Football: Undefeated Napier City Rovers still finding their way in Central League season

Napier City Rovers teenager Karan Mandair is among the budding talent making their mark in the Central League soccer season. Photo/file

Another round and another test but whether it'll be a litmus one depends on what the opposition soccer team will bring to the park against the Napier City Rovers today.

Traditonal powerhouse Wellington Olympic boast the same unblemished record of two wins from as many games against the Thirsty Whale-sponsored Blues when they kick off at 1.30pm in round three of the Ultra Football Central League match at Wakefield Park in the capital city.

"They've had a good start to the season as well so they're unbeaten as well as we are," says Rovers player-coach Bill Robertson after resounding 7-3 and 4-1 victories against Waterside Karori at home and Miramar Rangers away, respectively.

Robertson says he doesn't know much about the Wellingtonians but on reflection their squad looks quite experienced, with some ISPS Handa Premiership players in the mix.

"It's going to be a tough game - it always is against Olympic," he says before the game on an artificial surface.

With Miramar struggling until some of their marquee players become available after the O-League campaign for Team Wellington, it'll be interesting to see how strong the Greeks are today.

With two wins under their belt, Robertson says the Joshua Stevenson-captained boys have a spring in their step and will carry that momentum into this round.

"We'll get better as the season goes on so we're obviously working with players who haven't been together for very long periods of time but we'll develop and progress."

At the risk of sounding cliched, he emphasises it's early in the premier winter league so they are simply taking each game at a time.

Robertson is pleased with teenagers Zac Madsen, who came off the bench in his second game to score a goal in the last round, and midfielder Karan Mandair.

■ ROVERS: 1 Ruben Parker Hanks (GK), 3 Liam Schofield, 4 Drew Matthews, 5 Kaeden Atkins, 6 Jamie Wilkinson, 7 Sho Goto, 8 Karan Mandair, 9 Martin Bueno, 10 Patryk Misik, 12 Ethan Ladd, 14 Josh Stevenson (c), 16 Danny Wilson, 17 Fergus Neil, 19 Bill Robertson, 20 Zac Madsen, 21 Dan Robinson (RGK).

Coach: Bill Robertson.
Ast coach: Stu James.