Howieson, Rogers to miss Rovers clash
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Cam Howieson and Alfie Rogers set to miss Napier City Rovers showdown as Albert Riera shuffles his pack for National League Championship clash.
Injury and suspension have robbed Riera of Howieson and Rogers ahead of Sunday's game with Napier City Rovers which could mean an opportunity for others to step up for the Navy Blues.
Rogers has a leg injury while Howieson sits out one game after his red card at Birkenhead United last week.
"We have a few knocks but Alfie Rogers is the main one and has picked up an injury on his hamstring which isn't his first one this year.
"We wish him a quick recovery because he's a fantastic player and a great lad to have around the squad so hopefully we see him back on the team as soon as possible.
"Cam Howieson has a one game suspension but should be back for the game with Auckland United which is great news for us," he said.
Napier have started the season with a win and two draws and trail City by just two points as the race for a place in the National League Championship final heats up.
Riera is under no illusions as to how well Bill Robertson has prepared his team for the challenge ahead.
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"Napier have started the National League very strongly which is not a suprise to me. They had a very good Central League campaign coming fourth in the regular season.
"That's a clear indicator they are very well organised and you can witness in every game they play they have a game plan they execute very well and its very solid and working for them," he said.
City were rocked by league leaders Birkenhead United last week and had to fight back from 2-0 down with ten men to snatch a last gasp 2-2 draw. Riera described that performance as the worst of the season to date so is expecting a strong response from his team at home.
"It's important to get back to Kiwitea Street because we love playing in front of our supporters and hopefully we will play better than how we played last weekend.
"We want to play with purpose and dominate the ball and hopefully we can get back to getting three points. The National League doesn't have many games so its important to have the right mindset.
"We can't afford to waste a single minute in this regard," he said.
Napier City Rovers has a long history of success at Kiwitea Street having first faced City's sister club Central United FC in the Winfield Superclub competition in the mid-1990s.
Napier City Rovers got the upper hand in those encounters winning 12, drawing one and losing 10 to Central United FC.
That record includes two Chatham Cup finals (1997 - won 3-2 by Central United FC at Bluewater Stadium, and 2000 won 4-1 by Napier City Rovers) and one National League grand final played in 1998, a game won by Napier City Rovers, 5-2.
Auckland City FC have never met Napier City Rovers in a league game so Sunday's match holds plenty of fascination for followers of both clubs with the race for a place in the National League Championship final still very much up for grabs.
Fifth placed Napier City Rovers sit just two points behind second placed City and need at least a draw from their Kiwitea Street visit to stay in contention - a defeat would open up a five point gap between City and Rovers, with just five games left to play.
The match kicks off at 3.00pm NZDT on Sunday 23 October 2022 at Kiwitea Street and will be broadcast live on Sky Sport.
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Match Details
National League Championship
Sunday 23 October 2022
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 3.00pm NZDT
AC (squad to be finalised from): 1. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Christian GRAY, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. Matt ELLIS, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 8. Gerard GARRIGA, 9. Angus KILKOLLY, 10. Dylan MANICKUM, 11. Ryan DE VRIES, 12. Sam BROTHERTON, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Aidan CAREY, 16. Joe LEE, 17. Reid DRAKE, 19. Liam GILLION, 20. Emiliano TADE, 21. Ilham HAMEEDI, 22. 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Cam BROWN (GK).
COACH: Albert RIERA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
GOALKEEPER COACH: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
MANAGER: Keith COTON
ANALYST: Adria CASALS
TECHNICAL: Jarrod WALLACE
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
ABOUT NAPIER CITY ROVERS
Napier City Rovers was founded on the 6th of February 1973 by an amalgamation between Napier Rovers AFC and Napier City AFC. Since then the club has grown from strength to strength.
One of the most successful provincial clubs in New Zealand, Napier City Rovers has a proud history of producing players who have gone on to gain full international honours, representing NZ in the All Whites, and NZ Under 23s.
Boasting one of the most envied football grounds in the country, with results leading to League and Cup honours, NCR has been able to attract top players from around the country and overseas, as well as pushing through real local talent to keep the Blues at the top of the ladder in NZ Football.
HEAD COACH - BILL ROBERTSON
Bill Robertson needs little introduction to fans of Auckland City FC after his travails with Team Wellington, Waitakere United and Hawke's Bay United as a player in the New Zealand Football Championship. A veteran of the OFC Champions League, Robertson has made a successful transition into the world of coaching where he has led Napier City Rovers back to New Zealand's top tier with aplomb.
PLAYER TO WATCH - SHO GOTO
33 year old Japan national Sho Goto has carved out an interesting playing career in his country of origin and New Zealand having played for Yokohama Takeru, FC Kariya and Yokohama SCC. Goto has turned out for Napier City Rovers on two other occasions and was a popular choice for the now defunct Hawke's Bay United.
HONOURS
National League winners 1989, 1998, 2002,
National Superclub winners 1993, 1994, 1995
Chatham Cup winners 1985 , 1993, 2000, 2002, 2019
Central League Premier Division winners 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2018
Central League Pacific Premiership winners 2008
Central League 1st Division winners 1981, 1986, 1994, 1999,
Central League 2nd Division winners 1975, 1979
Central League 3rd Division winners 1983
BIGGEST WIN (LEAGUE)
v. Wellington Olympic won 10-0, 2015
BIGGEST WIN (CHATHAM CUP)
v. Taradale won 13-0, 1973
BIGGEST DEFEAT (LEAGUE)
v. Waitakere City lost 5-9, 1998
BIGGEST DEFEAT (CHATHAM CUP)
v. Gisborne City lost 1-9, 1973
CURRENT FORM (NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP)
01.10.22 v. Wellington Phoenix (H) won 1-0
08.10.22 v. Christchurch United (A) drew 1-1
15.10.22 v. Miramar Rangers (H) drew 2-2
CURRENT FORM (CENTRAL LEAGUE)
26.03.22 v Wellington United (A) won 2-0
10.04.22 v. Havelock North Wanderers (A) won 3-0
15.04.22 v. Petone (H) drew 2-2
18.04.22 v. North Wellington (H) drew 2-2
23.04.22 v. Wellington Olympic (A) lost 0-3
30.04.22 v. Wellington Phoenix (A) lost 2-4
08.05.22 v. Waterside Karori (H) won 2-0
22.05.22 v. Western Suburbs (A) won 3-1
29.05.22 v. Miramar Rangers (H) drew 1-1
12.06.22 v. Havelock North Wanderers (H) won 1-0
25.06.22 v. North Wellington (A) lost 2-3
03.07.22 v. Wellington United (H) won 4-0
16.07.22 v. Petone (A) drew 2-2
24.07.22 v. Wellington Olympic (A) lost 2-5
07.08.22 v. Wellington Phoenix (H) won 2-0
13.08.22 v. Waterside Karori (A) lost 1-2
21.08.22 v. Western Suburbs (H) won 3-1
28.08.22 v. Miramar Rangers (A) lost 1-2
CURRENT FORM (CHATHAM CUP)
04.06.22 v. Petone (A) won 4-2
19.06.22 v. Wellington United (H) won 7-0
10.07.22 v. Wellington Olympic (H) lost 0-4
TOP SCORERS
Jonathan McNAMARA - 8
Liam SCHOFIELD - 7
Leaford ALLEN - 7
Cameron EMERSON - 3
Harry MASON - 2
Doe TA EH - 2
Fetuao BELCHER - 1
Joe NOTTAGE - 1
Bill ROBERTSON - 1
Sam LACK - 1
JC MACK - 1
Josh STEVENSON - 1
Jimmy SOMMERTON - 1
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Player Profiles
Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 15 |
| 2 |  | WS | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 |  | BU | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 |  | BO | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 |  | MN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 |  | AU | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 |  | ES | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 |  | TC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 9 |  | MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| 11 |  | HW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 12 |  | EB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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