But Wainui showed on Saturday they were well and truly back on course. The previous week they had been impressive in a 7-0 victory over United, and Saturday’s performance confirmed that normal service had resumed.
Jake Theron, Thiago Carlos de Melo, Jaiden Ibbetson and Michael Smith scored two goals each, and Max Logan and Henri Campbell scored one each.
Man of the match for Wainui was rightback Caleb Baldacchino, while centreback Mal Furlan, striker Campbell and goalkeeper Patrick Pierard were outstanding in a high-quality team performance.
The downside for Wainui on the day was the injury toll. Midfielder Shane Hooks (hamstring, the good one), deep-lying striker Smith (calf tweak) and right-side striker Theron (quad) were all moving gingerly by the end of the game.
A few days’ rest will have let them know their chances of playing against Thistle Reserves at Childers Road Reserve at 2.30pm this Saturday.
The Eastern League Division 1 game of the weekend should be the Thistle Massive-United clash at Nelson Park at 12.30pm.
Massive had the bye last Saturday, while United were finding their scoring touch against Thistle Reserves.
Aubrey Yates and Stu Cranswick got among the goals for United after a scoreless first half.
Thistle Reserves had looked the more likely to score in the opening exchanges. Perhaps the best chance fell to Oska Smith after five minutes. He rounded the keeper and shot, but was denied by a goal-line clearance.
“We dominated the first half but couldn’t score,” Reserves coach Davie Ure said.
“We started the second half well, but Aubrey (Yates) put them one up. We pushed for an equaliser but they were always a threat on the break.
“The long ball in behind our defence, with Stu Cranswick’s hard running, proved hard to defend against.
“They got to 3-0 before we scored.”
Thistle’s goal was a nicely placed 25-metre free-kick by first-teamer Ander Batarrita.
United added another goal near the end to complete Thistle’s misery of missed opportunities.
Thistle Reserves’ man of the match was Ema Martos, while defenders Batarrita and Andre Riley, along with right-wingback Leo Maisey, were outstanding.
My apologies to the Thistle Youth and United faithful for this report’s paucity of detail on their teams’ performances.
ITM Thistle 1 Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians 5, Thistle Vintage 8 Coates Associates Wainui Demons 1, HES United Thirds 0 1st Class Decorators Wainui Salty Dogs 12, QRS Wairoa Athletic 3 Smash Palace Shockers 2, Gisborne Thistle Development 1 HES United 3.
