Soccer: Substitute goalie takes off gloves, scores equaliser

Napier City Rovers reserve goalie Matt Gould scored a late equaliser after coming off the bench to play in an outfield role. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Think of goalkeepers who score goals and you're limited to the likes of eccentric Paraguayan Jose Luis Chilavert and the Phoenix's Danny Vukovic, and generally from the penalty spot.

Now, add Matt Gould, the teenage son of a famous ex-player and coach, who scored a crucial last-gasp goal for Napier City Rovers on Saturday. And in doing so, he avoided Napier being left to stew over a controversial refereeing decision that could have turned the game. The injury-time strike gave the side a one-all draw against Petone in the Hutt Valley.

It was a remarkable debut for Gould, the son of former Scotland goalkeeper and Hawke's Bay United boss Jonathan Gould, who came on for the final few minutes after Willie Stanger, a substitute, limped off. He didn't have time to make much of an impression but coolly blasted the ball past Sam Jewell in Petone's goal. That's where Gould normally plays, and he was drafted in from Maycencvale United 24 hours earlier to provide cover for Napier custodian Shaun Peta. To take to the field in an outfield position, the New Zealand U-17 rep had to rush to the changing rooms to make a Batman-esque clothing change.

The reserve goalie may have saved the day, but the Grant Hastings-coached side felt aggrieved at being denied a penalty when a Petone player handled the ball in the box.

Rovers were visibly aggrieved: defender Bill Robertson chased the whistler, John Rowbury, up the field to question his decision while Hastings provided the three officials with some forthright views of his own after the final whistle.

It could have turned the game around, Petone were a goal up at the time, with Rovers pushing hard and enjoying the majority of the possession.

Rowbury thought it was ball to hand, a motion the defender could barely avoid, but from the sideline it seemed as the player was more than able to move his limb out of the way.

Hastings was more philosophical afterwards, but remained convinced the Bay side were denied a potential equaliser.

"We've seen them [penalty decisions] given, probably in about 19 out of 20 times, to be fair, but on this occasion it wasn't. I think we've been a wee bit hard done by but that's the kind of luck we have sometimes. A different guy next week might give it."

It would have been an enormous injustice if Napier boarded the coach without at least a point as they dominated for much of this rain-soaked match, and Petone's goal was through their sole decent chance in 90 minutes. But, deep in injury time - added on after Stanger was taken off for treatment following a nasty clash - Gould struck his first goal for the club after intense pressure from the visitors eventually found the teenager in open space.

"It was best performance of the season, so far. We created several chances, in the second half they had one attacking chance and scored. But we played the way we want to, and showed a lot of character."

Asked about the lack of killer instinct, Hastings noted that star striker Andy Bevin was away on international duty and Stu Wilson was unavailable, giving Matt Single his first start at this level.

"But we've played a bit today, there was a lot of creativity, the back four was rock solid again, the midfield has worked ultra hard, and there was more quality about us.

And chances they did create: In the first half, Andy Pickering fluffed a shot when clear on goal while Matt Single turned his man and shot wide. After the break, Josh Stevenson drove wide, Hamish Price was prevented from scoring by an alert goalkeeper, Pickering then found the same man in his way; both Robertson and Single were denied by four Petone players on the line; that man Sam Jewell blocked Single's shot; Hastings' cross nearly sneaked in at the far post, and, finally, Jewell tipped over Danny Wilson's shot.

But, on 70 minutes Rovers forgot to defend and Mike Pickering struck in the opening goal. That Gould saved the say does not hide Rovers' failings up front, regardless of their overall play.

The game was for the Gail Smith Memorial Trophy, in remembrance of a Petone club stalwart who also spent a number of years helping Napier City Rovers, who died last year. The trophy is again on the line when Rovers host Petone later in the season.