"You cant take anything away from them. They had a plan and it worked well. For them it was all about hitting us early, and they did."
The introduction of Chilean Max Lopez to the midfield and an improved work ethic, especially on defence, helped Wairarapa United become more competitive through the latter stages of the first half and all of the second.
Lopez, who was on the verge of being cut from the team a fortnight ago, was clearly their best player, showing good composure on defence and distributing possession astutely on attack. Aaron Spierling was typically lively in both spheres as well but there wasnt the usual punch from a forward line led by Hamish Watson, who was closely marked by a Napier City Rovers defence that had singled him out as the danger man.
At the same time, however, Wairarapa United did manage to get the ball into the back of the net three times but all of them counted for nothing because of offside play, decisions that Keinzley had few quibbles about.
"Again, it was frustrating. We'd get ourselves into position to score and then blow it. There was no one else to blame but ourselves."
Sunday's match did not hurt Wairarapa United as far as the Central League competition table is concerned. They are still in fourth place but are eight points off the pace, a situation Keinzley admits makes them 'very long odds' to win the league.
"It's not impossible but, quite frankly, its close to it. A heck of a lot of results would have to go our way to give any sort of chance," Keinzley said, saying the national knockout competition, the Chatham Cup, was now clearly his teams main focus.
Their next match in this is against Upper Hutt City at Maidstone Park on Monday, June 2.
