Football: Potent trio return to bolster Rovers

HEADS I WIN: Captain Bill Robertson is back in the frame as player/coach of defending champions Rovers against Palmerston North Marist in Napier tomorrow. PHOTO/FILE

The curtains have finally dropped on the Indian summer of Bill Robertson, Fergus Neil and Saul Halpin.

That can only mean one thing for the impending opponents of the Conroy Removals Napier City Rovers team in the Lotto Central League.

That is, the roasting begins from round five tomorrow and into the long winter league, as the defending champions enjoy a full-strength squad.

"It was a disappointing end, losing in the final [to Auckland City FC], but it was a decent season with us winning the national championship and making the Oceania League two years running," says Robertson who wore the armband of Team Wellington when they lost 3-0 in the O-League final but clinched the 2015/16 ASB Premiership crown to deny Hawke's Bay United a maiden O-League entry.

"We're now looking forward to being around for Napier City Rovers," says the Blues player/coach who parks himself at centreback.

With three wins and a draw, the Rovers host Palmerston North Marist tomorrow at the Bluewater Stadium, Park Island, in a 2pm kick off.

Robertson, Neil and Halpin bolster a Rovers campaign that boasts a shadow premiership look about them in a quest to nail the double this season - Central League and the Chatham Cup (NZ knockout crown) as well as the regional O'Brien Challenge within the winter league.

The Danny Wilson-captained Rovers and Marist are coming into the fray tomorrow having played a preseason match for what it's worth.

Robertson is banking on more experience and structure and the fact that he has released several players from his squad reinforces the need to nut out a more consistent starting XI and bench.

The visitors' results perhaps don't reflect it so far but it would be myopic to scoff at the Scott Hales-coached Marist.

In fact, they have a genetic disposition towards Wairarapa United - goalkeeper Matthew Borren, captain Josh Margetts, striker Seuele Soroman and defender Nathan Cooksley.

"I'm not sure why but obviously there's been a change in coach at Wairarapa and there's been a few movements," says Robertson of Bay United assistant/coach player Paul Ifill who is at the helm of Wairarapa United as player/coach.

"They [Marist] have a clear plan to sit back and defend and they seem to be a bit more organised."

If the visitors' blueprint smacks of Bay United coach Brett Angell's philosophy then don't despair, it is.

Says Hales of Marist's counterattacking style: "He's [Angell] my mentor. He's my closest friend in the country."

The Central Football development officer is in his maiden Central League season, relishing the stint to bolster his credentials in pursuit of an Oceania A football coaching licence.

Trailing 2-0, Palmy went ahead 3-2 in their match against Lower Hutt City in the last round but settled for a point from a 3-all draw after striker Nathaniel Hailemariam scored a hattrick of goals for the Wellingtonians.

Having beaten Miramar Rangers away 3-2, Hales feels his men had done enough to win against Stop Out (lost away 2-1) as well but champions their fighting spirit in last weekend's stalemate.

"The only team that deserved to beat us were Wellington United, who are the young Phoenix side," he says of the 5-3 loss at home but believing the Miramar result should have been in the vicinity of seven goals.

"We give away soft goals," Hales laments but reconciles that with a predominantly new outfit still going through its teething phase to find its feet.

"If you look at last year's group we've only retained three in our starting XI."

In every game, they have incrementally gained but it's imperative they don't "give away sloppy goals". On paper, he accepts the Blues are the favourites but argues games are not won on team sheets but on grass.

"A couple of teams will get a hiding from us so we're hoping it'll be one of the bigger boys in the league."

Hales echoes the sentiments of Robertson, that anyone can slip this year but the 10-team table tells the story.

"I know the guys have observed them but every team's beatable so that's what's great about the league. The Rovers, setting the pace with 10 points with a draw the only blemish, are the ones to beat."

Palmy North, at No 9 with one win after four rounds, need to make a run soon although Park Island may be a bridge too far.

That is not to say the visitors can't do the unthinkable but the purist will argue that's why the prudent don't totally disregard statistics.

Needless to say, Hales and his men didn't bring everything to the park in the preseason hit out although Robertson is satisfied with what he's seen them do against Miramar when he was on Team Wellington duties.

In other games today, second-placed Stop Out (9 points) host Wellington United, Lower Hutt face Miramar, Wairarapa welcome Western Suburbs, and Wellington Olympic will lock horns with last-placed Petone at Wakefield Park.

BOTH TEAMS

For the Lotto Central League match tomorrow, kicking off at 2pm at Park Island, Napier:

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.

PALMERSTON NTH MARIST: 1. Matthew Borren (GK), 2. Jono Steele, 3. Graham Craven, 4. Matthew Smith, 5. Wade Randle, 6. Nathan Cooksley, 7. Rhys Galyer, 8. Josh Chettleburgh, 9. Michael Sheridan, 10 Josh Margetts (c), 11 Lucian Armstrong, 13 Aaron Richardson, 16 Jerram Tuck, 19 Robbie Yule, 20 Seule Soroman, 21 Joe Craven, John McDonald (RGK).

Coach: Scott Hales.