Secondhalf a winner for Wests
The Central League season has taken another eventful turn with Miramar Rangers getting the better of Napier City Rovers on Sunday.
Wests have also kept themselves in touch with the leaders, after defeating Stop Out 3-1 in terrible conditions at Hutt Park.
At the soggy Lower Hutt ground, Stop Out and Wests struggled through a fairly uneventful first half with the only goal coming from Andrew Abba, as he was left unmarked outside the box and crossed it on the angle past the Wests keeper.
The halftime talk from Wests coach Declan Edge must have hit the mark as the team dominated the second half scoring three unanswered goals, two to Owen Parker-Price and one from Dalton Wilkins to win 3-1.
Their next game is Friday night at Ole Academy against Petone, who caused a 3-1 upset yesterday against Wairarapa United with their first win of the season.
Miramar followed their extra time win over Napier in the Chatham Cup on June 26 with another late win at Park Island in Napier this weekend.
The home side took a 1-0 lead into the break, scored by Tom Biss. He went from hero to villain when he was sent off for a late challenge in the 55th minute.
Substitute Niko Kirwan had only been on the park two minutes when he equalised for Miramar with 20 minutes to play.
Miramar striker Ben Harris then had his penalty saved by Napier goalkeeper Ruben Parker in the 81st-minute, but he proved the hero when firing home the winner eight minutes later.
It sets up a tantalising clash between Miramar and Olympic next Saturday, with Miramar seven points behind with one game in hand over the league leaders.
Miramar’s win helped Olympic in their quest for the Central League title.
Their comprehensive 7-2 victory over Palmerston North Marist at Wakefield Park on Saturday giving them a five-point buffer over Napier and Stop Out, although Napier has a game in hand on the other two sides.
In Saturday’s late game, Lower Hutt faced Wellington United in truly awful conditions at Fraser Park.
Lower Hutt were able to overcome the gale winds and horizontal rain to win 2-0 in the tightly contested match.