Football: Emotional clash for ex-Rover

BETTER MIDFIELDER: Andy Bevin playing for his American University team, West Virginia Mountaineers, last year. PHOTO/Stephen M Prunty

CUT Andy Bevin's skin and you'll find blue coursing through his veins because of his loyalty to his football club.

But something called life, mixed in healthy doses with common sense, has impressed on Bevin the need to undergo a blood transfusion of sorts.

"It'll be the first time I'll be playing against the Blues," says the 23-year-old when he runs out for Miramar Rangers against his beloved Conroy Removals Napier City Rovers in their round six Lotto Central League match in Wellington today.

"It'll definitely be a strange feeling because it's difficult not going back to the Rovers," says the midfielder who has been accustomed to running out at the Bluewater Stadium, Park Island, but today it'll be at the David Farrington Park for the first from 2.30pm after making his Rangers debut the previous round away in the hosts' 3-1 victory over Lower Hutt.

The Rovers are the only undefeated side in the premier winter league campaign, affirming their status as favourites and defending champions to retain their crown while chasing the Chatham Cup double for the national knockout competition bragging rights.

But Blues player/coach Bill Robertson hastens to point out while they are gung-ho, the mid-table Rangers will be humming to a different engine from this round.

"They've got a decent squad and a few players who have returned from Team Wellington," says Robertson of the Wiremu Patrick-coached side.

Newcomer Bevin, ex-All White Cole Peverley and Tom Jackson are the O-League side's players.

Rumours also are rife that O-League golden striker Ben Harris, an Englishman, may be joining Miramar although Bevin says he wasn't at training this week.

Robertson echoed the sentiments of assistant coach Chris Greatholder, after their 4-1 victory over Palmerston North Marist at Park Island, that while the top-of-the-table perch, albeit just a point above Stop Out, is desirable he expects captain Danny Wilson and his men to be more clinical at the coalface.

"We try to perfect things at every single game and training session so we don't accept anything short of whatever our capabilities are.

"We're always looking for excellence," says the Team Wellington co-captain who has yet to take the field in the defence.

The Blues left at 7am today but he says that is something the players have taken in their stride.

Robertson has stuck with the same squad from the previous round in their bid to fine tune towards the business end despite having a bye in the Chatham Cup round the following weekend.

For Bevin, his employment with technology consulting company Accenture means commuting from Wellington to train and play here was always going to be too demanding.

"My life and job's here now," he says, even finding training with Rangers after a full day's work a challenge.

The West Virginia University commerce graduate, who created history in making numerous All-American and state teams while playing for the institution's Mountaineers side, has instantly found rapport with Miramar.

"They are the closest to Rovers you can get in Wellington in terms of team culture," he says of the "very together" Rangers who approach things the right way and with determination.

He expects parents Theresa and Sean Bevin to remain loyal to the Blues.

"I think they'll want me to do well but they'll want the Rovers to win."

Having backed up for injured champion South Melbourne FC players last winter in the Victoria Premier League, Bevin says his varsity stint has left him a better allround midfielder than a striker.

"I enjoy the defensive side of it more than I used to and it's okay to score fewer goals."

MATCH DETAILS

For the Lotto Central League football match today, kicking off at 2.30pm at David Farrington Park, Wellington:

MIRAMAR RANGERS: 1 Danny Clarke (GK), 2 Tim Schaeffers, 3 Joel Wiechern, 4 George Milne, 5 Tom Probert, 6 Hayden Sander, 7 Niko Kirwan, 10 Ben Thomas, 11 Mikhail Bredeveldt, 13 Patrick Fleming, 14 Finn Moore, 15 Richard Bott, 16 Jack Imray, 17 Dom Rowe, 18 CJ Atkinson, 19 Tom O'Sullivan, 20 Peter Halstead, 21 Shea Gormley, 22 Mitchell Stewart-Hill, 23 Cai McLean.

Coach: Wiremu Patrick.

NAPIER CITY ROVERS: 1. Ruben Parker Hanks (GK), 4. Rob Pearson, 5. Finlay Milne, 7. Stephen Hoyle, 8. Ryan Tinsley, 9. Angus Kilkolly, 10. Saul Halpin, 11. Tom Biss, 14. Josh Stevenson, 15. Jim Hoyle, 16. Danny Wilson (c), 17. Fergus Neil, 18. Ross Willox, 19. Bill Robertson, 20. Stu Wilson, 21. Kyle Baxter (RGK).

Player/coach: Bill Robertson.
Ast coach: Chris Greatholder.

Referee: Andrew Phillips.
AR1/AR2: Bryan Botha/Chris Bennett.