Soccer: Former champs crash out

Central United's Milos Nikolic pounces to score. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The dream lives on for former Chatham Cup winners Central United, Waitakere City, Eastern Suburbs and Manurewa among others but for four-time champions Napier City Rovers it is all over.

Rovers were the biggest casualty in second round ties yesterday losing 1-0 at home to Palmerston North End. Little went right for the injury-hit hosts who were left a player short before halftime when goalkeeper Nick Woodward was sent off.

That blow was further accentuated five minutes into the second half when Graham Craven scored the only goal of the match to book his side a place in the third round.

While there were no fairytale results for minnows Warkworth and Sunday league side O'Carrolls, Bohemian Celtic kept hopes alive for the "little guys" with their 5-4 win on penalties after finishing level 1-1 with Albany after 90 minutes.

Warkworth gave plenty of cheek, especially in the first half of their Kiwitea St clash with Central, before going down 2-0 to second half Milos Nikolic goals.

It was a huge step up for the United Soccer 1 first division co-leaders but they performed well for an hour.

"I'm not happy," said Warkworth coach Sam Malcolmson, but he quickly acknowledged it was a fair result. "In the end they [Central] were too fast, too good and too young for us. And, given the standard of football they play each week compared to us, such a result is understandable."

Goalkeeper Paul Gothard, who is also the club's chairman, capped an outstanding game when he denied Grant Young a late penalty.

Two goals in the space of four minutes from Nikolic, who at other times was disappointing with his apparent lack of commitment and effort, settled the issue.

Waitakere City, winners in 1994-95-96 but not since, cruised through to the last 32 with a 9-0 romp over Bay Olympic. Ahead 3-0 by halftime and 6-0 within minutes of the restart, the home side raced away with Kayne Vincent scoring four and Roy Krishna three in one of the biggest wins of the round.

That honour went to Northern League first division leaders Three Kings who walloped Te Atatu 13-2 with Jacob Mathews and Stu Hogg each scoring five.

Two-time winners Manurewa had something to celebrate in their 50th jubilee weekend when Brad Armstrong, son of club stalwart Mark Armstrong scored the second half goal they needed for a 1-0 home win over Ngaruawahia.

In one of the biggest surprises, another Waikato side and premier league contenders Melville were beaten 3-2 at home by Forrest Hill Milford. Premier league golden boot co-leader Steven Holloway scored both for Melville but it was not enough to withstand a second half blitz.

Western Suburbs lost 2-1 to Miramar Rangers in the clash of the round in the central region with Peter Halstead getting Rangers through with his second goal three minutes from time.

The third-round draw is today.