A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
WAINUI Demons won more than a Chris Moore Cup quarterfinal football match last Saturday.
They won bragging rights until the next time they play clubmates Sunshine Brewing Wainui Salty Dogs after beating them 1-0 at Wainui.
Coates Associates Wainui Demons striker Ben Inder broke the deadlock early in the second half of a game that had plenty of action from two evenly matched teams.
Inder ran on to a through ball that put him just inside the penalty area on the right side of the goal and he let fly with a shot that went in at the near post, top corner.
“Ben was probably the quickest guy on the pitch,” Demons captain and coach Yannis Kokkosis said.
“He's our second-highest goalscorer after Kaleb Jacobs.
“We have about five strikers to fit into two positions so often we end up putting them on the wings.
“Max Harris was also playing up front. He was outstanding. It's his first year in the Demons and he cemented his place in the side with a strong game.”
Kokkosis said that goalkeeper Jacob Moorcroft played “out of his skin”. He made several crucial saves, including one late in the match where he dived full-length to his left and not only stopped the ball but held on to it.
John Hill, at centreback, was outrunning players half his age, while right-winger Ollie Suttor and left-winger Manaaki Terekia were both outstanding.
Demons had a few of their regular players missing but they still had reserves, Kokkosis said.
It was a welcome change from the days when players were going from their own team's game to back up for another team who were short.
Salty Dogs had a chance to equalise, but the penalty kick from Zane Destounis went off to the right of the goal.
Salty Dogs' Mike Vita said his side played well. They had a lot of possession and good territory, and the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle.
Demons play Thistle Vintage at Wainui in one semifinal at 12.30pm on Saturday. Vintage had a bye in the quarterfinal round, as did Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians, who play clubmates Tatapouri Bohemians, 4-3 victors over QRS Wairoa Athletic in Wairoa last Saturday.
Tatapouri Bohemians player-coach Chris Cockburn said the Bohs scored first, through Tom Paenga, within the first five minutes. The ball bobbled under a defender's foot and Paenga pounced, taking a touch before firing a right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 10 metres out.
Wairoa hit back, scoring twice — around the 15th and 30th minutes — to lead 2-1 at halftime.
In the first half, Wairoa had taken advantage of a strong wind behind them. In the second half, it was the Bohs' turn with the wind.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, central midfielder Steve White scored the equaliser. Cockburn drove in a corner from the right and White met it at the far post with a powerful header that took the ball back across the goal and in at the top-right corner.
Ten minutes later, Bohs striker Jacob Larby got the ball on the left edge of the penalty area at the end of a passing movement. His shot took a deflection on its way in, and the Bohs led 3-2.
Fifteen minutes from time, Wairoa equalised, but Bohemians scored the winner five minutes later.
Caleb Craig played the ball from central midfield in to Oli Gillies, who had come on up front. He brought the ball down, beat a player and placed his shot firmly into the bottom left corner.
Outstanding for the Bohs were centreback Jeremy Ion, midfielders Craig and White, and strikers Paenga and Larby.
Tatapouri Bohemians would be slight favourites against their clubmates on Nelson Park 1 at 12.30pm on Saturday, but it should be an interesting contest.
The game of the day, though, could well be the Bailey Cup semifinal between Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United Firsts and HES United Premiers at Harry Barker Reserve 1 at 2.30pm.
The Premiers are coming off a momentous victory over North End in Central Football's Federation Cup final.
That team included three players — Stu Cranswick, Aaron Graham and Jonathan Purcell — who have turned out for the Firsts in Eastern League football. If they're playing — for either side — they'll be key actors in the drama.
The winners of that game will meet 1st Class Decorators Wainui Sharks, who beat Thistle Youth 5-0 in the other semifinal last week.
In the Poverty Bay Cup semis, Smash Palace Shockers will play HES United Seconds on Nelson Park 2, and Gizzy Bobcat Hire Thistle will play HES United Thirds on Childers Road Reserve 1. Both games will be at 12.30pm on Saturday.