Big win for Napier

Napier put seven past RGU to seal progress through to the next round of the BUCS Cup in an impressive display with striker David Pool scoring 5. RGU grabbed three second half goals but Napier ended up cruising to victory in emphatic style.

On a clear but cold day, Napier started the brightest and dominated the first five minutes with some slick passing moves and had a penalty shout within the first few minutes that was waved away by the referee. Pool picked himself up from the robust challenge and then proceeded to test the RGU goalkeeper Ryan Waugh twice as the Napier midfield controlled proceedings.

The early pressure paid off as Napier’s Calum Cruickshank crossed in a dangerous ball from the left and after a scrambled clearance from RGU’s defenders and goalkeeper, Pool was on hand to lob the ball over Waugh to make it 1-0 after just eight minutes.

RGU were trying hard to get into the game but found it difficult to string any passing moves together with the Napier centre midfield combination of Chris Malfeed and Alex Rawcliffe applying some excellent pressure. RGU did manage a 30 yard shot via Rob Armstrong that narrowly missed the post but the strikers were living off scraps.

The 29th minute saw the best move of the game and Napier extending their lead. Thomas Differ beat two RGU players down the right and fed Alex Rawcliffe ahead of him. Differ then collected a return inside ball from Rawcliffe and fired a low shot into the far left hand corner of the goal. It was a great finish to a flowing move and Napier went into a deserved 2-0 lead.

The wingers for RGU were having a slight impact on the game but all too often their crosses evaded the strikers and good moves came to nothing. This wastefulness was soon punished and the Napier lead was extended as Rawcliffe fizzed a low cross into the area and Pool was on hand to slide the ball into the goal from two yards out.

RGU responded two minutes later when a well worked cross to the edge of the area saw Josh Adams test Napier goalkeeper, David Easton, with a powerful curling effort that was tipped over the bar.

Pool completed his hat-trick on 45 minutes after a neat touch took the ball away from the defender in the area and a low shot ended up in the left hand corner of the RGU goal. 4-0. Half time.

RGU looked to start the second half brightly and succeeded seconds after kick off. Easton could only parry a fierce shot and Rob Richie was on hand to scramble in the rebound.

This seemed to galvanise Napier and three minutes later a great surging run by Differ ended in a shot that was pushed round the post. Defender Orin Parkinson rose highest from the resulting corner to maintain the four goal cushion.

The Napier wingers were starting to torment the RGU full backs and creating more chances but against the run of play, RGU were awarded a penalty thanks to the quick feet of Rob Armstrong and a clumsy challenge from Glen McVae that earned the defender a yellow card. The spot kick was fired low into the goal and the score stood at 5-2.

RGU pushed forward after the goal with the majority of the attacks focused around Richie on the right hand flank, but this left them open to counter attack. The impressive Differ made good runs but many of the chances were squandered by the poor Napier number 10 Noah Rubio who all too often got caught with the ball.

Pool took his goal tally to four when Sam McCraw found the striker’s head with a pinpoint cross and Pool coolly headed in at the nearpost.

RGU again responded with a tap in for Richie on 82 minutes but the rout was completed after the excellent Pool volleyed in from close range to end the tie at 7-3.

It was an assured performance by all of the Napier players, especially the spine of the team, but while RGU improved in the second half, they leave rueing a lack defensive organisation and an opposition striker in great form.