Second half gets Junior Navy Blues home
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – An improved second half saw the Junior Navy Blues get past a gritty Hamilton Wanderers in the National Youth League with a 3-1 win at Kiwitea Street on Sunday afternoon.
Jack Anderson netted a goal in each half before Joshua Jones rounded out the win after Wanderers had earlier equalised from the penalty spot to have the teams level at 1-1 at half time.
Anderson fired home in the 20th minute to put the Junior Navy Blues ahead but the defending National Youth League champions pushed hard for an equaliser with their chance eventually coming in the 35th minute from the penalty spot.
Aaron Bayliss converted from 12 yards following an infringement in the area by an Auckland City player.
The Wanderers onslaught continued for the first twenty minutes of the second half with chances falling to Quinton Kipara and John Clout with Junior Navy Blues custodian Cameron Brown tipping the ball around the post to deny the latter.
Auckland City retook the lead in the 67th minute when Anderson hammered home and Jones sealed the win seven minutes later with the home side moving to outright first on the table.
Despite the win, Junior Navy Blues coach Aaron McFarland was disappointed his side hadn’t matched the performances of previous weeks.
“It was a frustrating game in many sense, especially the start because we didn’t bring the energy and the playing mentality we would want to,” McFarland said.
“The playing mentality we want is that real dynamism, a real mentality about passing the ball and even out of position that mentality wasn’t there today.
“The second half players showed a lot more of their potential and they broke their shackles more and we saw a free-flowing game. So halftime was the difference – players were able to change their mentality and mindset towards the game.”
The Junior Navy Blues are next in action on Saturday 18th November when they face Wellington Phoenix U-17. Kick-off is at 2:00pm
Ends
Match Result
National Youth League
Sunday 12 November 2017
Auckland City FC 3 (Jack Anderson 20’, 67’; Joshua Jones 74’)
Hamilton Wanderers 1 (Aaron Baylis-pen 35’)
HT: 1-1
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 |  | WS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 |  | BO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 |  | MN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 |  | AU | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 |  | TC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 9 |  | MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| 11 |  | HW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 12 |  | EB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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