Football: Dream comes true for Hoyle

Napier City Rovers keeper Ruben Parker Hanks forces the ball away from Birkenhead United's Reilly O'Meagher during yesterday's semifinal in Auckland. Photo / NZME

Birkenhead United 3 Napier City Rovers 4 Chatham Cup, North Shore

During his day job Napier City Rovers forward Stephen Hoyle rehearses penalty kicks and dreams about the outcomes.

Yesterday one of those dreams became reality as Hoyle succeeded with the deciding penalty kick as TSB Bank Napier City Rovers beat Birkenhead United 4-3 in a penalty shootout in their ASB Bank Chatham Cup semifinal in Auckland. The score was 1-all at the end of regulation time and that deadlock remained after two 15 minute periods of extra time.

"When I'm conducting our Football in the Community programme coaching sessions with Milo [Rovers defender Miles John] we rehearse penalty kicks while the youngsters have their breaks. Last week we joked about me taking the fifth one and it going in up here," Hoyle said as he took numerous congratulatory slaps on the back at North Shore's Shepherds Park.

"Today I said give me the fifth one and I will win it. Their keeper [Danny Robinson] got his hand to it so there were a couple of anxious seconds before I watched the ball go in," Hoyle recalled.

"It was unbelievable. I'm buzzing and I'm on cloud nine."

Hoyle, 22, who played for the Central League champions when they last won the league in 2012, scored the Blues' only regulation time goal in the 11th minute. Birkenhead substitute Ethan Galbraith scored the equaliser in the 57th minute.

"Hopefully I'll be able to play for the Blues again next year. I've played for semi professional clubs back home in England but I've never played for such a family-orientated club as Rovers. There were almost 40 Blues fans who travelled up here today and they were awesome."

Hoyle is negotiating with a couple of Premiership franchises for the summer comp.

Should he repeat yesterday's feats in the September 20 final, Hoyle is likely to be inundated with offers from Premiership outfits.

Before Hoyle had his second moment of glory Angus Kilkolly, Ryan Tinsley and Fergus Neil scored for the visitors in the shootout. Rover player-coach and defender Bill Robertson, who took the field as a substitute said Hoyle and keeper Ruben Parker Hanks were the heroes in a top team effort.

Parker Hanks made two saves during the shootout as well as some beauties earlier in the match. Robinson was almost as impressive for the hosts, according to Robertson.

"The Central League-Chatham Cup double was a goal we set at the start of the season. We're 90 minutes away from doing that," Robertson said.

"I'm pleased with the work rate. It was a tough game and a physical game. Birkenhead are a big physical side and have put us under pressure for long periods but we've dealt with it."

He indicated he won't be putting any of his first stringers in cotton wool between now and the final.

"I'll be looking for a repeat of this intensity when we play our final league game against Petone away next weekend. We've got a chance to equal the most league points, score the most goals in a league season and there's also the O'Brien Shield at stake."

Birkenhead coach Paul Hobson was philosophical after the match, happy with the effort and energy his side put in as they tried to reach their first final.

"It was a typical semifinal and I've got no qualms about the result. It was an even match and it could have gone either way and Napier got it," Hobson said.

"I don't think we passed the ball as well as we could but in front of an enormous crowd we showed a bit of heart.

"It's a learning curve and we have a quite a few under-19 players in the group and that experience will be good for them for next time."

In an all-Auckland affair, the other semifinal saw Eastern Suburbs beat Mangere United 4-0 at Kohimarama on Saturday.