Football: Blues bemoan returning pointless

Napier City Rovers rightback Charlie Yexley will not play against Miramar Rangers this Sunday after picking up his fifth yellow card on Saturday. Photo/file

Napier City Rovers dominated possession to create many chances but "got done on the counterattacks a little bit" in their loss at the weekend.

The Conroy removals-sponsored Blues went down 2-1 to Wellington United in their Lotto Central League football match at Newtown Park in the capital city on Saturday.

"We are disappointed not to get anything out of the game. I think we got the better of the game so a point would have been at least something because we did enough to win the game," said Robertson after the hosts led 1-0 at halftime from a goal to Jack Henry Sinclair in the 21st minute from some good movement and a decent finish.

"We tried to push bodies forward to win the game and got done on the break but we had a lot of chances so we probably should have been a bit more clinical," said Robertson.

Rovers striker Angus Kilkolly equalised in the 51st minute but Wellington United took the lead from a bench debutant in the 87th minute to seal the match.

"It's a credit to them for taking the chances and coming away with the points," said player-coach Robertson as the Blues remain fifth on the table, three points adrift of the hosts.

The Stop Out v Miramar Rangers game on Saturday was postponed because of a waterlogged Hutt Park.

Wellington United, an academy feeder club to Wellington Phoenix, beat Rovers 6-2 in Napier in April.

Robertson said the pitch was wet and slippery but played okay.

Teenage midfielder Karan Mandair made his debut start for the Blues.

English import rightback Charlie Yexley will serve a match suspension, for collecting five yellow cards, against Miramar at Park Island this Sunday in the 2pm kick off.

In a shock result, second-placed Wairarapa United, who are Chatham Cup runners, succumbed 4-2 to seventh-placed Team Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium yesterday.