City can't hold back the Rangers

City's Cameron Hussey guides the ball away from the Western Rangers in their thrilling Federation Cup clash in Napier on Saturday. PHOTO/Sharon Francis

The theme of Cup heartbreak continued in Napier as a ten man Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts could not prevent an extraordinary comeback by Club Hastings Western Rangers, losing 6-5 in a fiery Lotto Federation Cup clash on Saturday.

"They scored first - we pressed for a little while," said coach Kelvin Francis.

"They played a lot of long ball, but their striker was good at getting it down and controlling it.

"Our passing options were not so easy to find this week."

Hastings were keen to get up in City's face to rattle the out-of-town side, but they still began to put it together as leading goal scorer Anthony Bell would get another hat trick, including back-to-back stunners in the 17th and 18th minutes.

Kyle Graham-Luke added another for a 3-1 advantage in the 57th minute, but City were just not able to put the match into deep freeze.

After experianced head Jason Fergusson withdrew with illness that morning, Josh Jonas was thrust into the pressure cooker and made a couple of hard challenges outside the box - getting two yellow cards - with Hastings converting on the second offence for 3-2.

Jordan Joblin-Hall got one back to re-establish the advantage 4-2, and Bell would later add his third goal.

But Hastings struck again and then in a horror period for Francis, he had to watch as the Rangers scored three straight goals from deflections over the keeper in almost identical circumstances - the last being a very well taken strike.

"Trying to shut a game down with ten men is difficult," he said.

With four minutes of added time available, City desperately tried to force an equaliser as Graham-Luke made a hard drive at the goal but could not connect, then a City header attempt went just over the cross bar.

"You could see it just wasn't to be," said Francis.

"We'll learn from that experiance, and it's probably a good thing it was a Cup fixture and not next week with Hokowhitu."

Adam Woon and Harry Borschmann both scored doubles for Hastings, with Dale Simpson and Benjamin Robertson getting the other goals.

Graham-Luke was named MVP for his hard work in the middle of the park.

As well as Jonas being on automatic stand down, City may not have the services of Eli Fleming and Adrian Ngaau this weekend, due to knee injuries.

Meanwhile, an understrength GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves also went out in the first round of the Cup, beaten 4-2 by the Gisborne Thistle.

With a one-player bench, the Horizons Premiership squad could not rein in their Lotto Federation League opposition.

Athletic's Jai Stephens was a goal scorer, while Paul Goodlett got a double for the Thistle, with the other goal scorers being David Ure and Timothy Hofman.