Navy Blues seek big response

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 6 August 2021

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC coach José Figueira expects a big response from the Navy Blues as they attempt to get their season back on track tomorrow.

The Navy Blues bowed out of the Chatham Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Miramar Rangers last week with a tepid performance but Figueira says the onus is now on his team to demonstrate character and resilience.

Adding extra edge to an already mouthwatering clash is the fact North Shore United remain the only side in the competition to inflict a defeat on the Navy Blues after they downed City 3-2 at Allen Hill Stadium back in early May.

"I don't need to remind everyone of the last time we faced Malcolm McPherson's side. We were beaten 3-2 by ten-men at their place.

"We emerged from that setback and put together a 13-game unbeaten run that only ended last Saturday.

"Malcolm and his team have been a bit up and down with their consistency in the league but to his and their credit they have kept their Cup run alive.

"It's ironic they've drawn Miramar Rangers and you wonder what might have been but that's done now and we move forward to Saturday," Figueira said.

Shore's roller coaster ride of a season has included some eyebrow raising results including the win over City and a draw with Auckland United FC but also anomalies such as a 7-1 thumping at Birkenhead United and a run of six games without a win in the league mid-season.

The match promises to be one of the best of the season and the action gets underway at Kiwitea Street at 3.00pm NZDT tomorrow.

Ends

Match Details
Northern League
Saturday 7 August 2021
Auckland City FC v North Shore United
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZDT

AC: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 8. Adam THURSTON, 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Reid DRAKE, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 20. Addison STEWART, 24. Cam BROWN (GK).

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
ANALYST: Dan GORDON

ABOUT NORTH SHORE UNITED AFC
North Shore United AFC was founded in 1886, making it the oldest football club in New Zealand and Oceania. North Shore United was originally formed as North Shore in 1886 and in 1933 amalgamated with Belmont, taking the club's present name. As the result of a sponsorship deal with camera distributor Hanimex, the team was known from 1979 to 1985 as Hanimex United or, unofficially, as Hanimex North Shore United.

THE NORTH SHORE UNITED AFC STORY
North Shore United is one of New Zealand's oldest and most successful football clubs. In addition to numerous provincial and regional titles, North Shore United won the National Soccer League in 1977, the New Zealand Superclub League in 1994 and finished as the runner-up three times (1975, 1982, 1983). They also came runner-up in the Lotto NRFL Division 2 (2012), promoting them to the Lotto NRFL Division 1 the following season.The club was promoted to the NRFL Premier Division in 2018 as runners-up.

CHATHAM CUP
North Shore United also has a proud Chatham Cup record, having won the competition on six occasions in 1952 (shared), 1960, 1963, 1967, 1979, and 1986. They also finished as the runner-up six times in 1926 (as North Shore), 1959, 1961, 1973, 1985, and 1995. North Shore United AFC reached the semi-finals after beating Otago University 6-5 on penalties in the quarter finals on Saturday 31 July 2021 and now face an away trip to Miramar Rangers on 21-22 August in their semi-final.

CURRENT FORM
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 2-1
v. West Coast Rangers (A) won 3-0
v. Western Springs (A) lost 2-3
v. Birkenhead United (H) lost 2-3
v. Melville United (A) lost 0-1
v. Auckland City FC (H) won 3-2
v. Auckland United FC (A) drew 1-1
v. Bay Olympic (H) lost 1-2
v. Manukau United (A) drew 1-1
v. Northern Rovers (H) drew 2-2
v. Ranui Swanson (H) won 3-1 - Chatham Cup
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) drew 1-1
v. Eastern Suburbs (H) won 3-0 - Chatham Cup
v. Eastern Suburbs (A) drew 0-0
v. West Coast Rangers (H) won 4-1
v. Waiheke United (H) won 1-0 - Chatham Cup
v. Eastern Suburbs (H) lost 3-4
v. Birkenhead United (A) lost 1-7
v. Otago University (H) drew 2-2 - Chatham Cup*
*North Shore United won 6-5 on penalties.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Horrace James has lit up the Northern League and Chatham Cup campaign for North Shore United and caught the eye of City fans after his two goals helped Shore defeat the Navy Blues in May.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The only meeting between Auckland City FC and North Shore United took place this season at Allen Hill Stadium when United defeated City by 3-2 on Saturday 1 May 2021. Two goals by Horrace James and one from Roussin Nkoy cancelled out goals by Brian Kaltak and Angus Kilkolly.

CURRENT FORM
North Shore United AFC have made a tough start to the season. They won their first two games of the Northern League campaign with a 2-1 away win at Hamilton Wanderers on 27 March 2021 before picking up maximum points away to West Coast Rangers in a 2-0 victory a week later. They have lost their last three matches to Western Springs (3-2), Birkenhead United (3-2) and Melville United (1-0).

BIGGEST WIN
North Shore United AFC 10-5 Huntly Thistle, 1971

BIGGEST DEFEAT
Northern United AFC 2-9 Central United FC, 1998

HONOURS
National League winners - 1977
National League Superclub winners - 1994
Northern League Superclub Division - 1994
Northern League Premier Division - 2001, 2019
Northern League Division 1 - 1973
Chatham Cup winners - 1952, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1979, 1986
Chatham Cup runners-up - 1926, 29159, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1995
Air New Zealand Cup winners - 1979, 1985
NZFA Challenge Trophy winners - 1987
NZFA Challenge Trophy runners-up - 1980, 1983

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