All White Howieson back for Navy Blues

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 8 April 2022

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - All Whites midfielder Cam Howieson makes his Navy Blues return as Auckland City FC travel to Porritt Stadium to take on highflying Hamilton Wanderers tomorrow.

Hamilton Wanderers have had a mixed start to the season after a bruising 1-1 draw with Western Springs that saw Paul Clout and Liam Fellowes both sent off.

They followed that up with a creditable 2-1 away win over Eastern Suburbs AFC last week thanks to goals from Joseph Harris and Bee Hong.

Assistant coach Ivan Vicelich is under no illusions how difficult a game it will be.

"Everyone has trained very well this week and we'll need the players to give everything down there.

"Wanderers are always well organised, they're coached well and their facilities are excellent and its a fixture we always enjoy playing.

"We've had a close look at them and they've had a good start to the season and showed a lot of character in their opening match.

"We will go down there looking to do our best and build off a very good game against Takapuna.

"The game was excellent and the players were very good last week and we know we're in for a tough battle against Wanderers," Vicelich said.

Northern League
Sat 9 April 2022
Kick-off 3pm
@HamWanderersNZ

Porritt Stadium

#StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/brx8ClvQvV
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) April 7, 2022

Another filip for the Navy Blues is the return of All Whites midfielder Cam Howieson back from the Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Doha.

"Cam rejoined us at training just 24 hours after he returned from Qatar and its great to have him back.

"He's got a tremendous attitude to come back in and start training straight away.

"I watched his games for New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and he played very well.

"He was a big part of the success for New Zealand which was exciting for him personally as well as everyone at the club.

"We're delighted to have Cam back and the timing is good because we're without Mario Ilich who has been outstanding in the first two weeks.

"It's another experienced player to choose from, he's feeling good physically and it's a boost for everyone," Vicelich said.

Wanderers and Auckland City FC have met 12 times in the past with the Kiwitea Street-based side winning 11 and losing only once.

Derek Tieku scored twice in a 2-0 win at Porritt Stadium in the final ever meeting between the two clubs in the now defunct ISPS Handa Premiership in 2020-21 season.

NOTHERN LEAGUE ACTION

Elsewhere in the Northern League, two teams with a 100 percent winning record face off when table toppers Bay Olympic take on third-placed Birkenhead United, a game Navy Blues supporters will want to keep an eye on.

Auckland United face a tricky test when they host a Western Springs side eager to get their first win of the season to add to their two draws.

Melville United travel to Taharoto Park to take on Takapuna AFC with Sam Wilkinson's side still looking for its first point of the year.

Eastern Suburbs AFC take the ferry to meet Waiheke United at Onetangi Domain in a similar dilemma to Melville while their hosts will want to make home advantage count.

It looks like a season of struggle ahead for North Shore United but that won't stop them believing they can take down Manukau United at Allen Hill Stadium.

All matches kick off at 3.00pm NZDT.

U-23 PREVIEW

Auckland City FC U-23 take on Hamilton Wanderers U-23 at Porritt Stadium in the day's early kick-off at 12.30pm NZDT.

Ends

Match Details
Northern League
Saturday 9 April 2022
Hamilton Wanderers v Auckland City FC
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZDT

AC (from): 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 3. Adam MITCHELL, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 13. Nathan LOBO, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Aidan CAREY, 16. Joe LEE, 17. Reid DRAKE, 19. Liam GILLION, 21. Ilham HAMEEDI, 22. Kristoff MULLER, 23. Alfie ROGERS.

COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GOALKEEPER COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
MANAGER: Keith COTON
ANALYST: Adria CASALS
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE

MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Campbell Kirk KAWANA-WAUGH
AR1: Robbie MARIS
AR2: Jacob PORTER

OTHER MATCHES - SATURDAY 9 APRIL 2022 (all games kick off at 3.00pm NZDT)
Auckland United v Western Springs
Bay Olympic v Birkenhead United
Hamilton Wanderers v Auckland City FC
North Shore United v Manukau United
Takapuna AFC v Melville United
Waiheke United v Eastern Suburbs AFC

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

2021
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 5-0 (Adam MITCHELL, Sergio SENDRA OG, Angus KILKOLLY, Myer BEVAN, Brian KALTAK)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 3-1 (Brian KALTRAK, Mohamed AWAD, Emiliano TADE | Agustin CONTRATTI))

2020-21
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) lost 0-2 (- | Derek TIEKU 2)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 2-1 (Brian KALTAK, Joseph HARRIS OG |Owen COMBER)

2019-20
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 3-1 (Emiliano TADE 2, Myer BEVAN | George OTT)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 5-0 (Logan ROGERSONB, Jack PORTEGYS OG, Myer BEVAN 2, David BROWNE)

2018-19
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 1-0 (Maro BONSU-MARO)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 3-2 (David BROWNE, Maro BONSU-MARO, Cam HOWIESON | Tommy SEMMY, Martin BUENO)

2017-18
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 6-0 (Ryan DE VRIES 2, Callum McCOWATT, Emiliano TADE, Liam FELLOWES OG)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 1-0 (Micah LEA'ALAFA)

2016-17
v. Hamilton Wanderers (A) won 5-0 (Joao MOREIRA 2, Emiliano TADE 2, Ryan DE VRIES)
v. Hamilton Wanderers (H) won 4-1 (Emiliano TADE, Clayton LEWIS 2, Fabrizio TAVANO | Stafford DOWLING)