Captain Jim Hoyle is set to lead his Napier City Rovers side into battle twice this weekend. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Hoyle said the duo of matches would be approached \u201cone game at a time\u201d. And his side had very clear ambitions in both of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chatham Cup\u2019s<\/a> always important,\u201d Hoyle said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a knockout competition so the goal is to win those games and get through to the next round.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we also need to maximise points in the league because the other teams that are in and around us, Wellington Olympic, Western Suburbs and Miramar, are doing the same thing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be talking about how crucial three points [against Island Bay] are. If we finish the first round by beating Island Bay, I think anyone would have taken seven wins, a draw and a loss from our first nine matches.\u201d<\/p>\n In terms of being a Central League title contender<\/a>, victory in Saturday\u2019s game is crucial.<\/p>\n After the Island Bay United match, their next two Central League matches are against third-placed Western Suburbs and league leaders Wellington Olympic. Both those sides have completed their first half of the Central League season.<\/p>\n A win on Saturday would see them rise to at least second spot.<\/p>\n If they were able to win by five goals, they would leapfrog Wellington Olympic at the top of the table on goals for and against.<\/p>\n Hoyle\u2019s side goes into this weekend\u2019s double-header off the back of a five-goal win achieved in a true game of two very different halves.<\/p>\n The side trailed 1-0 at halftime against New Plymouth\u2019s bottom-placed FC Western.<\/p>\n There was no lack of frustration at Bluewater Stadium \u2013 including on the pitch, the coaching staff sideline and among spectators \u2013 about what was dished up in a flat opening 45 minutes by Napier City Rovers.<\/p>\n But the second half saw the side at their explosive best, levelling the score within 30 seconds of the second half starting, via Luca Barclay<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hoyle said the start was \u201ca bit sluggish\u201d. But some honest talking at halftime \u2013 and a tactical reshuffle \u2013 had sparked the side into life.<\/p>\n \u201cWe spoke about how important the three points are to us striving for National League and striving to win the league as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe started on the back foot, we weren\u2019t taking control of the game, we were waiting for others to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cWe spoke about our quality on the ball, all being available and then just a slight tweak [tactically]. It worked in the end, and we were a lot better with our decision-making and quality.\u201d<\/p>\n In what turned out to be a 45-minute footballing demolition job, Hoyle\u2019s side scored four goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half.<\/p>\n Barclay\u2019s opener was followed by Jacob Fenton, who had an outsanding game leading, expertly curling<\/a> in a goal.<\/p>\n Fellow English import Callum Cooke<\/a> scored a hat-trick, while fan favourite and former Northern Ireland age-group international Leo Brown<\/a> scored the sixth and final goal.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the first goal, we just went up a gear,\u201d Hoyle said.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was confident, we started stroking the ball around and scored some good goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown\u2019s goal sent both the Napier City Rovers squad and fans into rapture.<\/p>\n He has been immense on attack all season for his new club \u2013 being a great target man and setting up goals for others – but had been yet to score himself.<\/p>\n His late goal sparked wild celebrations among his teammates, including close friend Fenton who later admitted he had a tear in his eye that his buddy had scored his first goal for Napier City Rovers.<\/p>\n \u201cLeo\u2019s been an amazing target and an amazing role player for us,\u201d Hoyle said afterwards.<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw how together the lads were with the reaction because we were all around him. We are all dying for him to score a lot of goals for this club because he\u2019s working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoyle himself put in another mighty performance at the back for his beloved club on Sunday.<\/p>\n The Barnsley-born player has called Bluewater Stadium home for the past 12 seasons, last year becoming the 15th player to pass the 200-game mark<\/a> for Napier City Rovers.<\/p>\n A difference in 2026 though, is Hoyle is finally able to be classified as a local player, recently securing New Zealand citizenship.<\/p>\n It was something he said he was \u201cabsolutely proud\u201d of.<\/p>\n \u201cI love living here and I love this club,\u201d the inspirational captain said.<\/p>\n \u201cSince I became a resident a couple of years ago, the goal has always been to finally tick off that citizenship and get the New Zealand passport.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m planning on being here forever and I\u2019m a proud Kiwi the same as everyone else now.\u201d<\/p>\nNapier City Rovers player Benjamin Stanley is about to go to turf against FC Western. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Jacob Fenton is left frustrated after a shout for a penalty was ignored by match officials. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Josh Capstick (left) and Jacob Fenton congratulate Callum Cooke on his hat-trick post match. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Napier City Rovers forward Jacob Fenton scored one of his side’s goals in their 6-1 Central League win over FC Western. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Callum Cooke was a hat-trick hero for Napier City Rovers in their come from behind 6-1 Central League win over FC Western at Bluewater Stadium. New Zealand Herald composite photo<\/p>\n
Leo Brown is upended in his side’s 6-1 Central League win over FC Western at Bluewater Stadium. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Napier City Rovers forward Leo Brown looks to secure the ball. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n
Napier City Rovers captain Jim Hoyle is officially now a proud Kiwi after securing New Zealand citizenship. Photo \/ Neil Reid<\/p>\n