A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Four goals in eight minutes decided the Central Federation League game at Childers Road Reserve yesterday.
Waikanae Beach TOP10 Gisborne Thistle lost by the odd goal to league leaders Massey University, but deserved at least a share of the points.
That they fell short says more about their recent introduction to competition at this level than any shortcomings in skill, work rate or desire.
Give them another year of Federation League football, and they'll back themselves to make the right decisions, and put away the chances more often.
In the meantime, coach Garrett Blair is thinking about spending more training time on ball control and passing after noticing lapses in the basics during the game.
Massey were 3-2 winners of a match in which all the goals came in the first half.
With Palmerston North Marist's 3-1 loss to Havelock North Wanderers in Hawke's Bay on Saturday, Massey regained the league lead they had briefly surrendered to Marist on goals scored.
Thistle remained in fourth spot.
Massey took the lead in the 17th minute of the game yesterday.
A left-wing corner by midfielder Zach Farmer was half-cleared from a crowded goalmouth to striker Cole Freeeman 10 metres out. He volleyed the ball through the crowd of players into the net.
Thistle almost equalised 12 minutes later when midfielder Cullen Spawforth moved on to the ball deep in his own half and launched a long left-footed pass down the left flank beyond the Massey defensive line. Striker Jarom Brouwer's first-time shot beat goalkeeper Thomas Johnston, hit the near post and bounced out.
In the 38th minute, Thistle centreback Ander Batarrita intercepted a Massey attacking pass and volleyed his clearance to rightback Brandon Josling, who advanced into the Massey defensive third and passed inside to striker Jimmy Somerton. He let the ball roll to his left foot and placed it past the keeper . . . 1-1.
Two minutes later, former Thistle centreback George Andrew — playing in midfield for Massey — burst on to a bouncing ball from a clearance by keeper Johnston and broke into the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Farmer to finish at the back post . . . 2-1.
Massey went further ahead in the 44th minute when a right-wing corner from Farmer was headed goalwards before striker Michael Hilson got a close-range touch to score.
A minute later, Spawforth's left-wing corner reached Agustin Ventre beyond the far post, and he stabbed the ball home to make it 3-2.
Thistle had two good chances in the second half.
In the 49th minute, Brouwer dispossessed centreback Ben Meyer on the edge of the penalty area. Somerton made a run from the left on to the loose ball and, without breaking stride, hit a right-footed shot into the side netting.
In the 65th minute, Oli Davies, on for Ventre in the 62nd, ran on to a ball from midfield. He was on his favoured right foot but Massey skipper and centreback Caleb Young was coming across to cut him off. Rather than shoot from outside the penalty area, Davies angled the ball to the left to Somerton. He let it run across him to his left foot but lost his angle. The fast-retreating Massey defence then blocked the shot and shut down follow-up attempts to break through.
Davies continued to shine in general play, getting through on the left in the 69th and cutting back on to to his right foot and forcing a good block from Johnston. Three minutes later he set Somerton away with a nice chippped ball.
For Thistle, fullbacks Josling on the right and Justo Rodriguez on the left, gave their side good attacking outlets from the back. Centrebacks Daniel Venema and Batarrita were solid, if unspectacular, and hardly wasted a ball between them.
Keeper Mitchell Stewart-Hill was not called on a great deal and could do little about the goals.
Midfield was keenly contested with neither side dominating.
Spawforth, with his mixture of dinks and long, raking passes, and Tomek Frooms, with his lay-offs and jinking runs, were Thistle's chief providers.
Ema Martos and Ventre did a lot of the defensive pressing that gave their back four breathing space. Both made way for more attacking players — Ventre for Davies and Martos for Oska Smith — as the Jags chased a share of the points.
Somerton and Brouwer never let the Massey defence relax but will be disappointed at the return for their efforts.
Ashley McMillan came on for Tomek Frooms 15 minutes from time and, of all the midfielders on show, looked to be cut from the same cloth as skipper Nick Land. Enough said.
Blair said the absence of Land because of injury had an effect on the team.
“He is our rock in the middle,” he said.
Blair also said his team would be doing a lot more work in training on their play in the final third.
Massey were a team who fed on opponents' mistakes.
“We have to make sure we don't make those mistakes so they have no opportunity to react,” Blair said.
Massey coach Donald Piper thought both sides could have done better in the final third. He was pleased his team kept their noses in front because he thought if Thistle equalised they would go on to win.
He singled out skipper Young and midfielder Andrew for special mention.
“Caleb (Young) showed leadership and determination, and made some vital tackles,” Piper said.
“And George (Andrew) wanted to show the Thistle lads he has kicked on.”
Referee Chris Niven showed the yellow card to Thistle's Rodriguez in the 73rd minute, for pulling a player back.