A day for mudlarks

ON THE BALL: Gisborne Thistle midfielder Nick Land (left) contests possession with New Plymouth Rangers defender John Sigurdsson in a Central Federation League football match at Childers Road Reserve this month. Land was Thistle’s man of the match in a 4-3 loss to Massey at Ashhurst Domain on Saturday. Picture by Liam Clayton

GISBORNE Thistle finished a goal down and a man short in their Central Federation League football match against Massey on Saturday.

Thistle lost 4-3 to a team who sat at the foot of the table before the game but who had shown in Gisborne they were a competitive outfit.

Heavy rain and sodden conditions forced the transfer of Saturday’s game — at short notice — from Massey University to Ashhurst Domain on the outskirts of Palmerston North.

Thistle fought back from 2-0 down to be level at 2-2, fell two goals behind again, lost attacking midfielder Josh Harris to a red card, and — while a man short — managed to grab a goal back.

Coach Matt Hastings said the conditions did not suit Thistle’s passing game but in the closing stages it looked like Massey, not Thistle, were a man down.

Tension had built in the second half, fuelled by onfield and sideline chatter.Dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions added to the mix.

“If we don’t agree with a decision, we just have to adapt to the situation and get on with it,” Hastings said.

With about 20 minutes to go, Harris was sent off for “abusive language”.

On Anzac Day, he was sent off after he and a Napier Marist player threw punches in a Chatham Cup game in Hawke’s Bay.

Harris was suspended for three games but was effectively out of first-team action for five weeks because the penalty period covered a weekend put aside for Federation Cup games and then, when the suspension was over, Thistle had a bye.

Harris scored the winning goal against league leaders Havelock North Wanderers in Gisborne last month, and has shown good form since. Thistle will miss his speed and penetration when they resume competition after another bye.

Hastings said the competition format for the remainder of the season seemed settled.

The seven-team league would have a third round, after all. A top-four playoff had been mooted but that idea had been abandoned.

After their bye this weekend, Thistle would play Red Sox Manawatu in Napier. This game, midway between Palmerston North and Gisborne, would replace the unplayed home and away fixtures between the clubs and be worth six points.

Then Thistle would have an away game against Palmerston North Marist, a home Sunday game against Havelock North, and an “away” game against Wanganui, who had agreed to the match being played in Napier.

Thistle sit in the middle of the league, out of the race for top spot, 11 points shy of the team immediately above and five above the side immediately below.

With promotion out of the question, Hastings has tried to future-proof his squad by giving youngsters game time, without losing sight of the need to remain competitive.

On Saturday, that meant starting with David Barker on the right and Riley McMenamin on the left of a three-man backline, with Mal Scammell in the middle and Ryan Majstrovic in goal.

Olly Tilley and skipper Kieran Venema were defensive midfielders with Malcolm Marfell and David Salmon on the left and right flanks respectively.

Harris and Nick Land were attacking midfielders, with young keeper-turned-striker PJ Goodlett up front.

Hastings said the youngsters acquitted themselves well.

Massey scored six minutes into the match, then again eight minutes later.

Thistle got one back in the 25th minute, after the Massey goalkeeper brought down Land just outside the penalty area. The keeper was yellow-carded, and Tilley scored off a rebound from Venema’s free kick.

Two minutes later, Land beat four players on a run down the left flank and cut the ball back from the byline. Harris met it six metres out and guided it in with the outside of his right foot.

Two minutes before halftime, Massey went ahead again. They attacked down their right flank and the cross came in deep as Thistle scrambled back.

Majstrovic got to the ball but could not gather it in and a Massey player latched on to the loose ball to score.

In the second half, Hastings brought on Liam Ryan for Barker to make use of the veteran’s experience, fresh legs and accurate long ball — all assets in the heavy going.

Thistle fell 4-2 behind 10 minutes into the second half.

With half an hour to go, Corey Adams came on up front for Goodlett, and Hastings pushed Harris forward to make a two-pronged strike force. Five minutes later, Kieran Ryan came on for Tilley.

“Corey and Josh were causing their back four a lot of trouble,” Hastings said.

“But frustration got to Josh, and he said something to the referee and was given his marching orders.

“We went back to playing with just one up front and for the last 15 minutes it looked like Massey were the side with 10 men.”

Ten minutes from time, Land capped a man-of-the-match performance with a goal, a header from a rebound.

Thistle were dangerous on the counter-attack and had other opportunities through Land, Adams (he hit the bar) and Scammell, but could not equalise.

Results of local football —

Eastern League, Division 1: Thistle Massive 3 Carpet Court Thistle Reserves 2, Heavy Equipment United 8 Gisborne Boys’ High School 2, Shipwreck Bohemians 0 Wainui Sharks 2.

Division 2: Bohemians Social 3 Riverina 6, Three Rivers Medical Bohemians Development 1 United (2) 4, Wainui Demons 2 Thistle Vintage 10, QRS Wairoa Athletic 17 GBHS (2) 2.

Division 3: Campion College 2 Lytton High School 6, Smash Palace Shockers 5 United (3) 2, GBHS (3) 2 Ngatapa Silkies 6.

Women: Gisborne Girls’ High School 1 Gisborne Laundry Services Riverina 8, DJ Mac Panel & Paint Bohemians 0 Tatapouri Marist Thistle 8, Ritana Raiders 0 Heavy Equipment United 11.