Football: Goal deluge for classy Rovers

Napier City Rovers players Stephen Hoyle (right) and Fergus Neil celebrate after Neil's goal during yesterday's 8-0 win. Photo / Paul Taylor

Training banter certainly reflects it, but Napier City Rovers football team performances don't.

"Yes, there is definitely competition between our three players at the top of the Central League goal-scoring table, but the boys know the team comes first. The boys know whoever has the best opportunity should have a crack," TSB Bank Napier City Rovers player-coach Bill Robertson said, after his team's 8-0 Lotto Central League walloping of Lower Hutt City at Bluewater Stadium yesterday.

One of his midfielders, Ryan Tinsley, took the outright lead with two of the hosts goals to take his tally to 14 from 12 games. Saul Halpin, who also scored two yesterday, and Angus Kilkolly are second equal with 13.

If there was any doubt this subsidiary comp was impacting on the overall performance the stats eliminate that doubt.

Rovers have scored 53 goals in their 12 games while conceding 12. Yesterday's victory took them eight points clear at the top of the points table.

The cohesion and pace on attack as well as the clean sheet on defence was the ideal rehearsal for this weekend's away last 16 Chatham Cup clash against Wellington Olympic.

Rovers made 23 shots on goal, 17 more than the visitors. They earned 14 corners, 11 more than Lower Hutt City.

The fact Rovers scored four goals playing with a tricky wind behind them and also playing into it must be a confidence booster as they prepare to go to the windy capital.

While they took 15 minutes to score their first goal in the second half it wasn't through a lack of endeavour or opportunities. Youngster Harry Morton was all smiles after his first goal for the hosts in his third starting XI appearance.

Another impressive aspect of the hosts play was the fact there was always a player following up to capitalise on deflections and rebounds from missed attempts.

Lower Hutt City suffered an early setback when Taylor Hall-Jones was ordered off by referee Matt Stoneman for a dangerous tackle on Tinsley in the seventh minute. "That was early in the game and I felt a yellow card and talking to might have been more appropriate," Lower Hutt City coach Lloyd O'Keefe said afterwards.

"It was always going to be tough coming here and playing the top-of-the-table side and that made it more of a challenge."

His second-to-last-placed team is the youngest in the league. Their oldest player is 22 and their two youngest 16.

Keeper Stu Dixon was their hero with some magnificent saves.

Seventeen-year-old defender Mark Webber never gave up and striker Gagame Feni was always a threat. Once again the Rovers crowd support should have been better than the 300-odd spectators. This season's Rovers outfit is a classy one.

Parents of footballers should take their youngsters along to Rovers' home game. They won't go home without learning a thing or two.

One or two of the Lower Hutt City lads will tell you that.