United in cup defeat

Wairarapa United won't be holding an inquest into why their hopes of successfully defending the Chatham Cup came to an abrupt end in Napier on Sunday.

Beaten 1-0 by Napier City Rovers, the side they defeated 2-1 in last year's final of the country's premier knockout competition, Wairarapa United were the victims of circumstances beyond their own control.

If the loss of experienced Adam Cowan through a work commitment in Fiji was not bad enough, they also had three players - Dale Higham, Paul Ryder and Nathan Cooksley - struggling with sickness and star striker Seule Soromon having to be substituted because of injury early in the second spell.

Soromon took a kick on a hamstring from a stray boot five minutes into the game and was unable to move freely from that point on.

"It was just one of those days when too many things conspired against us," United coach Phil Keinzley said.

"Looking back we were probably more competitive than we should have been. Obviously we were gutted to lose but when so many of the players are below par that's always likely to happen, there's not a lot you can do about it."

Wairarapa United had their chances to either win the game or at, the least, force it into extra time. In the second half a Waisake Sabatu header and a Pita Rabo shot were saved off the line by a defender with the Rovers goalkeeper beaten.

"On another day one or both of them might have gone in but again that's the way things can go, you just have to grin and bear it," Keinzley said.

With the dream of a second Chatham Cup victory over, Wairarapa United will now focus their attention on winning the Central League competition for the first time.

They are at the top of the points table, just one point ahead of Wellington Olympic, who they meet at Howard Booth Park in Carterton this weekend.

The big worry for Wairarapa United over the next few days will be the fitness of Soromon, whose flair, speed and penchant for creating goals out of nothing makes him such a key part of their attack.