Rovers striker Stephen Hoyle applies pressure on the Wairarapa United defence in Napier today. PHOTO/Warren Buckland
Defending champions Napier City Rovers have kept their unbeaten record this season intact after coming from behind to beat Wairarapa United in Napier today.
The Conroy Removals-sponsored Blues won 3-2 in an exciting clash in ideal conditions at the Bluewater Stadium, Park Island, in the third round of the Lotto
Central League encounter.
In the first half both the sides, loaded with ASB Premiership players from summer, traded crisp passes in end-to-end passges of play although the hosts should have capitalised on their opportunities more in the half hour spell.
In the 30th minute minute, Hawke's Bay United defender Martin Ramos Canales broke the deadlock as Wairarapa United went up 1-0 following a cornerkick that led to a goalmouth melee for the Chilean striker to poke the ball into the net past Ruben Parker.
Eight minutes later striker Sam Mason-Smith extended the lead, 2-0, for the visitors after latching on to a routine tap-in goal at the far post from point-blank range following a freekick from Cory Chettleburgh.
