Napier Claim The Crown At Last by Jeremy Ruane Napier City Rovers came with a wet sail in the second half of the National Soccer League Grand Final at Park Island on April 18 to overcome the strong challenge of Central United by a 5-2 scoreline. The result certainly flattered the winners, with goalkeeper Mark Paston having kept them in the game in the first spell as the rampant Aucklanders at times threatened to run riot. But the second half proved to be Central's undoing, meaning Napier, after finishing as runners-up in both the Chatham Cup and National League Finals in 1997, have finally clinched the silverware the club so richly deserves. After Rupert Ryan had hit the outside of the post following a Tinoi Christie corner in the fourth minute, Central settled into their stride, with Paul Urlovic forcing Paston to tip around the post at full stretch three minutes later, after sliding past two defenders on the edge of Napier's penalty area. Paston was again at his agile best in the twelfth minute, saving low to his left from Mark Elrick after the striker had been picked out by Bruce Hill's free kick. The former All White striker was again in the thick of the action moments later, crossing to the far post where Urlovic was arriving at full pace. He drilled the ball into the top corner of Paston's net, but the goal did not count, the youngster having used his hand to control Elrick's cross, an action which earned Urlovic a booking. Paston saved at Urlovic's feet in the eighteenth minute, after Elrick and Fred de Jong had combined to good effect, while on the half-hour, Andy Rennie cleared an Ivan Vicelich header off the line, following an Elrick corner which had seen Paston punch the ball off de Jong's head following Vicelich's initial header into the danger zone. Napier rarely threatened Ross Nicholson's goal in the first spell - Jeremy Brown and Ryan were the only ones to get shots in on goal, albeit tame ones. At the other end, however, Rennie had to be alert to snuff out the threat Elrick posed in the 36th minute, while Urlovic's miscued drive from the edge of the penalty area crept just past the post after de Jong had created havoc on the right. He did so again on the stroke of half-time, and on this occasion, it resulted in a goal which Central's dominance richly deserved. Jeff Keskic's throw-in put de Jong through this time, and after slicing past Paul Calder and Rennie, the former All White slid the ball back from the byline for Elrick, who gleefully rolled the ball home into the far corner of the net past Paston's despairing dive. Napier's coach, Mick Waitt, revived his side's flagging spirits at half-time with some well chosen words, and their response two minutes into the second spell finally brought the somewhat subdued home supporters to life. Mercurial midfield playmaker Paul Halford uncorked a gem of a goal, a curling cross-shot which deceived Nicholson and cannoned in off the far post to level the scores. For just four minutes, as Central took the lead again, this time through de Jong. Greg Uhlmann turned defence into attack, feeding Elrick on the left. A superb first-time through ball split Napier's defence asunder, and gave the former Fortuna Sittard marksman time and space to calmly pick his spot past Paston. But Napier weren't finished. Prior to that goal, Jason New cleared off the line following a mistake which, while of his own making, certainly owed much to Brown's dogged persistence in pressurising the Central defender into heading the ball past the advancing Nicholson. The goalkeeper then tipped a Perry Cotton free-kick to safety as the home team pressed for a second equaliser. Napier's captain then headed inches over the top from the resulting corner. Meanwhile, Paston was anything but inactive, saving with his legs from de Jong, then smartly getting down to an Urlovic snapshot. The youngster was again denied by the All White custodian in the 67th minute, his full-length fingertip save foiling Urlovic's angled drive, just seconds after Elrick had sent a clever curling effort inches over the angle of post and bar with Paston but a helpless spectator. The tide was definitely turning, however, and Warren Gilbertson confirmed the fact in the 68th minute, as he rifled home a twenty yarder on the run following a deft lay-off by David Batty, who himself had a glorious chance to score three minutes later, only to blaze his shot over the bar when put through with just Nicholson to beat. The introduction of Martin Akers to the fray in the 73rd minute created further consternation in Central's defence, and three goals in a six-minute spell soon after meant "The Blues" fans sure weren't singing them come the final whistle! Batty netted in the 77th minute, after Christie's pace had fully exploited Central's defensive hesitancy. The All White had to sprint hard to reach the ball before it went past the upright, but he wrapped his foot round it to set up the inrushing Batty, who smacked the ball home from two feet out!! After Christie had sent one whistling over the top - Central's defence was visibly wilting at this point - Halford crowned a fine personal season with a glorious curled fourth goal five minutes later. "Supersub" Akers got in on the act within seconds, drilling home the crowning glory to start off a serenade of "We'll Support You Evermore" from the vast majority of the 2200 spectators present, who by now were in full voice in support of Napier City Rovers - champions at last, after a fine advert for football. Central:     Nicholson; Vicelich, Ridenton, Uhlmann; Keskic (Loftus, 82), Vuksich, Hill, New (booked, 69); Elrick (booked, 90), de Jong, Urlovic (booked, 15) Napier:      Paston; Gilbertson, Rennie, Caton, Calder (Shakeshaft, 90); Batty, Brown, Cotton, Christie; Halford (booked, 70) (Parker, 87), Ryan (booked, 27) (Akers, 73) Referee:     Derek Rugg Scoring:     Napier:  P. Halford (47, 82), W. Gilbertson (68), D. Batty (77), M. Akers (83)                   Central:  M. Elrick (45), F. de Jong (51)