Last Saturday, however, was about getting three points and staying in the title race, and it took Heavy Equipment Services United just nine minutes to get on the scoresheet.
Experienced right midfielder Jimmy Holden put in a pinpoint cross to striker Stu Cranswick, who dispatched a low shot past Boys’ High keeper Seth Piper.
The students nearly replied almost instantly when midfielder Jimmy Somerton’s cross-cum-shot hit the post, much to the relief of goalie Al Knight.
United went 2-0 ahead in the 14th minute and once again Holden was the supplier.
Holden found striker Aubrey Yates just outside the Boys’ High box. Yates went through the defence like a knife through butter, beating four-to-five players to put himself one-on-one with Piper, and firing the ball into the net.
Cranswick had the chance to put them further in front in the 21st. He was put through by centre-back Jonathan Purcell, went around Piper and from an acute angle hit the ball powerfully, only to see it rebound off the crossbar.
Boys’ High closed the deficit in the 28th minute. Striker Oscar Ruston set up winger Eliarn Destounis, who rounded Knight, and tucked the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Piper pulled off a miracle save in the 33rd minute when Holden met Damon Husband’s corner kick with a powerful header.
The first-half efforts took a lot out of United’s energy reserves and Boys’ High took the battle to them in the second 45.
Wave after wave of Boys’ High attack was repelled as United defended like their lives depended on it.
Boys’ High midfielder Oliver Davies got himself into a great goal-scorng position when he went around Knight but was tackled superbly by Purcell before he could get a shot away.
Knight became United’s hero in the 71st minute with one of the saves of the match to deny midfielder Matthew Proffit an equaliser.
Boys’ High gave it everything in the second half but could not find the United goal. When referee Kevin Shepherd brought the game to a close, United knew they had earned themselves a hard-fought victory.
Boys’ High coach Sebastian Itman Bocchi was pleased with his side. It was a tough battle and they gave everything to the cause, he said.
He was impressed with Piper but gave his man-of-the-match to tireless and hard-working right-back Paul Stewart, who was on hand to repel many of United’s attacks.
“Paul was outstanding and deserves a lot of credit.”
Central Football gave Thistle Massive the points and a 5-0 win over Coates Associates Wainui Demons.
“Following a formal protest made by Thistle Massive, it was established that the Wainui Demons played with an unregistered player last Saturday, ” Central Football told The Herald in an email.
In accordance with item 17.13 of the Senior Playing Regulations 2019, the offending team forfeit any points gained, as well as goals scored, and the opposing team are awarded the points and goals they scored.
The match itself turned into a thriller. Thistle led 5-2 at halftime through two goals to striker Nic Somerton and one each to Kieran Ryan and brothers Kane and Craig Stirton.
But the Demons, who started with the bare 11, stormed back in the second half and scored the equaliser in the last minute.
Ben Inda got a hat-trick and Jimmy Walker a double for the Demons.
“Wainui gave us a great battle and played really well,” said Thistle coach Johnny Stirton, who admitted his frustration at the equalising Demons goal “cost me a pair of sunglasses”.
Lytton High School 1st XI hosted Sunshine Brewery Wainui Sharks at the school and the Sharks came out on top 5-1.
Ricky Boyd got a hat-trick, with Baz McCarthy and Paul Kitto adding the other two for the Sharks.
Cole Devonport was Lytton’s scorer for the second week in a row.
In the final Saturday of the Championship, it is derby day at Wainui, with the Demons and the Sharks facing off for bragging rights.
Thistle play Boys High at Childers Road Reserve and United host Lytton High at Harry Barker Reserve.
All games kick off at 2.30pm.
