Charlie Howe and his Napier City players wish Grant Young had extended his South African holiday. After twice coming from a goal down, Napier led New Zealand Football Championship leaders Auckland City 3-2 with just 18 seconds of the three minutes of injury time to play when Young, playing for
the first time since the Christmas break, popped up to head home a dramatic equaliser.
It completed a richly-deserved hat-trick for Young, taking him ahead of fellow South African Keryn Jordan to the top of the goal-scoring list. But it was a cruel blow for the visitors who fully deserved the points for what would have been a fourth win of the season.
"The difference between the sides was Grant Young," said a deflated Howe. "We deserved to win. If I was Auckland City coach Allan Jones, I would be looking over my shoulder after a performance like that."
Auckland have won at Kiwitea St only three times in seven outings and escaped with a draw in two others. Ahead after seven minutes when Jonathan Smith sent Young clear, the home side continued to dominate the first 20 minutes but without further reward.
From their first corner, in the 22nd minute, Napier equalised when Chris McIvor scrambled home at the near post. Eleven minutes after the break Young fired home from outside the penalty area for 2-1. That goal fired up the visitors who equalised once more when Chris McIvor nodded in.
Howe made a double substitution and a minute later was rewarded when veteran Martin Akers played a through ball to Leon Birnie who snapped a shot into the goal off the post. At 3-2, Napier looked good value for maximum points - until those final seconds.
That one-point lead will come under attack this afternoon when Waitakere City attempt to bounce back from their 0-3 loss to Waikato FC in Hamilton on Friday night.
At home to Team Wellington at Trusts Stadium today (4pm), Waitakere will have to raise their game against the improving Wellingtonians.Chris Jackson returns from suspension but Jeremy Christie is banned.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
