Football: Napier City happy to come away with draw

Bill Robertson.

Napier City Rovers drew for the second time this season but coach Bill Robertson isn't going to lose sleep over it.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game," said Robertson after his Conroy Removals-sponsored side drew 1-all with Miramar Rangers at David Farrington Park, Wellington, on Saturday.

"It's not going to be easy for teams to to take points there," he said, mindful that coming away with a point on the road was acceptable.

Former Rovers midfielder Andy Bevin, ex-All White Cole Peverley and Tom Jackson are Team Wellington players boosting coach Wiremu Patrick's squad so their mid-table status, until this round, may be an aberration.

If rumours that Englishman Ben Harris will sign up are true then that will only strengthen their resolve.

"They had some very good performances for individuals," said Robertson although his defending Lotto Central League champions remain undefeated.

On Saturday, the table-topping visitors went 1-0 up in the 27th minute after Tom Biss crossed into the box where Saul Halpin took a touch before pushing it past Miramar keeper Danny Clarke.

The equaliser came in the 61st minute came from striker Mikhail Bredeveldt who made a "little chink run into the box" before toe-poking the ball into the net past Rovers goalkeeper Ruben Parker-Hanks.

Robertson said captain Danny Wilson and his men didn't take their opportunities but he had impressed on them to play for 90 minutes and be clinicial with the end product.

Keeper Clarke received a yellow card for taking out Biss, who Robertson felt should be all right although the Blues have a bye in the opening Chatham Cup round this weekend.

In other games, Western Suburbs beat Stop Out 5-3 in a high-scoring affair at Endeavour Park which sees Wellington Olympic leapfrog Stop Out to the second rung on the table.

Palmerston North Marist's woes continue as they slipped 3-2 to the Greeks at Memorial Park, Palmerston North.

At Newtown Park, Wellington United and Lower Hutt City settled for a 2-all stalemate while Wairarapa United thrashed Petone FC 5-0 at Memorial Park, Wellington.