Soccer: Second-half slump sinks City Rovers

Ryan Tinsley

Some defeats hurt much more than others and Napier City Rovers will be feeling the weight of the world after their crushing Central League soccer loss in Wellington on Saturday.

English import Ryan Tinsley's finely-struck shot after 12 minutes had given the visitors a deserved lead against Wellington Olympic on the artificial turf at Wakefield Park and there was every indication the Bill Robertson-coached side would go on to record a shock defeat of last season's runners-up and 2009 Chatham Cup winners.

How they were pegged to 1-all at halftime is a mystery of Malaysian aviation levels but there was an inevitability about the second half, as a fired-up Olympic punished their foes with three strikes for a 4-2 victory.

The Greeks were in a generous mood in the first 45 minutes but the Rovers failed to take advantage.

The most infuriating missed opportunity for the team was on the half-hour mark, when Tinsley bizarrely passed to Josh Stevenson who was facing two defenders, and he, then Miles John, both feebly failed to convert. Tinsley was in a perfect position after waltzing through the Olympic defence, with just the goalkeeper in front of him.

Just before halftime the Englishman found himself in an ideal position in the box but frustratingly headed wide.

When Irishman Colm Kenny scored for Olympic to level, 1-1, it was their first decent chance of the game.

With coach Mick Waitt's inspired team talk, the hosts raised their game. A brace from Sam Blackburn and one from Jimmy Haidakis sealed victory.

Tinsley got Rovers back to 3-2, ironically after a dominant first period, but it was virtually their only chance in the second.

Waitt considered his team's first-half display the worst in his three years of coaching the side and had to steady himself before going into the dressing room at the interval.

"I was going to go ballistic, I must admit, but I changed my mind and tried to be more constructive about things," said the former All Whites coach.

Naturally, his opposite number was left wondering what could have been if the first half had turned out more favourably.

"In the first half we absolutely dominated the game and should have been 5-0 up at the break," Robertson said.

"We conceded one goal with their only attacking move, a set piece. In the second half they took their chances and hit us on the counterattack and were more clinical than we were."

Napier have defeated the two Hutt Cities (Lower and Upper) fairly comfortably but rode their luck against Tawa. They lost heavily to Miramar Rangers and now another title contender has exposed them.

However, Robertson brushed off suggestions they were unable to keep up with the Joneses.

"I don't think Olympic were a better side than us today. It was a simple case of us not taking our chances and that was the difference between us."

In other league matches on Saturday, Palmerston North Marist held Western Suburbs to 2-all and Tawa upset Lower Hutt City 3-1. Wairarapa United drew 2-2 with Upper Hutt while Petone's match against Miramar Rangers was postponed.