Cup run not to be for Thistle

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE Thistle’s dream of a Chatham Cup run is over after losing 4-3 to Havelock North Wanderers in Havelock North on Saturday.

“It would have been great to have won and got a wee run going, but it wasn’t to be,” said Thistle coach Fred Robertson, who was not happy with two of Havelock’s goals.

“We’ve no complaints about their first but just before halftime PJ (goalkeeper Goodlett) had the ball in his hands when one of their players kicked it out and put it in the net.”

Left-back Jake Robertson, who had his best game of the season and was named man of the match, got Thistle back into the game with a screamer from 40 metres.

“It was game on at that stage as we were playing well, then came another contentious goal for Havelock. They had two players miles offside but no flag went up and then one of our defenders was bundled off the ball and one of the guys in an offside position scored.”

Havelock looked to have clinched the win when they made it 4-1 following a goal mouth scramble.

“The boys refused to throw in the towel and they continued to make a fight of it,” Robertson said.

“Nicky Land got us back in the game with well-taken goal and then with five minutes to go Corey Adams scored from a free-kick.”

Robertson was forced to reshuffle his team before the kick-off when Ander Batarrita injured his lower back in the warm-up.

Malcolm Marfell, who was initially in the reserves after Josh Adams passed a late fitness test on an injured ankle, replaced Batarrita.

“We didn’t think Josh would be fit but he’s young and his ankle cleared up in time for him to start, but now he’s got a hip injury.”

Goodlett is also on the casualty list with a groin strain which saw him replaced by Mark Baple in the second half. Thistle went into the cup tie having beaten Havelock North Wanderers 3-1 in a Central Federation League game in Gisborne two weeks ago but Robertson said they obviously learned their lesson from that defeat.

“They were a lot more physical, especially in midfield. They really got stuck into us, played cup football. On the positive side, we can now focus fully on the league , starting with Port Hill United here on Saturday.

“We beat them 1-0 away in the first game of the season so we’ll be looking for another good result this weekend.

“It’s important we forget about this loss and bounce back this weekend.”