Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers are through to the fourth round of the Chatham Cup in resounding fashion, thrashing fellow Central League side Stop Out 8-2 at Bluewater Stadium on Sunday.

The two sides faced each other for the second time in a week with the Blues comfortably putting away their Wellington counterparts 4-1 in their Central League fixture last Sunday. This week, the job was even more comfortable as the Blues array of attacking talent were in red hot form. Napier coach Bill Robertson has a tough task each week determining which of his attacking players fits into his plans for the weekend. The attacking talent of Deri Corfe, Stefan Karajovanovic, Jonny McNamara, Alex Mort, Christian Leopard, Sam Lack, Cam Emerson and Harry Mason make Robertson’s job an enviable but, nevertheless, difficult one and they were all bang on form on Sunday.

Bluewater Stadium lived up to its reputation as the best domestic football facility in the country, and despite the two days of constant rain the surface was in immaculate condition. Constant periods of rain over the past 48 hours led to some surface water in patches for the players to negate, but both sides dealt with that without any problems and did their best to entertain the hardy crowd in attendance.

The Blues replicated their start from the previous weeks fixture and were ahead after three minutes when Jonny McNamara headed in his 10th of the season from a Christian Leopard cross. Stop Out has clearly read last week’s script too and obliged with an equaliser just on the 20th minute mark from Finn Moore. It was at this point that the similarities with the previous week’s encounter ceased, and by the half hour mark Napier had complete control and a 5-1 lead. Some shoddy Stop Out defending was matched by some quality Napier attacking play and finishing as Cam Emerson, Deri Corfe and Stefan Karajovanovic all got their names on the score sheet, and Emerson then helped himself to a double to essentially remove any doubt as to who would be featuring in the next round of the cup. One of Stop Out’s best on the day, Jerram Tuck, reduced the deficit to 5-2 with a tidy header right on half time, but it was the Blues that the crowd at Bluewater Stadium rose to salute at the break.

Napier set out to completely lock the game away after the break, but it was the visitors that had the best of the early chances. Some tidy interplay saw Luke Kelley in through on goal, and it took a smart save from Napier keeper, Oscar Mason, to avoid any unnecessary anxiety amongst the home camp. Strikes from Corfe, again from a Leopard cross, and Karajovanovic extended the lead beyond any doubt, and substitute Harry Mason popped the icing on the cake with a tidy finish in injury time for the eighth and to cap a resounding victory.

For Stop Out, to be fair they struggled, and this was far from them at their best. Young attackers Isa Prins and Elliot Porter- Wallis worked hard and had their moments, and Alex Palezevic worked hard in midfield against the tide.

For the home side, that goal glut had been coming and it was Stop Out who were the unfortunate recipients. Corfe continues to bamboozle defenders and has some simply breathtaking moments each week. Canadian import Karajovanovic has a goal a game after six matches since his arrival, McNamara works tirelessly and has hit double figures for the season, whilst the supply line from Leopard, Mort and Lack is consistent and of good quality. Add in the likes of Harry Mason and JC Mack from the bench and it’s no surprise that the Blues have hit 42 goals in 12 games across the league and cup this season.

In the Napier engine room, Ta Eh Doe and Cam Emerson are forming a formidable partnership, while Kaeden Atkins has put his early season form wobble well behind him and is back to his best alongside the formidable force of skipper Jim Hoyle. Fellow defenders Fergus Neil and Jack Albertini both had strong games again, and keeper Oscar Mason, despite having very little to do, looks back to his confident best both in his core keeping role, and with his distribution.

The Blues focus returns to important league action next weekend with a vital home fixture against Petone. Napier are desperate for a top four spot, and National League football, and three points in this one will certainly help that cause. Kickoff is at 2pm on Sunday at Bluewater Stadium.

Article added: Wednesday 20 June 2023