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Howieson, Kilkolly eye up Tauranga City

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 18 June 2021

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Cam Howieson and Angus Kilkolly believe wobbly show at Bay Olympic can lead the Navy Blues to a strong run of form as Tauranga City AFC Chatham Cup showdown looms.

Auckland City FC struggled to overcome Bay Olympic last Monday when they dragged a 2-1 win over the line at Olympic Park but they more than made up for it with a 7-0 hammering in the re-match at Kiwitea Street on Saturday.

Goals for Alfie Rogers, Addison Stewart, Matt Ellis, a club first from Sam Brotherton and two from substitute Dylan Manickum piled on the agony for Paul Marshall's side as City opened up a ten point lead at the top of the table.

Howieson was more than happy with the performance and spoke about the need for a strong, positive, reaction to a below par performance.

"It was a very pleasing performance and result and a big difference to Monday's game.

"We were disappointed with the way we played last Monday but we've turned it around and the tempo at training has been very good.

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"We fully deserved the three points," he said.

Howieson, who is in intense competition for a midfield berth with the likes of Reid Drake, Adam Thurston, Aidan Carey, Matt Ellis, Mario Ilich and Mario Bilen, among others, praised Ilich in particular for his strong game in what was his first league start of 2021.

"Mario Ilich came in and has done very well and both Matt and Addison also did very well.

"But they've all given José a lot to think about in terms of picking the squad over the next couple of weeks.

"We've got a lot of quality all round and I think the players who came on did very well.

"Dylan scoring two goals was great for him.

"Tauranga City AFC in the Chatham Cup is going to be another big test.

"The Chatham Cup is a one off game but if we show the same attitude and application we did against Bay Olympic then we can go into Saturday's game with great confidence," he said.

For Kilkolly, a lot of the talk has been about his remarkable scoring sequence with Keryn Jordan's ten-in-a-row record now just one game away from being equalled.

The big front man avoided the matter of Jordan's record initially and spoke about the team's form instead.

"In the last game, we've had one of those games where you win but don't play very well.

"But I think we really showed our full ability today and came out very strong from the first minute and showed a good reaction.

"When you start a game like that you can start to enjoy yourself out there.

"We had six different scorers on Saturday which shows just how much of it was a complete all round team performance.

"Cam mentioned the young players contribution today and we had great contributions off the bench with Dylan scoring twice.

"Today was an all round performance to be proud of," he said.

Kilkolly started the scoring spree with a penalty after just 13 minutes and admitted he was egged on to take it.

"A few people yelled out to me to take the penalty with talk of getting closer to Keryn's record.

"But more important to me was my team-mates having the confidence in me to step up and take the penalty when you're in a game and its 0-0.

"It was vital for us to take the lead and any chance to score a goal for a striker means I was always going to want to take it," he said.

The 25-year-old senses there are good times just around the corner for Auckland City FC if they use Monday's blip to reach for better performances.

"We need more of the same in coming weeks. Our reaction to losing the North Shore United game several weeks ago led to a run of top performances and I think the 2-1 win over Bay Olympic might have had the same effect on us this week.

"We showed a good reaction then and we've got an intense competition for spots at this club that means everyone is trying to improve and make an impression every week."

The Chatham Cup tie with Tauranga City AFC kicks off at 2pm NZDT at Kiwitea Street on Saturday 19 June 2021.

In other fixture news, the Northern League match between Auckland City FC and Northern Rovers has been switched from Saturday 3 July 2021 to Friday 3 July 2021 at the Croatian Cultural Society in West Auckland.

The game kicks off at 7.30pm NZDT.

Ends

Match Details
Chatham Cup 4th Round
Saturday 19 June 2021
Auckland City FC v Tauranga City AFC
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Kick-off: 2.00pm NZDT

AC: 24. Cam BROWN (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario BILEN, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 8. Adam THURSTON, 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Reid DRAKE, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 19. Ilham HAMEEDI, 20. Addison STEWART, 21. Matt ELLIS, 23. Alfie ROGERS.

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

TODAY'S OPPOSITION: TAURANGA CITY AFC

Tauranga City AFC was formed in 1964 as Tauranga City but changed name to Tauranga City United in 2000 as a gesture of goodwill to disenfranchised Mount Maunganui supporters, after that club folded and the local council prompted a relocation of
Tauranga's home ground from Wharepai Domain to Links Avenue, Mount Maunganui's former home ground. United dropped from the name in 2018. While the club has existed in various guises over the past 20 years, its achievements in the Northern League are eye-catching.

The club won back-to-back Northern Premier League titles in 1999 and 2000 and has previously won three Northern League Division two titles in 1997, 2001 and 2014. The Northern League First Division title was won in 1992 with Division Three won in 1972 and two Division Four titles won in 1971 and 1979.

The Chatham Cup final was reached in 2002 but ended in a 2-0 defeat to Napier City Rovers.

The club spent three seasons in the National League between 2001 and 2003 and finished a respectable fourth in 2002. The club faced North Shore United in the playoffs winning 1-0 before going on to lose 5-3 to Napier City Rovers in the preliminary playoff.

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP CONNECTION
Tauranga City AFC Senior Football Officer Nic Millichip returns to Kiwitea Street after being part of our guest delegation at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016.

Nic was named McDonald's National Junior Coach of the Year that same year. He described his experience with the Navy Blues in glowing terms at the time:

"Auckland City FC were very welcoming and having dinner with the team was pretty cool. Socialising with Auckland City FC has been a very nice experience for all of my family.

"Not on my life did I ever think I would be at the Yokohama International Stadium. I never started volunteering in football for that reason at all.

"Who knows how thats happened but its absolutely amazing that it has. I would never have thought that to be honest, I'm just quite pleased that it has," he said.

HONOURS
Chatham Cup runners-up 2002
Northern League Premier Division 1999, 2000
Northern League Division One 1992
Northern League Division Two 1997, 2001, 2014
Northern League Division Four 1971, 1979

CURRENT FORM
v. Waiheke United (A) lost 1-3
v. Mount Albert Ponsonby (H) lost 1-4
v. Waitemata (A) won 1-0
v. Takapuna (H) won 2-1
v. Albany United (H) won 1-0
v. Metro (H) drew 2-2
v. East Coast Bays (A) won 2-1
v. Ngogotaha (A) won 5-1 - Chatham Cup 1st Round
v. Manurewa (A) lost 1-2
v. Bucklands Beach (H) won 4-3
v. West Auckland Kiwi True Blues FC (A) won 2-1 - Chatham Cup 2nd Round
v. Ellerslie (H) won 3-1

BIGGEST WIN
Tauranga City AFC 14-0 Turangi Wanderers, 1979.

BIGGEST DEFEAT
Tauranga City AFC 0-10 Melville United, 2017.

BIGGEST CHATHAM CUP WIN
Tauranga City AFC 11-0 Taupo, 2005.

BIGGEST CHATHAM CUP DEFEAT
Tauranga City AFC 1-6 University, 1986.
Tauranga City AFC 1-6 Onehunga Sports, 2017.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Tauranga City AFC are riding high in the Lotto NRFL First Division with leading scorer Jordi Langton in top form currently after scoring a very respectable seven goals. Langton scored a hat-trick in their recent 4-3 win over Bucklands Beach in the league. While Langton is the player to watch, others have contributed to their positive season to date with Jay Silcock, William Clague, Cameron Grieve, Jan Jumar, Vincent Phirun and Jordan Toy all scoring goals this season.

OTHER CHATHAM CUP MATCHES (LAST 32):

NORTHERN REGION - All 2pm NZDT kick offs

SATURDAY 19 JUNE 2021
Bay Olympic v Manurewa
Melville United v Mount Albert Ponsonby
North Shore United v Eastern Suburbs AFC
Waiheke United v Papakura City
West Hamilton United v Ngaruawahia United

SUNDAY 20 JUNE 2021
Birkenhead United v Auckland United
Hamilton Wanderers v Manukau United

CENTRAL REGION - All 2pm NZDT kick offs

SATURDAY 19 JUNE 2021
Miramar Rangers v North Wellington
Waterside Karori v Stop Out

SUNDAY 20 JUNE 2021
Lower Hutt City v Wellington Olympic
Western Suburbs v Napier City Rovers

SOUTHERN REGION - All 2pm NZDT kick offs unless otherwise stated

FRIDAY 18 JUNE 2021
Christchurch United v Coastal Spirit, 7.30pm NZDT

SATURDAY 19 JUNE 2021
Cashmere Technical v Nelson Suburbs, 1.00pm NZDT
Green Island v Otago University
Wanaka v South City Royals