"The improvement's fantastic so I couldn't have asked for more from my lads," Howard said, ready for another tough assignment against Best Travel Havelock North Wanderers this Saturday.
Goalkeeper Lucain McDonald, crossing the floor from Cru Bar Maycenvale United, was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose and two black eyes after a collision outside the box.
Shaun Peta replaced him.
Western Rangers 3 (Luke Donovan 12th, OG 40th, Eithan Kitt 45th) Gisborne 3 (Kieran Venema pen 48th, Josh Bates 55th, u/a 96th). HT: 3-0 Rangers.
Port Hill 0 Taradale 6
The score suggests a flogging but the winners didn't have it all their way and losers came away with confidence.
"No games are easy but after struggling for 10 minutes we dominated so it was another pleasing performance," Cape Physio Taradale coach Robbie Parker said.
Ericksen Honda Port Hill United counterpart Tim Claudatos said the hosts were brimming with confidence at halftime.
"The quality of their play and players just overwhelmed us a little," Claudatos said, adding Dale's one-two touches taught Port Hill a lesson.
Captain/goalkeeper Stu McVeigh was his man of the match.
Port Hill 0 Taradale 6 (Leon Birnie, Dean Johnston, Perry Cotton pen, Nick Demaine, Richard Gearey, Matt Bruin). HT: 3-0.
Rovers 4 Marist 2
One more win and it could be the end of another honeymoon for rookie coach Matt Hastings, says a jovial interim player/coach Stu Wilson after Promotem Napier City Rovers won their first premiership match.
"No, it'll give Matt a boost," Wilson said of Hastings who is on honeymoon in Australia for a fortnight.
The Blues beat Hot Shots Napier Marist 4-2 after the sides were level 2-2 at halftime.
Former Central League strikers Wilson scored twice in the first half and Andy Pickering came on for another two in the second.
"We had so many chances the score would have looked silly if we had nailed them."
Marist player/coach Dave Carswell said the Rovers dominated from start to finish.
"We didn't pass the ball and panicked a little but Rovers deserved three points," Carswell said.
Rovers 4 (Stu Wilson 2, Andy Pickering 2) Marist 2 (Jonny Greaney 2). HT: 2-2.
Havelock North 5 Maycenvale 3
Coach Bruce Barclay was pleased the villagers won but disappointed they conceded three goals in the first half.
A stronger second spell was the difference, Barclay said after the sides were locked 3-3 at Guthrie Park, Havelock North.
"Teams can shut each other down in derbies so if you can get away with three points then it's great."
Buoyed with 16 players on the card, Vale captain Nick Lucas said letting in a goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half was the turning point.
"They got an equaliser against the run of play," Lucas said.
They host Rovers at the Bay regional sports park this Saturday.
Havelock 5 (Patrick Wall hattrick, Shannon Fowler, Bjorn Christensen) Maycenvale 3 (Nick Lucas, Ethan Dent, Jeffrey Leo). HT: 3-3.
