By TERRY MADDAFORD
Welcome back Thomas Edge. The former international and Waitakere City striker returned to his old club and wasted no time in showing his team-mates how much they have missed him.
As well as scoring the goal that won the Ansett club championship match 1-0 over Napier City Rovers, Edge, cajoled to make the trip north from his Gisborne home, showed much of his undoubted class and almost single-handedly duped the visitors out of a game there for the taking.
With the home side reduced to 10 players after Ryan Dawkins had been sent off just before halftime, Napier should have bolted in.
But they were forced to spend too much time and manpower marking Edge and too little time, even with the aid of a strong breeze, on attack.
It was a game of missed opportunities.
Leon Birnie appeared to have given Napier the 32nd-minute lead but his finish from a good ball in from Chris McIvor was ruled offside. In the 41st minute Waitakere should have taken the lead but Hoani Edwards' weak penalty attempt after Paul Hobson had been brought down was easily palmed away by Napier goalkeeper Mark Paston.
The second spell was all Waitakere, with Edge and Hamish Carmody having chances before Edge got his head to a good cross from Hobson to power the ball home. He had two even easier chances after his 83rd-minute success, but could not get it right.
Leaders University/Mt Wellington had their advantage trimmed to just one point after their scoreless draw against Christchurch City, while Nelson Suburbs, making the most of their strong Solomon Islands connection, scored a goal in each half to beat struggling Dunedin Technical 2-1.
Nelson and league top scorer Commins Menapi grabbed both to take his tally to 10 - five more than next-best Graham Green (Metro) and Manawatu's Ian Robinson, who also scored twice as his side beat Central 2-1 in Palmerston North.
Metro, back at their home ground, were a goal down after five minutes and never really recovered in going down 0-4 to Miramar Rangers. The visitors scored their third win in eight outings.
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