Nelson Suburbs has rebounded from back-to-back home losses in the Southern Premier League to beat FC Nelson 4-0 in the Chatham Cup today.
Māpua midfielder Ben Polak headed home the opening goal in just the fourth minute and then stroked a second past the goalkeeper, Reza Rahsepar, in the 26th minute.
Labu Pan, who played for FC Nelson last season, produced his trademark bicycle kick but didn’t find the target for Suburbs.
Last year’s Chatham Cup semi-finalist created multiple scoring chances but was unable to add to its first half total.
Jarvis Vaai finally grabbed a third goal and centre forward Tino Mupemhena subbed on to score the fourth.
The pacey Zimbabwean shredded the FC Nelson defence, and his strike gave the keeper no chance.
FC Nelson ran out of substitutes but battled gamely to the end of the second round Chatham Cup match.
Ben, who scored three goals against Rangers AFC in their cup clash last year, could have had four or five today, but that pretty much summed up the home side’s day.
“We had lots of chances. I think we struggled to get on the ball a bit today. It is a new team this year, a few players were missing today but I think we came together in the end and we will keep getting better,” says Ben.
