Soccer: Napier, Mount through to final

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Napier City Rovers' dream of soccer's double lives on - but only just.

In grabbing a last-minute extra time goal against Dunedin Technical, the Hawkes Bay side took yesterday's Ansett national club championship semifinal to a penalty shootout, which they won 4-3 to book their place in Sunday's grand final against top qualifiers University/Mt Wellington, who beat Manawatu United 3-0 at Bill McKinlay Park.

Napier's sights are now set on a repeat of their 1993 league-cup triumph. They will be back at North Harbour Stadium on September 9 to play Central United in the Bluebird Chatham Cup final.

Like Tech coach Roger Brooks, Manawatu United's Richard Hudson saw his season - which promised much - come to an early end at the hands of a clinical Mount side.

"It was always going to be hard without the two players [Mark Tesar and Shane Cunliffe] we had suspended," said Hudson.

"They played better than us and deserved their win. They have been the most consistent team this season and have been my pick all along."

While the Mount's win was convincing enough there were long periods when their almost total domination did not bring the rewards coach Clive Campbell was looking for.

The home side needed 34 minutes to break down a resolute Manawatu - that from a set play when Michael Buhagiar got on the end of a Jeff Campbell corner to head home. Further goals came from Billy Harris and Campbell.

Nick Hyde, who missed training all week because of commitments with his victorious Rangitoto College team, was outstanding. His hard running caused huge problems for the Manawatu defence.

Napier have played better this season than they did at Park Island yesterday but were happy to take the win after taking the lead with a 75th-minute Paul Jackson goal.

The equaliser from Mads Svenstrup brought extra time and after goals from substitute Clinton Boyle for the southerners and Napier's Leon Birnie in the final moments, Napier won the shootout when Napier goalkeeper Mark Paston saved two penalties and Tech's Matthew Maingay one.

Caversham won the promotion battle in Palmerston North to book their place in Sunday's sudden-death play-off with Metro.

Late last night, Napier's place in the final was under scrutiny after a challenge from Dunedin officials claiming their semifinal should have been decided by golden goal, not a penalty shootout. Under the golden goal, Dunedin would have won the match.