We could have run Rovers close says Keinzley

Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is convinced his team could have beaten Napier City Rovers in their Chatham Cup second round men's soccer match at Bluewater Stadium, Napier on Sunday had they had a full muster of players for the full 90 minutes.
Keinzley believes the sending off of star striker Sakeo Valevou for a dangerous tackle about mid-way through the first half was the difference between Wairarapa United causing what would have been a major upset and being, as they were in the end, defeated 6-2.
"We have no argument with the sending off but had it not happened a win was possible?..very possible," Keinzley said.
With four Chatham Cups already under their belt Napier City Rovers started the hottest of favourites but were shocked early when Andy Taylor put Wairarapa United 1-0 up.
The home team then evened things up at 1-1 but even when Valevou was sent off, reducing Wairarapa United to 10 players, they struggled to assert superiority and it was still 1-1 at halftime.
Thoughts of the floodgates opening must have crossed the minds of Wairarapa Unitred supporters though when Napier City Rovers went 2-1 up soon after the interval but Wairarapa United was not yet done with and levelled things up again with a Carl Shailer goal.
Napier City Rovers struck back to lead 3-2 and the score remained that way until the last five minutes when, with Wairarapa United players having virtually run themselves to a standstill, the home side added three quick goals to their tally.
Keinzley described the the closing stages as 'disappointing but understandable." He said the effect of having to play one short for such a considerable length of time was always likely to tell late in the game and so it proved.
"The disappointing aspect for me was that the team had given their all and they didn't deserve to be beaten by four goals.," he said. "A one goal defeat might have been fair enough but four???.no way was that justice for the effort put in."
Keinzley was delighted with the manner in which his players took the game to Napier City Rovers and believes they actually created more prime scoring opportunities than their opposition.
"Quite frankly I think we were more dangerous than them on attack?..the only problem was some of our finishing work wasn't quite as sharp as it could have been," he said. "We were a bit slow in taking some of our shots at goal and the accuracy wasn't all what it should have been either."
Keinzley was also pleased with the tightness of the Wairarapa United defence with goalkeeper Charles Kendall having a blinder. He made a number of fine saves and was always cool under pressure.
So impressive were the Fijian trio, Valevou, Lai Gataurua and Pita Rabo, that national league franchise teams have already expressed an interest in them , Troy Burling was soundness personified and 15-year-old fullback Aaron Spierling was so effective on defence he would have been a leading contender for any player of the match award.
With their Chatham Cup programme ended Wairarapa United will now focus on winning the Capital division one competition, in which they currently hold a three point lead. They play fourth placed Kapiti Coast this coming weekend.