City eye up in form Wanderers

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 23 June 2022

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Very experienced and very disciplined - that's how Auckland City FC coach Albert Riera describes Saturday's opponents Hamilton Wanderers.

Coached by Joseph Hinds, Wanderers are in a rich vein of form with five wins on the bounce since their 4-1 battering by Melville United, a run that has propelled them into fourth place and in contention for a berth in the National League in the latter half of the year.

Wanderers are also the only team in the Northern League to put the brakes on the Navy Blues otherwise perfect season so far and Riera says the visitors key qualities have served them well up to this point.

"They are a very experienced team and we saw that in the first game when we drew 1-1 in Hamilton. We didn't capitalise on the chances we had that day but they are very good at what they do.

"They have experience and know what they're doing and they are very disciplined. We know what the game is going to be like but our lads have been training very well and their attitude has been second to none," he said.

One player who has made a big impression in matches against the two big Waikato clubs is Joe Lee. Signed by Riera from North Shore United, Lee scored a crucial late equaliser against Wanderers and the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Melville United st the start of June.

"Joseph played at Shore last season and the first thing you see in him is he's very brave in a way you don't often see in a player his age. He always wants the ball and I told him at Auckland City you have to be wide on the flank.

"Sometimes young players get frustrated they don't see much of the ball at time sbut he's doing that very well. His evolution this season has been exceptional," he said.

For Lee, the experience at Kiwitea Street has been a positive one.

"I've been enjoying it a lot at Auckland City FC - I've been getting a lot of game time and that's helped me and my football. We've been winning a lot of games which is a bonus.

"Playing wide is a bit different to what I am used to. I played a whole season at North Shore in a central position last season and also at the Wellington Phoenix but playing wide is not something I'm unfamiliar with.

"I enjoy the position, there are a lot of one on ones, you take on players and its more of an attacking role. Albert has been immense for me this season and I am enjoying it a lot," Lee said.

Saturday's match kicks off at 3.00pm at Kiwitea Street.

U-23 Preview

Auckland City FC U-23 play Hamilton Wanderers U-23 at the Croatian Cultural Society at 12.00pm on Saturday. City defeated Wanderers 5-0 at Porritt Stadium the last time the two sides met with Will Eng scoring two, and Max Sutton, Stipe Ukich and Angel Berlanga scoring one each.

Ends

Match Details
Northern League
Saturday 25 June 2022
Auckland City FC v Hamilton Wanderers
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZDT

AC: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Christian GRAY, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. Matt ELLIS, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Ryan DE VRIES, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 13. Nathan LOBO, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Aidan CAREY, 16. Joe LEE, 17. Reid DRAKE, 18. Finn DOCKERTY (GK), 19. Liam GILLION, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Ilham HAMEEDI, 22. Takuya IWATA, 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Cam BROWN (GK).

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

MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE: Calvin BERG
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Mark RULE
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Hayden TUTBURY

ABOUT HAMILTON WANDERERS

HONOURS
Lotto NRFL Division One 1997
Lotto NRFL Division Two 1991
Lotto NRFL Division Three 1990
Lotto NRFL Division Four 1989

BIGGEST WIN (LEAGUE)
v. Clendon United (H) won 8-0, 1990
v. Waitakere City (H) won 8-0, 2013

BIGGEST DEFEAT (LEAGUE)
v. Tauranga City United (H) lost 0-10, 2000

BIGGEST WIN (CHATHAM CUP)
v. Drury United (H) won 12-0, 2001

BIGGEST DEFEAT (CHATHAM CUP)
v. Mount Albert Ponsonby (H) lost 3-6, 1990

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

09.04.22 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 1-1 (Joe Lee 88' | Derek Tieku 60')
17.07.21 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 5-0 (Adam Mitchell 25', Sergio Sendra OG 44', Angus Kilkolly 54', Myer Bevan 85', Brian Kaltak 90')
10.04.21 v Hamilton Wanderers (H) 3-1 (Brian Kaltak 6', Mohamed Awad 16', Emiliano Tade 70'-pen | Agustin Contratti)
16.01.21 v Hamilton Wanderers (H) 2-1 (Joseph Harris OG 31', Brian Kaltak 53' | Owen Comber 80')
22.11.20 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 0-2 (Derek Tieku 32', 44' | -)
02.02.20 v Hamilton Wanderers (H) 3-1 (Emiliano Tade 34', 44', Myer Bevan 77' | George Ott 84')
16.11.19 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 5-0 (Logan Rogerson 28', Jack Portegys OG 37', Myer Bevan 45'-pen, 60', David Browne 87' | -)
17.02.19 v Hamilton Wanderers (H) 3-2 (David Browne 48'-pen, Maro Bonsu-Maro 74', Cam Howieson 80'-pen | Tommy Semmy 89', Martin Bueno 90'-pen)
02.12.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 1-0 (Maro Bonsu-Maro 87' | -)
28.01.18 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 1-0 (Micah Lea'alafa 47' | -)
12.11.17 v Hamilton Wanderers (H) 6-0 (Ryan De Vries 14', 90', Callum McCowatt 27', Emiliano Tade 42', 78', Liam Fellowes OG 67')
19.02.17 v Hamilton Wanderers (H) 4-1 (Emiliano Tade 20', Clayton Lewis 42', 55', Fabrizio Tavano 89'| Stafford Dowling 87')
15.02.17 v Hamilton Wanderers (A) 5-0 (Joao Moreira 2', 41', Emiliano Tade 25', 73', Ryan De Vries 37')

PLAYER TO WATCH - Derek Tieku
There's no doubt that the Wanderers player who has caused Auckland City FC the most sleepless nights is Ghana-born striker Derek Tieku. He was on target for Wanderers in the 1-1 draw at Porritt Stadium in April and fans of the Navy Blues will need no further reminding that Tieku's brace on 22 November 2020 gave Wanderers their only win in this tie to date. Formerly with Fulham, Crystal Palace, Farnborough and Eastern Suburbs AFC.

HEAD COACH - Joseph Hinds
The 34-year-old manager took over from Kale Herbert this season and has made Hamilton Wanderers one of the league's hardest sides to beat. Born in Barry, Wales on July 2, 1987, Hinds has taken Hamilton Wanderers to within touching distance of the top four in the Northern League where a qualification berth for the National League section of the season is in the offing.

CURRENT FORM
26.03.22 v Western Springs (H) 1-1 (Joe Wallis OG)
02.04.22 v Eastern Suburbs (A) 2-1 (Bee Hong, Joe Harris)
09.04.22 v Auckland City FC (H) 1-1 (Derek Tieku)
15.04.22 v Takapuna (A) 2-2 (Jordan Lamb, Joe Harris)
18.04.22 v Waiheke United (H) 3-0 (Derek Tieku 2, Ricky Singh)
23.04.22 v Auckland United (A) 1-2 (Jordan Lamb)
30.04.22 v North Shore United (H) 6-0 (Lewis Reid, Adam Streamer OG, Derek Tieku 3, Jordan Lamb)
07.05.22 v Bay Olympic (A) 2-0 (Joe Harris, Xavier Pratt)
14.05.22 v Birkenhead United (H) 1-2 (Bee Hong)
21.05.22 v Manukau United (A) - Postponed
28.05.22 v Melville United (A) 1-4
04.06.22 v Western Springs (A) 5-1 (Joe Harris 2, Jordan Lamb, Aaron Bayliss, Derek Tieku)
06.06.22 v Takapuna (H) 1-0 (Jordan Lamb) - Chatham Cup Round 2
11.06.22 v Eastern Suburbs (H) 2-0 (Derek Tieku 2)
18.06.22 v Papamoa (A) 3-0 (Ricky Singh, Derek Tieku, Xavier Pratt) - Chatham Cup Round 3
21.06.22 v Manukau United (A) won 2-0

 

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