Soccer: Pep talk inspires Rangers

Players arriving late, missing training or not contacting to say they won't be able to make it to a game are among some of the things that frustrate coaches.

You can now add to that coaches standing on the sidelines for the first half wondering if he and his blokes have been speaking the same dialect in the weeks building up to game day on Saturdays .

"It was a very disappointing opening 45 minutes from my lads after commitment and methodology all went out of the window so halftime just couldn't come soon enough," Western Rangers coach Ritchie Howard lamented after his men clawed their way back to a 2-2 draw in their ComputerCare Pacific Premiership soccer match against Promotem Napier City Rovers at St Leonard's Park, Hastings.

Thankfully, Howard found some traction with his men at halftime as they trailed 2-0, almost sold on the concept that one has to traditionally give big teams a two-goal head start.

"If my lads want to compete in the upper echelons then they will have to play for 90 minutes, not 45," he impressed, as the prem teams compete in the Federation Cup knockout round this Saturday before the top-four/bottom-four split in the league takes effect 3 weeks later.

Rovers coach Matt Hastings said they had controlled the first half with aplomb to be 2-0 up.

Having secured a top-four berth, Hastings said the Blues opted to inject youngsters for some experience as they aspire to playing in the Central League competition. Hastings felt his youth were out-muscled and felt intimidated in the second half.

Western Rangers 2 (Ben Robertson 71st, Luke Woon 88th) Rovers 2 (Corey Jensen 2nd, Ollie Chapman 27th). HT: 2-0 Rovers.

Taradale 5 Marist 2

The Cape Physio Taradale juggernaut rolled on with a crushing 5-2 victory over Hot Shot Napier Marist at home.

Dale coach Robbie Parker said his men controlled the game for a 3-0 lead at halftime but Marist goalkeeper Nick Clere, coming up from the lower social grade competition, denied them more scoring opportunities.

"To be fair, their goalkeeper kept it respectable considering we had some one-on-one chances but didn't take them," Parker said, happy the round-robin points would carry over once the playoff split kicks in.

Taradale 5 (Matt Bruin 2, Dean Johnston, Chris Bruin, Perry Cotton) Marist 2 (Don Butler 2). HT: 3-0.

Port Hill 2 Havelock 3

He may only have 10 goals to his credit this winter but Bjorn Christensen got a special mention from his coach, Bruce Barclay, yesterday.

The teenager (pictured) scored two goals for Best Travel Havelock North Wanderers in their 3-2 win over Ericksen Honda Port Hill United at Marewa Park, Napier.

"He's scored goals in eight games on the trot so if you've got some space there please mention his name for showing some consistency," Barclay said after his side went up 3-0 at the breather. "We dominated mostly but sort of didn't close out the game. That's the same for any sport, isn't it, because if teams don't do that than others will come back at you."

Port Hill pulled two goals back in the last 10 minutes from a freekick and penalty kick.

Barclay preferred to see the penalty as seeing those ones given and sometimes not given although he was honest enough to admit had it been an equalising or winning goal he would probably have been spitting tacks.

"Fortunately we did enough."

Port Hill 2 (unavailable) Havelock North 3 (BJ Christensen 2, Anthony Floyd). HT: 1-0 Havelock.

Gisborne 5 Maycenvale 0

Jennian Homes Team Gisborne are following Rovers' philosophy, giving six schoolboys their premiership debut yesterday at Childers Road Reserve for a 5-0 victory.

It was only 1-0 at halftime but player/coach David Ure said with Cru Bar Maycenvale United coming at them, the hosts stuck to the game plan and structure.

Not included in the Fed Cup because they are composite side, Ure said they play Havelock at Guthrie Park in three weeks for second place.

Gisborne 5 (Dave Ure 2, Nick Somerton, Max Logan, Corey Adams) Vale 0. HT: 1-0.