Auckland City

Hawke's Bay United

5

0

Adam McGeorge 6', 65', pen-87' 
Stu Kelly 73'
Andrew Milne 76'

by Bob Pearce at Kiwitea Street
www.asbpremiership.co.nz

Adam McGeorge scored his first ASB Premiership hat-trick as Auckland City swamped Hawkes Bay United 5-0 at Kiwitea St.

The victory, their biggest of the season, lifts Auckland City into second place with Wellington to play Otago on Sunday.

Auckland struck early when the Bay failed to clear their area in the sixth minute and McGeorge drove a shot through a wall of players past Richard Gillespie. There was no further score in the first half as the visitors gave as good as they got.

But after David Mulligan had come on to replace a cramped Adam Thomas, he found McGeorge with a through pass in the 65th minute and his shot deflected off Bill Robertson with Gillespie having no chance.

Auckland, who have struggled to match their build-up with goals in earlier games, suddenly found their range as a heavy shower produced a slick surface and speeded up the action.

In the 73rd minute Stu Kelly found himself in front of goal and through persistence scored the goal at his third attempt. Three minutes later young Alex Milne scored with his first touch after coming on to replace Kelly.

McGeorge's hat-trick goal came from a penalty in the 87th minute after a foul which earned Marama Thompson a second yellow and a red card.

Bay's best chances came in the first half when Peter Doran couldn't quite provide the finish to a sweeping move and Marvin Eakins was deflected over the bar by Stu Hogg with Jacob Spoonley a spectator.

Hawkes Bay coach Matt Chandler was happy with the way his team competed in the first half but conceded that they were well beaten in the end.

"We had the bad luck to concede a couple of deflected goals and we knew that after their second goal, we had to score next," he said.

"We struck Auckland City on a good day and there was no way back. I thought the sending-off was harsh on the young boy. I didn't think it was necessary at that stage."

Auckland co-coach Aaron McFarland believes the victory and the goal tally will give his team a confidence boost going into the break.

"It gives the team a lot of confidence that the way we're playing is working. This is what it should have been when we last played them.

"We've got two big games after the break with Canterbury away and then Waitakere away. They will be season-defining.

"I think the rain that fell in the second half helped us because we were able to up the tempo."

McFarland expects competition for starting places after Christmas with Luis Corrales and Sam Campbell back from holiday and a new Spanish striker waiting in the wings.

Auckland City

V

Hawke's Bay United

1 Jacob Spoonley (GK)

1 Richard Gillespie (GK)

2 Angel Berlanga

14 Marama Thompson

3 Ian Hogg

2 Phillip Doran

6 Stuart Kelly (Milne 76')

5 Bill Robertson

7 James Pritchett

18 Jonathan Taylor

13 Alex Feneridis

3 Marvin Eakins

14 Adam Dickinson

20 Chris McIvor

15 Ivan Vicelich

21 Peter Doran

17 Adam McGeorge

13 Danny Wilson (Rande 78')

19 Daniel Morgan

12 Andy Bevin

23 Adam Thomas (Mulligan 60')

23 Jarrod Smith

Substitutes

Substitutes

5 Phil Edginton

25 Shaun Peta (RGK)

8 David Mulligan (in 60')

15 Joachim Rande (in 78')

11 Daniel Koprivcic (in 46')

19 Daniel Ball

12 Patrick George (RGK)

16 Adam Chandler

22 Andrew Milne (in 76')  

22 Ryan Martin

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Hot and sticky, even the dogs are hanging out for a drink

0 also mins

David Mulligan and Daniel Koprivcic on the bench for Auckland City

Bit of a breeze from the east. Gillespie's shirt in the Bay goal very similar to ref's

2 mins

We're off and Bay are attacking . Jarrod Smith crosses to Eakins. Weak header.

6 mins

GOAL! Ball bounces around Bay area and McGeorge buries it when it comes clear.

9 mins

Auckland using open spaces well, Hawkes Bay quick on the break

11 mins

Morgan fires over top after break by Thomas stretches defence.

16 mins

Yellow card for Smith after Berlanga rolls over like I sick puppy but bounces back.

18 mins

Shot by Dickinson blocked by Gillespie.

19 mins

Spoonley handles outside area but only Bevin sees it.

20 mins

Yellow for Feneridis, neither yellow too flagrant.

24 mins

Thomas put through by Kelly, but weak finish

26 mins

Eakins shot defelected over bar by Hogg.

28 mins

Peter Doran wastes great chance after Auckland fail to clear cross from Smith.

29 mins

Two corners to City but no profit.

30 mins

Yellow card for Eakins holding on to his opponent

36 mins

great tackle by Hogg to rob Peter Doran as he closed on goal

37 mins

Phil Doran freekick skies into hands of Spoonley

42 mins

Bevin has space but crosses too close to goalie

43 mins

Feneridis clear but shoots across face of goal.

45 mins

Two to be added

45 plus two

Halftime 1-0. A lot of whistle but not many cheers.

Koprivcic replaces Dickinson after break

47 mins

Bay freekick on edge of area, blocked twice

48 mins

Spoonley reaches high to pluck ball off Bay head.

51 mins

Players passing and mispassing like cats on hot bricks

52 mins

Thomas clear in front of goal, shot blocked at point blank range by Gillespie. taylor clears.

54 mins

Cross from left from Eakins finds Smith but he blows chance. Plenty of pressure coming from the Bay.

57 mins

Thomas pulls up lame and off, nobody on yet

60 mins

Mulligan on for Thomas

65 mins

GOAL! Ball in from right by Mulligan, McGeorge shoots and Robertson deflects ball past Gillespie

66 mins

Mulligan freekick just wide

69 mins

Mulligan freekick into side netting

70 mins

Heavy rain now falling. Great weather for ducks

73 mins

GOAL! Stu Kelly persists as Bay fail to clear and it's an easy poke in after thrid try.

77 mins

GOAL! Alex Milne scores with first touch after coming on for Kelly.

79 mins

Wilson replaced by Rande

86 mins

RED CARD! Thompson off for second yellow. Penalty.

87 mins

McGeorge converts penalty for hat-traick

90 mins

Three minutes to be added.

90 plus two

Left wing corner for City. Peter Doran nearly puts it in his own net.

Ball in net from Vicelich but offside.

90 plus three

Final whistle. Five nil to City. Happy Christmas for Auckland City.