AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC open up a ten point gap at the top of the Northern League after dishing out a 7-0 defeat to Bay Olympic at Kiwitea Street today.
The Navy Blues came into this match after a nervy, tense and perhaps undeserved 2-1 win over Bay Olympic last week, but there were no arguments about the result today.
Coach José Figueira was forced into giving starts to Addison Stewart and Matt Ellis after exams prevented Ilham Hameedi and Aidan Carey from starting but any fears there would be a drop in quality on display were unfounded.
VIDEO - Angus Kilkolly scores the opener
REPLAY | 1-0 @AngusKilkolly16 continues his goal scoring start for the #NavyBlues. #ACvBO #NZNationalLeague #StrengthInUnity #NavyBlues pic.twitter.com/G4AyTI2t2u
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) June 12, 2021
Angus Kilkolly, chasing Keryn Jordan's club record for most consecutive games scored in, continued his remarkable run when he netted from the penalty spot after 13 minutes.
The goal gave Kilkolly his 12th of the season and his 11th in nine straight games and means he can tie the record in next week's Chatham Cup home tie with Tauranga City at Kiwitea Street.
Sam Brotherton doubled the lead on the half hour when he scored his first senior goal for Auckland City FC.
Bay Olympic were still in the match at this point but the floodgates opened wide just two minutes after the restart when Ellis scored the third.
The visitor's frustrations spilled over when coach Paul Marshall went into referee Luke Gardner's book and the result was put beyond doubt when Alfie Rogers made it 4-0 midway through the second half.
That goal heralded a horror ten minute spell for Marshall's men as substitute Dylan Manickum bagged a brace with Addison Stewart completing the rout with 12 minutes to go.
With the Navy Blues cruising at 7-0 up, Figueira deployed his bench with the two Adams, Thurston and Mitchell, thrown into the fray.
The result was pleasing for Figueira who had been clearly dissatisfied with the lack of quality in Monday's narrow 2-1 win at Olympic Park.
"We were disappointed with the way we played last Monday but today you saw us stick to how we want to play and we demonstrated our class.
REPLAY | 2-0
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) June 12, 2021
Sam Brotherton doubles the #NavyBlues lead. #ACvBO #NZNationalLeague #StrengthInUnity #NavyBlues pic.twitter.com/pRldN3aBwm
"We're delighted with the win and the cleansheet today," he said.
When asked to pick out a singular stand-out goal, Figueira struggled, given the variety of choice.
"I thought Matt Ellis and Stewart Addison scored great goals today.
"But there were a lot of good goals there were some very well-worked combinations and these are things we work on in the training ground.
"It was good to see that even when the score became big that we stayed focused and kept good habits up," he said.
Auckland City FC have now scored a whopping 45 goals in 12 games at an average of four goals per game and its the second time the Navy Blues have hit an opponent for seven since dropping into the regional competition.
While the Navy Blues are amassing goals and looking in top form, Figueira was at pains to stress how crucial it remains for his team to not become complacent.
"Its very important we don't get comfortable. We have to keep working and keep true to how we play.
"We know we've got the ability and when we're focused and stay on top of things we can show our class and play the way we played today," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com.
There were some interesting results in other matches played in the Northern League with Eastern Suburbs AFC reversing their defeat to Auckland United FC on the opening day of the season in a 2-0 victory at Madills Farm that lifts the Lilywhites into third spot just four points behind United.
Hamilton Wanderers clung onto a top four position with a 1-1 away draw at North Shore United, while in the lower reaches of the league, West Coast Rangers beat Western Springs 2-1 to put pressure on their nearest rivals Manukau United and Northern Rovers.
Melville United kept pace beating Manukau United 1-0 and Rovers snatched a late 1-1 draw with Birkenhead United.
Auckland City FC turns its attention towards the Chatham Cup when they host Lotto NRFL First Division promotion chasers Tauranga City.
The game is set for Saturday 19 June 2021 at Kiwitea Street and kicks off at 2pm NZDT.
Ends
Match Result
Northern League
Saturday 12 June 2021
Auckland City FC 7 (Angus KILKOLLY 13'-pen, Sam BROTHERTON 32', Matt ELLIS 47', Alfie ROGERS 68', Dylan MANICKUM 70', 76', Addison STEWART 78')
Bay Olympic 0
HT: 2-0.
AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 11. Reid DRAKE (10. Dylan MANICKUM 57'), 12. Sam BROTHERTON (3. Adam MITCHELL 73'), 17. Andrew BLAKE, 20. Addison STEWART, 21. Matt ELLIS (8. Adam THURSTON 65'), 23. Alfie ROGERS.
SUBS NOT USED: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 14. Jordan VALE.
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 RESULTS:
FRIDAY 11 JUNE 2021
Western Springs 1-2 West Coast Rangers
SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2021
Birkenhead United 1-1 Northern Rovers FC
Eastern Suburbs AFC 2-0 Auckland United FC
Manukau United 0-1 Melville United
North Shore United 1-1 Hamilton Wanderers
TBC 2025
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BU | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 16 | 20 | |
2 | AC | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 19 | |
3 | WS | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 16 | 18 | |
4 | NC | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 14 | 17 | |
5 | WP | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 13 | |
6 | WO | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 11 | |
7 | CS | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 11 | |
8 | CT | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 9 | |
9 | ES | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 5 | |
10 | WE | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 4 |