Football: Rovers to the fore but still wasteful

Andy Bevin

Napier City Rovers were so dominant against Tawa in their Chatham Cup match it would be difficult not to have come away from Redwood Park thinking what's not to like.

A 4-2 win against a resilient side and numerous chances created saw Napier progress to the quarterfinals of the knockout cup, thanks to goals from Chris Greatholder, Andy Bevin, Miles John and Angus Kilkolly.

But as good as Napier looked yesterday there were some concerning aspects that player-coach Bill Robertson will be determined to iron out before they face one of the strong arms of the competition, possibly from Auckland or the Mainland.

Foremost was the almost painful manner in which they spurned chances in the second half. Shots rained in, hitting the posts, the keeper and a defender's rear. A limited Tawa, relying on crude but effective defensive methods, and not without a large amount of luck, were successful in not being embarrassed. They also scored twice, goals that Robertson conceded were poorly defended.

"They were both sloppy goals and we'll try to tighten up our defence. We have aspirations of winning this competition and if we're going to do that then we need to defend much better."

Nevertheless, it would be a heartless man to deny that Napier were impressive on a bumpy pitch and it's clear that they will be contenders for the cup this season, whatever the rest of the country throws up.

"It's a positive day for us. It was a difficult pitch and it was played in tricky conditions being very windy, and they made things very difficult for us in periods, but overall I'm happy with the performance," said Robertson.

"We should have scored a few more goals; had we taken our chances we could have killed them off a lot earlier."

The visitors certainly began with the bit between their teeth, taking the lead with just three minutes gone, Greatholder side-footing the ball into the net. After Tawa's Mike Ramaekers got one back, Welshman John won a priceless free-kick when he was tripped up by a home defender, and Bevin hit the ball over the wall and into the far corner. Five minutes before the end of the half, Robertson nodded the ball goalwards for John to stroke in from close range.

On 62 minutes, Tawa's Andrew Wild handled the ball in the box though it seemed as if he knew little about it, and Kilkolly easily slammed the ball home from the penalty for a 4-1 lead.

Thereafter, Napier attacked relentlessly but without reward. Bevin was deprived by goalkeeper Lance Ramaekers, Josh Stevenson sliced the ball wide, Liam Messam should have been more accurate and Ryan Tinsley struck the post. Kilkolly was denied by a defender putting his body on the line then soon after hit the post.

Robertson, after missing the rebound from Tinsley's effort, tore back into defence and bravely threw himself at a Tawa shot to prevent an almost certain goal. With less than a minute to go Russell Kyne's cross benefited from the wind to sail past Jonty Underhill.

In the Central region's other cup last-16 match, Island Bay United of the Capital Premier League created a major shock by beating runaway Lotto Central League leaders Miramar Rangers 3-2 on Saturday.

In Central League action, Olympic beat Petone 1-0, Palmerston North Marist beat Wairarapa Utd 3-2 away and Upper Hutt City beat Lower Hutt City 4-3 at home.