Halford Sublime As Napier Thrash Central by Jeremy Ruane New Zealand soccer's Player of the Year in 1993, Paul Halford, produced an individual display of the highest order at Kiwitea Street on July 24, as his Napier City Rovers side handed out an 8-1 hiding to Central in the first round of the Winfield Superclub competition's National Championship. The result speaks volumes - Napier were in a different class to Central. That said, the home team never gave up the fight, and could well have scored a couple more themselves. Halford, however, was masterly. Scorer of three goals, and creator of four, those present can consider themselves privileged to have witnessed his individual performance, one which, at times, approached sublimity. The visitors were denied by a string of goal-line clearances in the first fifteen minutes, before Central's Nibaldo Barros raised local hopes with some right wing wizardry which Napier had great difficulty keeping in check. After thirty-seven minutes, the onslaught began. Halford raced away on the right flank and, amidst claims of offside, tucked his shot beyond the advancing Ross Nicholson. Five minutes later, Napier went two-up. Harry Clarke ran through unnoticed from midfield, latched onto Steve Daly's pass, and drilled the ball past Nicholson's despairing dive. The second half saw seven goals, and plenty of other opportunities. Central found Napier goalkeeper Mark Paston in fine form - Barros and Matthew Vuksich were both denied by Rovers' custodian, while Vuksich, Jeff Keskic, Sean Fallon and Michael Irving all went close to scoring for the home team. But this day was Napier's - and Halford's. He struck again in the 58th minute, after hard work by Martin Akers, and in the 70th minute, after Billy Harris had picked him out on the far post with a measured cross. In between times, the pint-sized powerhouse had created an opening for substitute Chris Jackson. A back-heel to fellow replacement Glen Whittington,  and the rocketed into the net to round off a superb move in style. It was 6-0 in the 74th minute, Whittington striking again after Halford - who else? - had provided the chance. Nine minutes later, and Napier were in seventh heaven. Whittington's cross was headed goalwards by Halford, and Irving, in attempting to clear, could only divert the ball into his own net. Two goals in a minute completed the rout. Central's AJ Voykovich converted a penalty in the 88th minute, after Chris Zoricich had been impeded in the penalty box. Napier's response was to go straight up the other end and restore their seven goal margin. Jackson hit home an absolute pearler, following Whittington's lay-off of a pass from that man Halford. "We played very well at times", mused Central coach Paul Posa, "but they were on a different level to us today - all class!!" Fittingly, though, the last word should be Halford's. "Getting three points was crucial for us today, but putting on a performance as good as that was a bonus. I'll miss this pitch - it's superb!!" So was he, and Napier.