FOOTBALL
SEBASTIAN Itman got the 30 minutes of outstanding football he wanted from his Gisborne Boys’ High School team last Saturday . . . and a bit more besides.
Down 4-0 at halftime against Thistle Reserves, Boys’ High stormed back to score three goals in the second half of their Eastern League 1 game on the Rectory field. But Thistle held on to win 4-3.
Outstanding goalkeeping kept Boys’ High from hauling in that first-half lead.
For their part, Thistle had to contend with the loss of several of their best players to first-team substitutes’ duty from halftime onwards.
All three Boys’ High goals came from Oli Davies. It was his first hat-trick of the year, and two minutes from time he almost made it four.
Fellow attacker Jimmy Somerton made a run down the left and cut the ball back to the middle of the Thistle penalty area. Davies met it with a first-time shot that brought yet another brilliant save from Thistle Reserves’ Argentinian goalkeeper, Gabrile Garnica.
Boys’ High coach Itman said his side could have scored five and won the game were it not for Garnica in goal.
Itman had noted last week that his side had produced two 30-minute spells of outstanding play early in successive matches.
He wanted that to continue, with an increase in duration of those spells of good play. But it didn’t happen in the first half of the game against Thistle Reserves.
“Thistle dominated the first half,” Itman said.
“We couldn’t get the ball. They scored two goals in the first five minutes and at halftime it was 4-0.”
He asked the boys to focus on giving another 30 minutes of good football, as they had done in the previous two games, and they dominated the second half.
Itman said that Boys’ High co-captain and goalkeeper Regan Cameron had done for Boys’ High in the first half what Garnica did for Thistle in the second. Cameron’s analysis of what was happening on the field also proved useful.
Others to shine for Boys’ High were centreback Adam Simpson, whose anticipation was a feature of his game, Davies for his goals, and Somerton for his all-round play.
Thistle Reserves manager-coach Ron Young said striker Hammy Il-Jammi scored two goals, and right midfielder Merlin Parsons and left midfielder Ashley McMillan scored a goal each.
The whole team played well in the first half, but from halftime they lost key players.
McMillan was needed for first-team preparations from halftime.
Centreback Janai Randall, a former Boys’ High player, had been a commanding presence in the Thistle defence but was unavailable for the final 30 minutes, as was Travis White.
The changes seemed to disrupt the Reserves at a time when Boys’ High had started to play well.
“If it wasn’t for Gabrile saving two certain goals, we would have drawn or lost that game,” Young said.
“Reece Brew played well in central midfield, too.”
The Reserves are scheduled to play Carpet Court Thistle Massive on Saturday but will be without Hammy Il-Jammi, who is unavailable that day, and leftback Luis Lobon, who is moving to Tauranga.
Massive will be without Liam Ryan, who was sent off for two yellow-card offences against Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks last Saturday.
Wainui won an eventful game at Childers Road Reserve 2-1 and stay hot on the heels of competition leaders Heavy Equipment Services United, who beat Lytton High School 4-2 at Lytton.
On Saturday, Lytton and Boys’ High meet on the Rectory field. Earlier in the day, Wainui and United play the curtain-raiser to Saturday’s Pacific Premiership game between United and Napier City Rovers Seconds at Harry Barker Reserve.
Wainui scored first against Massive last weekend, midfielder Olly Tilley spotting the keeper off his line and chipping him from 30 metres.
Ryan was sent off 30 minutes in, but Thistle managed to equalise through central midfielder Matt Smith to go to the break on level terms.
Thistle, though a man down, continued to make much of the play.
Wainui, meanwhile, were having injury problems.
Twenty minutes from time, striker Jake Theron went off with a hamstring injury that looked serious enough to threaten the rest of his season.
Michael Smith, who has managed the side while out with a hamstring injury, came on during the game and the hamstring “went” again.
And Jimmy Walker hurt his hip when he contested the high ball that dropped to Jaiden Ibbetson to smash home from five metres for the winner five minutes from the end.
Wainui’s man of the match was keeper Paddy Pierard, who Smith says is growing in stature week by week.
“The game against United will be a big test because of the injuries we’ve got, but with three teams in the club we should be able to get reasonable cover,” Smith said.
Thistle coach John Stirton said his side played well but couldn’t get the ball in the net.
Nic Somerton and Craig Stirton kept busy up front, and received good support from Matt Smith and Kane Stirton, who put in huge efforts in central midfield. Fraser Hopkins put in a good shift in defensive midfield, and Brad Reynolds put his shoulder to the wheel when he came on at halftime.
Eastern League 2 results were: Wainui Sports Club 3 Campion College 2, HES United (3) 2 ITM Thistle 2, Thistle Vintage 4 Tatapouri Bohemians 0, Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians 1 Coates Associates Wainui Demons 5, Wairoa Athletic 4 Smash Palace Shockers 1.