaced the energetic and influential Thurston on the hour mark.

As the match wore on, Ellerslie heads dropped and that allowed an unmarked Kaltak to head home a fifth on 63 minutes.

Ellerslie AFC came close to a consolation goal when former Central United FC forward Ermal Fusha saw his right foot shot strike the face of Brown's crossbar shortly after.

Ellis rounded off a fine afternoon when he rounded the Ellerslie defence and blasted home the sixth with five minutes left. Vollehoven netted his second to make it 7-0 and send the Navy Blues into the next round draw on Tuesday.

The defeat was Ellerslie AFC's biggest in the Chatham Cup for 30 years when Waikato United defeated the Ponies 6-0 in the third round in 1991.

Auckland City FC's next match is with Bay Olympic on Northern League duty at Olympic Park on Monday 6 June 2021 at 3pm NZDT.

Ends

Chatham Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 5 June 2021
Auckland City FC 7 (Adam THURSTON 33', 49', Dylan MANICKUM 37', Dre VOLLENHOVEN 56', 90+1', Brian KALTAK 63', Matt ELLIS 85')
Ellerslie AFC 0
HT: 2-0.

AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH (c), 3. Adam MITCHELL, 6. Brian KALTAK (12. Sam BROTHERTON 70'), 8. Adam THURSTON (22. Kristoff MULLER 59'), 10. Dylan MANICKUM (20. Addison STEWART 54'), 11. Reid DRAKE, 13. Dre VOLLENHOVEN, 16. Brooklyn HEATH, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 21. Matthew ELLIS.

SUBS NOT USED: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 9. Angus KILKOLLY.

COACH: José FIGUEIRA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GK COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
S&C COACH: Adria CASALS
ANALYST: Jarrod WALLACE/Dan GORDON

OTHER MATCHES:

Chatham Cup - Round 2

Northern Region 
Auckland City FC 7-0 Ellerslie AFC
Auckland United FC 9-0 Cambridge FC
Onehunga-Mangere United 3-4 Mount Albert Ponsonby - after extra time
West Hamilton United 0-4 Northern Rovers
Melville United 5-0 Waitemata FC
Hamilton Wanderers 5-5 East Coast Bays AFC - Hamilton Wanderers win 8-7 on penalties
Waiheke United 12-1 FC Whangarei
Bay Olympic FC 4-3 Western Springs AFC
West Auckland Kiwi True Blues FC 1-2 Tauranga City AFC
Ngaruawahia United 2-1 West Coast Rangers FC
North Shore United 3-1 Ranui Swanson
Franklin United 0-6 Birkenhead United 
Papakura City 3-3 Metro FC - Papakura City win 4-2 on penalties

Sunday 6 June 2021
Albany United FC 0-4 Eastern Suburbs AFC

Monday 7 June 2021
Waikato Unicol AFC 0-1 Manurewa AFC 
Claudelands Rovers 4-5 Manukau United FC 

Central Region

Monday 7 June 2021 - All 2pm NZDT unless otherwise stated

Wellington United AFC 1-4 Wellington Olympic AFC
Stop Out 4-1 Kapiti Coast United
North Wellington FC 4-0  Wainuiomata 
Tawa AFC 2-3 Waterside Karori
Wairarapa United 2-4 Napier City Rovers
Western Suburbs 4-0 Upper Hutt City
Miramar Rangers 5-0 Havelock North Wanderers

Southern Region

Monday 7 June 2021 - All 2pm NZDT

Northern AFC v Green Island AFC
South City Royals FC v Mosgiel AFC
Lower Hutt City AFC 6-0 Island Bay United AFC
Blenheim Rangers AFC 1-2 Nelson Suburbs FC
Coastal Spirit 8-0 Burwood FC
Ferrymead Bays FC 0-3 Christchurch United
Cashmere Technical 4-0 Selwyn United
Wanaka AFC v Gore Wanderers AFC
Queenstown AFC v Otago University AFC

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