Soccer: Finalists earn two shots at cup glory

It seems some things will never change no matter what you do to fix them.

Even with three-point control during the men's Hawke's Bay Knockout Cup soccer semifinals at Park Island, Napier, on Saturday it didn't stop players from hollering at the officials.

Unhappy with a referee's decision in one game, a player yelled out at Bluewater Napier City Rovers Central League skipper Bill Robertson as he watched the Pacific Premiership teams from a pivotal position between the two fields.

Frustrated player unhappy with a freekick after a robust tackle: "What do you think Bill? Should he get a yellow card for that?"

Taken aback on suddenly finding himself thrust into a judge-and-jury position even as a spectator, a grinning Robertson replied: "I don't know, guys. Do I look like the referee?"

Nudge-nudge, wink-wink. Is the problem with officialdom or is it simply a case of players not having a better grasp of the rules of the beautiful game before running on to the paddock?

Of course, it pays to be aware that it always boils down to the referee and his assistants' interpretation, too.

Sermon over, it's fair to say the cup final will follow the pundits' script on a day when a stiff cross wind made life difficult for all.

Predictably Promotem Napier City Rovers v Geon Taradale will lock horns in both the Bay cup as well as the Federation Cup finals.

Geon 3 Marist 1

An upset appeared to be in the making when Hot Shot Napier Marist centre-mid Jimmy MacIntosh put the underdogs up 1-0 as he drove the ball past Geon Taradale goalkeeper Chris Penny in the 19th minute.

In the 33rd minute, Dale midfielder Richard Gearey had a chance to equalise from the edge of the 5m box but Marist goalkeeper Ryan Todd made a great save when he put his body on the line.

Dale striker Chris McIvor asked Marist another question in the 42nd minute when he floated a cross from the left flank to find Mike Daly on the far post but another chance went begging.

Two minutes later, in almost a replay, Daly didn't make a mistake as he almost ran the ball into the net with keeper Todd stranded to level terms 1-1. It was soft as Marist defenders watched.

The next 30 minutes of play see-sawed with Marist working the ball up but failing to find cohesion in the striking zone.

Unmarked striker Shota Kawate perhaps had the best chance to push Marist ahead but his crisp finish with just keeper Penny to beat was a couple of metres wide of the upright.

Cruelly, it was Dale who went up 2-1 in the 78th minute when a McIvor cross not far from the right corner flag found Gearey on the far post for a regulation finish.

As Marist were still coming to terms with the sucker punch, Dale's Dean Johnstone sent the opposition reeling to the canvas two minutes later when he chipped a ball over Todd advancing from the goalmouth to make it 3-1.

Dale player/coach Warren Gilbertson said it was tough in the wind but they controlled the ball better in the second spell.

"We're in another final and it's two years in a row for this one so we're looking forward to the next few weeks," Gilbertson said, adding it would have been nice to play a derby in Bay cup final but it wasn't to be.

"Unfortunately we'll have to play them [Rovers] two weeks in a row so that's a little unusual," he said, believing Rovers will have different teams for the two finals.

Rovers' Central League squad members won't be able to play in the Fed Cup final.

Gilbertson lauded his midfielders Adam Turner and Perry Cotton.

Marist coach Dave Carswell agreed the wind didn't help but lamented missed scoring opportunities.

"In the second half I think we just switched off.

"As the clock winded down with 10 or 15 [minutes] to go it was a case of who was going to be the first to stick one into the net," he said, believing had Kawate found the net it would have been a different story.

Carswell was happy with the way his team finished in the Pacific Premiership and cup.

Rovers 1 Dale AFC 0

In a nutshell, this semifinal between the Rovers and Taradale AFC was painful to watch. Both parties were guilty of whingeing at referee Gareth Sheehan and at times forgot to play.

Dale's Keegan Bright and Rovers Patrick Pilz were forever at each other's throat.

The winner came from Brazilian newcomer Paulo Silva in the 76th minute when he received a well-timed cross from left wing Cameron Emerson to rise above keeper Graham Healy and nod the ball into the net.

The sides were locked nil-all at the breather but both sides were guilty of squandering goals.

Notably Dale's Daniel Ball missed a sitter in the 32nd minute, smashing the ball over the crossbar from point-blank range.

Silva also duffed a shot as players often took too long on the ball when in the 18m box.

Rovers coach Terry O'Neill said the swirling wind made the ball hang up but keeper Jonty Underhill and Healey both made crucial saves.

O'Neill said the finals against Geon Dale would be exciting because both sides play a crisp passing game although their rivals have more experience.

"Once again our squad spirit and camaraderie showed as we came though the bad bits."

Dale AFC coach Jamie Hall bemoaned his troops switching off momentarily to concede a goal.

"I thought we were the better side and were capable of winning the game while they got away with a lot more than we did so that sort of hindered our game a little bit," Hall lamented after three of his players picked up yellow cards.

He felt it was harder for the trio to play with a yellow card hanging over their heads.

"They could play as pretty as they wanted but, having said that, they scored the goal," he said, congratulating the Rovers for making the final.

"It would have been nice for Dale AFC to finish with a derby against Geon Dale but Hall said it was what it was.

"We finished 2nd [Geon] and 4th [Dale AFC] in the league [Pacific Premiership] ... but we'll come back and do it all again next year."

O'Neill did not agree with Hall's sentiments.

It was not known which cup final would be played first.