The first of four vital consecutive home games for Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers was ticked-off with a nervy but deserving 3-1 win over North Wellington at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats in recent weeks, the Bill Robertson coached Blues were desperate to get back to winning ways, and in front of a good crowd on a barmy Napier day they were good for the three points. Robertson made a couple changes to the team that battled in atrocious conditions to a 6-3 defeat at Wellington Olympic last week, with Fergus Neil coming in for Jack Albertini and Alex Mort coming in for the injured Christian Leopard.

The Blues got off to a perfect start when Jonny McNamara got on the end of a deep cross from Stefan Karajovanovic to nod them into the lead after only three minutes. The Blues looked up for it and were creating all sorts of problems for the North Wellington team down both flanks, and it only seemed a matter of time before their lead would double. Unfortunately, as has been the case on too many occasions this season, the pressure wasn’t converted into goals, and they were punished when Josh Zatorski produced a goal-of-the-week contender out of nowhere to level the scores for the visitors after 25 minutes. Things got a little worse at that point for the Blues when Karan Mandair, making his return to Bluewater Stadium for 2023, hobbled off with what looked like a serious ankle injury to be replaced by Cam Emerson.

Despite the setback, the Blues continued to mount continuous raids on the North Wellington goal, and it was a goal of real class from Deri Corfe that edged the home side back in front. Tireless midfielder Ta Eh Doe won the ball on the edge of his penalty area, took a positive touch forward and hit a perfectly weighted pass over the top of a hapless North Wellington central defense for Corfe. Whilst through on goal, the striker still had some work to do with several defenders tracking back, but he effortlessly jinked his way across the edge of the penalty area, evading two desperate challenges and calmly slotted the ball past the visiting keeper Callum Kennett. It was a goal of great calmness, poise, and class for his eighth strike of the season.

Napier had further opportunities with McNamara, Ian Kalu, Karajovanovic, and Corfe all having good chances to add to the lead before the break, but it wasn’t until right on half time that Karajovanovic gave his side some breathing space. The Canadian cut in from his left flank and drilled a good finish inside Kennett’s right-hand post for his second of the season, relieving some of the anxiety from the home support.

The second half didn’t really spark into life. Wellington worked hard to close down some of the earlier space in midfield and showed more desperation defensively with more pace in attack after the half time introduction of Ali Nazari. That said, the home side continued to have the better of the chances and should have really put the game well and truly to bed with two gilt-edged chances falling to McNamara, and a great opportunity for substitute Sam Lack, but neither could find the finish to match the lead up work.

On this performance, North Wellington’s position on the table of nineth is probably a fair one, but in the likes of Zatorski, goalkeeper Kennett, former Hawkes Bay United midfielder Jarrod McKechnie, and substitutes Brennan Patchell and Nazari, they do have enough to take points of teams.

For the home side, there were several good performances and a win by a margin of two or three more goals would not have flattered them. Corfe and McNamara both got on the score sheet again and are really working well together, Karajovanovic had his best game to date, Eh Doe was back to his best in midfield, and Fergus Neil and Ian Kalu were both excellent in their fullback roles. Robertson was again happy with the performance and application of his charges and felt the three points were well deserved, albeit again, it would have been nice to have the game locked away earlier with some more clinical finishing.

Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers take a break from league action when they play Island Bay in the second round of the Chatham Cup this Sunday at Bluewater Stadium, kick-off 2pm, before two further vital Central League home games against Stop Out and Petone.

Article added: Wednesday 31 May 2023