Rovers footballers fail to capitalise on two-player advantage
Frustration was written all over the face of Napier City Rovers left winger Liam Schofield after today's Ultra Football Central League seventh round clash at Bluewater Stadium.
"You've got to take advantage when the opposition is two players down," Schofield said after Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers 1-all draw with Wairarapa United.
He was right. The fourth-placed Blues should have done better against their ninth placed visitors when Wairarapa were down to nine players after Connor Turton had been red carded 24 minutes into the second half for a dangerous tackle on Schofield.
Six minutes earlier Wairarapa forward Josh Rudland was red carded after receiving his second yellow. Two minutes prior to Rudland's exit referee Matthew Conger had spoken to both captains, Napier's James Hoyle and Wairarapa's Benjamin Watson, about the high amount of foul play which was creeping into the game.
Englishman Schofield, 26, who is in his third season with the Blues, couldn't be accused of not trying. He was into everything and early in the second half spent time looking for work on the right side of the field when play wasn't coming his way on the left.
"I was happy with my own performance but like the team as a whole I still have to keep learning. We have to dig in for each other and keep working as a team," Schofield said.
Blues player-coach Bill Robertson agreed his troops should have done better with 70 per cent of the possession in the second half when they had 10 shots on goal, eight more than the visitors.
"Our decision making in the final third was poor. We weren't clinical enough," Robertson said.
The hosts missed the services of striker Gavin Hoy who was injured during training and fellow forward James Mack III left the field with a hamstring injury in the 23rd minute.
Schofield opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a field goal following good buildup work from the Blues. Three minutes later Rudland scored the equaliser with a soft goal.
Experienced Blues forward Josh Stevenson missed an open goal opportunity in the 28th minute. Blues keeper Richard Gillespie made an outstanding save when Wairarapa forward Paul Ifil attempted a drive from a penalty in the 42nd minute. From the Blues breakout Stevenson was unlucky not to score when Wairarapa keeper Alex Britton made a spectacular save.
The Blues finished the match with 15 shots on goal, eight more than Wairarapa who forced 11 corners, five more than Rovers. Napier's next two games, against Waterside Karori and Stop Out are away before they host Wellington Olympic on August 16.
