Football: Sluggish start hurts Rotorua United

Outstretched Rotorua United player Dilan Nanayakkara (in blue) and his side lost their third WaiBOP Premiership game in a row on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua United must be more prepared on the starting whistle, according to manager Ian Walker, after they lost their third game in a row in the WaiBOP Premiership.

At home at Neil Hunt Park on Saturday, the team suffered a 4-1 defeat to Cambridge United - who leap frogged them into third place on the table.

It was 3-0 at half-time after two goals from Cambridge's Jason Szabo inside the first 10 minutes, and a Quest Tipping strike.

Jason Chewins then made it 4-0 from the penalty spot after the break, with United's Menso Van der Lann pulling one back for the home side.

Walker was disappointed with the two early "soft goals" and insisted that players must be switched on immediately in future matches.

"The boys didn't turn up in the first 20 minutes. They were very slow and they needed to be pumped and ready," he said.

"We also shouldn't have conceded the first two, it was bad defending and they were very poor goals to concede.

"But this result won't define our season. The best thing is for us to be positive and move on. We have quality in the team so I am not worried at the moment."

Cambridge took control early on in the game - taking the lead in the seventh minute when Szabo volleyed in after a cross from the right.

Five minutes later Szabo pounced again with his right foot from close range after Cambridge attacked once again down the right.

Just before half time Cambridge extended their lead when 15-year-old Tipping cut in from the left, played a delicate one-two with Callum MacCleod and slotted the ball inside the far post.

The result was sealed 10 minutes into the second half after MacCleod was brought down in the box and Chewins calmly tucked the ball to the right of the keeper.

Van der Lann was able to restore some pride for United shortly after, but it was too little too late.

Cambridge assistant coach Brett Clarke was happy with the result as his side moved to a point behind the second placed Matamata Swifts and six behind leaders Ngongotaha AFC, with a game in hand.

"It was one of our strongest performances so far this season, and Quest really stood out today. Such a young talent and he kept a very cool head," he said.

"I knew Rotorua would be very hard opposition because of some of their results so far, so I made sure the players were hungry from the off.

"We are looking at chasing down the top two because we want to win the league and get that promotion."