PACIFIC PREMIERSHIP SOCCER: Obscenities overshadow showdown

ANENDRA SINGH | 13th July 2009

One of the biggest marketing tools of any sport is its propensity to yield glorious upsets.

That non-major unions need a miracle to lift the Ranfurly Shield in this country's domestic rugby competition means the code will continue to lose in the popularity stakes.

In soccer, miracles can and do happen with some regularity, especially in knockout cup affairs where the underdogs gird their loins to upset those in the higher echelons of the beautiful game.

Although no miracles occurred at the weekend, suffice it to say some underdogs will savour the what-if moments until the next season.

In Saturday's round of the Homeworx Knockout Cup quarterfinal matches, Napier Marist division one attempted to cut down to size Gisborne Thistle but came up a little short, losing 2-1 at Park Island.

It was a tempestuous affair, with Marist coach Tony Bartlett (pictured) firing a volley of obscenities and Thistle player/coach Scott Hales exchanging ``pleasantries'' with Marist centreback Robbie Parker before referee Kay Sloan (nee Smith) blowing the final whistle to prevent any fisticuffs between the pair.

The scene almost resembled kindergarten playground material as Parker refused to shake Hales' hand and the latter marched off the pitch to miss his team's three cheers in the huddle.

Bartlett, chastising Hales as a poor role model for his players, told SportToday: ``I apologised to my team after the game for my language but his (Scott Hales') attitude shows why they are sitting third or fourth from the bottom of the (premiership) table.''

He was proud of his team's efforts, saying they turned up as underdogs to draw first blood through Tia Aoake who received a well-timed pass from Parker in the 10th minute.

Two minutes later Thistle striker David Ure thundered in a shot from inside the 18m box after Marist defenders failed to clear the ball from a cornerkick.

The winning goal came from Dave Salmon who toe-poked the ball with about eight minutes remaining when a lethargic-looking Marist defence again failed to clear from a goalmouth melee.

In fairness, Thistle had majority possession but couldn't finish the moves up front but Bartlett felt the visitors' defensive formation made the hosts aggressors.

Marist, with some younger heads up front, failed to use their flanks often enough and on the few occasions when some players went out wide no one was following up on the far post to latch on to crosses that went begging.

The math took a turn for the worse midway through the first half when Thistle goalkeeper Ryan Majstrovic left Marist striker Victor Salzar with a bloody nose just outside his box after the Chilean striker headed the ball past the advancing keeper.

The game came to a halt for a few minutes to attend to Salzar who soon after left the field to run the line with the flag.

An incensed Bartlett was unhappy referee Sloan flashed a yellow card only.

``In my 25 years of playing if I ever saw a red-card offence that was it. The keeper took Victor out like you would in a rugby tackle.

``It was one of those game where the referee had an impact on the outcome of the game,''

said Bartlett who was on the bench as a reserve. He agreed if the game had gone into extra time they would have struggled. The 2.45pm kick-off was also ill-timed considering the field was in darkness by 4.30pm.

The game deteriorated further midway through the second half when the Marist keeper fouled a Thistle player, prompting Bartlett to yell from the sidelines: ``That's one-all now.''

Writhing on the ground, the Thistle player found enough energy to prop himself up to abuse Bartlett before slumping back to the ground.

In other knockout matches, Taradale pipped Havelock North Wanderers 1-nil at home in the battle of premier sides after left-mid Matt Loveridge found the net midway through the second half following a couple of crisp passes from a quick freekick into the box.

Cru Bar Maycenvale United prems crushed first divisioners Napier City Rovers 7-1 with Joachim Rande claiming five goals while Michael McGrath and Simon Pain scored one each.

In a battle of first divisioners, Maycenvale Strollers beat Western Rangers 4-2.

In the only premiership match at Marewa Park on Saturday, HBE Napier City Rovers pipped Signature Homes Port Hill United 4-3 after leading 2-1 at halftime.

Rovers striker Andy Bevin scored a hattrick and Nick Lucas one as the young side polished their boots.

Player/coach Marty Akers slipped on the gloves, saying that didn't help as Port Hill's Shannon Fowler scored twice to end his drought this season an Patrick Pilz found the net once from a freekick just outside the 18m box to put the hosts ahead momentarily.

Port Hill coach Tim Claudatos said the visitors wanted the win more than his troops.