Football: Gloved ones intrigue in Rovers' win

Rovers winger Harry Morton (right) wins this aerial battle as Stephen Hoyle (left) marks a Miramar player. The others are Tapfuma Dimairo and Blues goalkeeper Ruben Parker Hanks. Photo / Duncan Brown

Rovers 4 Miramar 1 Park Island, Napier

The result was always a given looking at the rankings but at times one wondered yesterday as goalkeepers from both the sides seemed to be playing a game of their own in Napier.

TSB Bank Napier City Rovers goalkeeper Ruben Parker Hanks and Miramar Rangers counterpart Michael O'Keefe didn't seem to be content with their lot, taking every opportunity to dribble the ball in the Lotto Central League football match at Park Island.

O'Keefe, in particular, looked sheepish in the 31st minute as his side eventually succumbed 4-1 to the table-topping Blues who established a six-point buffer after the Wairarapa United v Palmerston North Marist game was postponed due to flooding.

No points then for guessing what the Rangers coaching stable had a chat with their keeper about on the park after the final whistle.

"I felt we were very good in the first half and we probably deserved a 2-0 lead," Rovers coach Bill Robertson said.

In the second half, Robertson felt the wind was a factor so the visitors' goal put them under some pressure.

"But I think we dealt with it quite well and obviously killed the game towards the end."

Blues striker Saul Halpin scored first in the 16th minute from the top of the box after his teammates worked the ball patiently up the right flank.

In the 31st minute, Halpin claimed what is likely to be this winter's easiest goal when O'Keefe overran the ball and lost his composure just outside his left upright.

The striker charged in to tackle, the ball skewed out to fellow Englishman and midfielder Ryan Tinsley who casually prodded it back into the box as Halpin gleefully gobbled it up, jabbing it into the vacant net for a 2-0 lead.

It wasn't until the 72nd minute that Miramar pulled a goal back, 2-1, after winger Henry Fa'arodo pounced on a ball goalkeeper Hanks had spilled following a freekick Miles John conceded on the left edge of the box.

However, in the 83rd minute Tinsley headed in a goal from an acute angle at the far post to make it 3-1 after a freekick from Halpin.

In the 88th minute, Angus Kilkolly kept his golden boot teammates honest to make it 4-1 when Halpin gifted him a ball in front of an empty goalmouth after he lured O'Keefe out of his comfort zone.

Miramar midfielder Ben Thomas was outstanding, having great vision in switching play but, regrettably, few of his teammates followed suit.

Despite the 6-2 win away over Palmerston North Marist last month, Robertson said the Chatham Cup game away this Saturday would have a different intensity because of its knockout nature.