Soccer: Rovers win puts heat on United

Claudelands Rovers have moved within one point of Taupo in the WaiBop Federation League.

Taupo could only manage a 2-2 draw against Whakatane Town, while second placed Claudelands Rovers took maximum points from a 4-0 win over Rotorua United at the weekend.

Taupo would have been disappointed to drop two points at Rex Morpeth Park, but it could have been worse after Nathan Kinney and Brendan Mitchell gave Whakatane a 2-0 lead at halftime. Taupo coach Paul Drake was not happy as the teams headed for the changing rooms.

Whatever it was he said, it worked, as Taupo took control from the re-start. Alan Lamb scored in the tenth minute and although Whakatane withstood the onslaught for another 20 minutes, it was Lamb who got them back on level terms. Although Taupo could have scored more if their strikers had been on target, a draw was a fair result.

Rotorua were without four key players when they met Claudelands at Galloway Park. Down only 1-0 at the break United had competed well, but when Claudelands scored from the penalty spot in the 65th minute heads went down and they conceded two late goals. Keeper Andrew Gibbs had a good game for United, but disappointed coach Neil Rush admitted they were outplayed.

Rush agreed it was now desperate times for United.

"We will have to scrap for every point from here but it won't be easy, and our next game is against Taupo."

Ngongotaha had three players back from university and Mitchell Miller signalled his return with a first-half hat-trick to give the villagers a 3-0 lead over Tauranga Boys' College at the break. They continued to dominate in the second half but didn't capitalise on chances they created with the only second-half goal scored late in the game by Tauranga Boys' to make the final score 3-1.

At Fergusson Park, Otumoetai found themselves 2-0 down at halftime after a lacklustre performance. It was a different team that came out for the second half, but although they dominated they couldn't score.

Old Blues who were at home against bottom of the table Otorohanga also found themselves 2-0 down after 45 minutes. Goals to Franz Marko and Phil Ranger levelled the score but when the Otorohanga keeper denied them from the penalty spot it looked as though the visitors might sneak a point.

Patience was the buzz word for Old Blues as they put pressure on the Otorohanga and in the 89th minute they were rewarded when Hare Puna scored to give them a 3-2 win.

Coach Andy Legget was pleased. "They played with control in the second spell and showed patience and character," he said. "It may not have been a convincing 90-minute performance but we will take the points."

Melville United retained third place with a 2-0 win over Waikato Unicol who are now in a tie with three other teams for sixth place.

In division two, with Clube Algeria beaten 4-0 by Tokoroa, the second division title race should be fought out between Tauranga City, who beat Rotorua United 6-1 and Cambridge who beat bottom of the table Matamata 5-2. Te Awamutu beat West Hamilton 3-1 while Katikati had the bye.