AUCKLAND, NZ - Good Friday at Kiwitea Street brought all the usual ingredients of an Auckland City v Birkenhead meeting, physical, bitty, fractious football, but it was decided by the scrappiest moment of the afternoon.
3 April 2026
A deflection, a scramble, and Shivam Nair stooping to nod home the only goal in a match that never quite found rhythm.
City had arrived looking to reset after last week’s narrow defeat to Eastern Suburbs, and for long stretches they played with more fluency than the scoreline suggests.
They worked, they pressed, they absorbed the collisions that come with this fixture. What they didn’t get was the moment they needed in the box.
The day also marked a major milestone for striker Angus Kilkolly, who made his 150th appearance for the club. His post‑match reaction captured both pride and frustration.
“Some days you’re just up against everything… but I’m proud of the boys,” he said, reflecting on a performance where City felt they had earned more than they received. “We’ve worked hard, we’ve been fouled a lot, we probably should’ve had a few penalties. We just couldn’t get the ball in the net.”
Kilkolly’s 150 games and 73 goals underline a career built on consistency, competitiveness and big‑moment scoring in Navy Blue. And even on a bruising afternoon, he kept perspective.
“It’ll come together. It’s a long season, you want to be peaking at the end, not the start.”
U23s: First setback of the season
Across town at the Croatian Club, the U23s were handed their first loss of the campaign, beaten 3–0 by Birkenhead United U23.
It wasn’t their day, but the response now becomes the focus, and with Easter Monday bringing a trip to Keith Hay Park to face Auckland United U23, the chance to reset arrives quickly.
Looking ahead: Dominion Road Derby
There’s no time to dwell. Easter Monday delivers the Dominion Road Derby at Keith Hay Park, a fixture that rarely needs extra spice. For City, first team and U23 alike, it’s an immediate opportunity to turn frustration into momentum.
Good Friday brought bruises, lessons and a milestone. Monday brings the next word.
Ends
Match Result
Auckland City FC: 0
Birkenhead United AFC: 1 (Shivam NAIR 45+2)
HT: 0-1
AC: 1. Nathan GARROW (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 5. Nathan ROSTRON 7. Michal DOUDERA (6. Kieran RICHARDS 69′)8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 12. Regont MURATI 21. Adam Kanui BELL (27. Tom GOLDING 45′) 23. Alfie ROGERS (19. Dylan CONNOLY 45′)
SUBS NOT USED: 24. Seb CIGANDA 22. Tong ZHOU
HEAD COACH : Rudy MOZR
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
ASSISTANT COACH: Alan SHAKER
GOALKEEPER COACH: Adam BANNISTER
TRAINER: Karlo PAVIC
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
