Auckland City have come from behind to defeat a 10-man Canterbury United Dragons side this afternoon at Kiwitea Street to extend their lead in the ISPS Handa Premiership.

That result was significant for the defending champions as they continued their perfect winning record, while main rivals Team Wellington were held at home by Hawke’s Bay United and Eastern Suburbs bounced back to record an important win over Hamilton Wanderers in Cambridge.

Willy Gerdsen’s Canterbury, semi-finalists from the 2017-18 season, came to Auckland looking to upset the Navy Blues and took the lead in the 10^th minute when Stephen Hoyle fired past Enaut Zubikarai. The match changed in the 22^nd minute when referee Peter Linney sent off Adam Thurston for a poor challenge on Reid Drake and City took advantage right before half-time.

Great interplay between Dylan Manickum and Daniel Morgan saw the latter find the back of the net, and then Javier Lopez was bundled over inside the box. He converted the penalty for his fourth goal of the season to claim the lead heading into the sheds.

In the second half, the seven-time ISPS Premiership winners controlled the game and Drake and Manickum added further goals put the game to bed. The victory was Auckland City’s fifth in a row and sees them jump two points clear of Team Wellington with a game in hand.

Team Wellington, the two-time champions, looked like they were set to continue their winning run in the capital, but were denied by a late goal from Jorge Akers.

The Jose Figuiera coached team, who had won their last four games in a row after going down in their opening game against Auckland City, took the lead in the 32^nd minute through Hamish Watson. Andy Bevin linked with Henry Cameron, and the All Whites midfielder found Watson inside the box and he finished for his sixth goal of the season to continue leading the Golden Boot standings.

Shortly after half time, Akers got his team back in the match when he converted a good cross from Frenchman Maxime Oliveri, but the response from Team Wellington was immediate. Bevin was the provider again as they claimed the lead through Nathanael Hailemariam three minutes later.

The Brett Angell coached team, who have been perennial semi-final contenders, never gave up and a second from Akers with 10 minutes to play secured Hawke’s Bay United a valuable point away from home. Figueira said it was disappointing to not continue their winning run.

“Hawke’s Bay came here today with a really good game plan and they frustrated us for long periods,” said Figueira. “We just weren’t quite as slick and connected for long enough periods today. It was disappointing to concede two goals. The one straight after half time was a bit of a sucker punch for us.”

Meanwhile up in Cambridge at John Kerkhof Park, Eastern Suburbs looked to bounce back against Hamilton Wanderers who have been impressive so far this season under Ricki Herbert.

The Lily Whites, who were edged 1-0 last week by Auckland City, took the lead in the 20^th minute when Mohammed Awad produced a low curling effort to beat Matt Oliver in goal. 

After the break, Callum McCowatt picked up his first goal of the season on his debut for the Lily Whites. The former Auckland City forward, who scored nine goals for the Navy Blues last year in their championship-winning team, made a difference for his new club as they held on for an important 2-0 win. They are three points back from Auckland City.

“We are really pleased with the response of our guys,” said Eastern Suburbs Head Coach Danny Hay. “We felt it was a super professional performance. Ricki Herbert has a strong squad and has them playing well, they were on the same points as us so we knew it was going to be tough. It was a physical and tough match but the way our boys approached it was very professional.”

Down in Nelson, Tasman United recorded their first win of the ISPS Handa Premiership when they defeated the Wellington Phoenix Reserves 3-2 in front of a good crowd at Trafalgar Park.

The Phoenix Reserves took the lead in the eighth minute through Benjamin Waine and that goal was good enough for a 1-0 half-time lead for the visitors. Andy Hedge’s team rallied after the break and Kiernan Hughes-Mason got the home team back on level terms when he scored an outstanding goal.

The home team finished the stronger of the two teams. Ahmed Othman and Corey Larsen scored a goal each in a two minute period to take a 3-1 lead. Waine scored a second for the Phoenix but Tasman United held on for their first three points in this campaign.

In the final game, Waitakere United hosted Southern United in an entertaining clash at Trusts Arena in Auckland.

The five-time champions started the brighter of the two teams but could not convert a number of chances going forward.

The Paul O’Reilly coached Southern United, who finished fifth last season, were looking to kick-start their campaign with their second win and took the ascendancy when Abdullah Al Khalisi found the back of the net with a deflected from the edge of the area.

Chris Milcich’s team came back into the game and got the goal they deserved in the 59^th minute. Matt Conroy took the ball to the by-line and cut back neatly for captain Jake Butler to finish from close range. Waitakere United finished the stronger of the two teams, but Southern United held on for a valuable point on the road.

There were plenty of talking points in Match Week Six of the ISPS Handa Premiership and Auckland City continue to be the team to beat.

ISPS Handa Premiership Match Week Six Results

Hamilton Wanderers 0
Eastern Suburbs 2 (Mohammed Awad 21’, Callum McCowatt 48’)
HT: 0-1

Auckland City 4 (Daniel Morgan 44’, Javier Lopez 45’ + 2’, Reid Drake 74’, Dylan Manickum 83’)
Canterbury United Dragons 1 (Stephen Hoyle 10’)
HT: 2-1

Team Wellington 2 (Hamish Watson 32’, Nathanael Hailemariam 52’)
Hawke’s Bay United 2 (Jorge Akers 48’, 80’)
HT: 1-0

Tasman United 3 (Kiernan Hughes-Mason 53’, Ahmed Othman 70’, Corey Larsen 72’)
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2 (Benjamin Waine 8’, 77’)
HT: 1-0

Waitakere United (Jake Butler 60’)
Southern United (Abdulla Al-Kalisy 48’)
HT: 0-0

Article added: Sunday 18 November 2018