Football: Martin Bueno hat-trick punctuates Napier City Rovers' league-leading status

Napier City Rovers striker Martin Bueno (left) and winger Wesley Cain emulated their feat from Park Island when they scored against Wellington United at Newtown Park today. Photo/file

Striker Martin Bueno takes every opportunity he gets but Napier City Rovers player/coach Bill Robertson doesn't want anyone to lose sight of what goes into creating that.

"He's obviously knows where to go and has got a neck of scoring goals," said Robertson after the Thirsty Whale-sponsored Blues thumped Wellington United 4-1 at Newtown Park in round 15 of the Ultra Football Central League encounter today.

Bueno bagged a hat-trick, scoring in the 41st and 62nd minutes, and slotted a penalty in the 75th, after Canadian import winger Wesley Cain drew first blood, to the tune of his signature multiple backflip somersault, in the 31st minute.

It seemed as if adrenalin had taken the hosts hostage momentarily because Ollie White had equalised, 1-all, in the 35th minute but the fight-or-flight response can only take a side so far and Wellington United didn't measure up to the league leaders thereafter.

The Uruguayan maestro is the leading golden boot contender on 22 goals from 14 games to date, missing the previous round because he was serving an accumulated yellow-card suspension.

However, Robertson emphasised the rest of Bueno's teammates toiled to ensure he got precious possession and other key variables - such as time, space and angles - to be the bloke who pulled the trigger with some assertiveness.

"You know, there are some big moments and passages of play to lead up to creating chances for him so he's managed that really well, I suppose."

The former Oceania League-winning Team Wellington centreback, who is now Thirsty Whale Hawke's Bay United skipper, said the hosts were effective on the counterattack which had caused the James Hoyle-captained Rovers some grief in the early stage of the game.

"We strong enough to see that out and then got our lead but in the second half it was a much more clinical performance," he said, praising his troops for frustrating Wellington United by churning out more quality ball when they were in possession.

Defender Danny Wilson and vice-captain Joshua Stevenson had struck the woodwork but it was a comprehensive performance in his overall assessment.

"The first half was more even but it was a good win for us on the road with the league table looking so tight," Robertson said.

The Declan Edge-coached Advanced Electrical Western Suburbs sit three points behind the Blues but boast a superior goal difference, which dropped to four today, but the defending champions host Miramar Rangers at Endeavour Park in a 2.30pm kick off tomorrow.

While ideally the Blues want to close that gulf in goal difference to become the architects of their own success, if push comes to shove, Robertson said the priority was to secure three points from a victory.

The Rovers have scored 52 goals to Western Suburbs' 42 but the latter have only conceded 10 to the former's 24.

The visitors picked up yellow cards today but no player has strayed into the zone of serving a suspension for accumulated cards.

The Blues host last-placed Building King Havelock North Wanderers in a Hawke's Bay derby at Park Island, Napier, in a 1pm kick off.

However, the Chris Greatholder-coached villagers have a must-win clash against Integration Works Waterside Karori in a 1pm kick off tomorrow to stave off relegation in both sides' debut season.

"It should be a game for them, I suppose. If they get a result tomorrow it'll give them a life line so they'll be up for our game even more," said Robertson.

In other matches today, third-placed Stop Out Sports Club thumped Wellington Olympic 3-0 at Hutt Park.

The game between Lower Hutt City and Agvet Keinzley Wairarapa United was still in progress at Fraser Park Turf from a 5.30pm kick off.