Gisborne Thistle Reserves field players having second game of day

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

Gisborne Thistle Reserves had to use players who had already played that day to field a full team for their Pacific Premiership game against Maycenvale on Saturday.

With the first team playing at the same time on the other pitch at Childers Road Reserve, ALH Thistle Reserves could not use any first-team squad members required for Federation League duty.

The Reserves lost 8-1 to Maycenvale United after being 3-0 down at halftime.

Among those playing their second game of the day were goalkeeper Aiden Armstrong and centrebacks Daniel Walters and Shannon Dowsing.

Thistle’s goalscorer was Daniel Robinson, who scored when Maycenvale were leading 6-0.

Thistle Reserves coach Craig Stirton said everyone in the team put in a solid effort, considering some of them were playing their second game that day.

Outstanding for Thistle were defenders Reece Brew, Lucian Nickerson, Tim Hofman and Daniel Walters, midfielders Max Kume and Robinson, and striker Alex Shanks.

Outstanding for Maycenvale United were centreback Shaun Newland, left-winger Matt Goodwin, and defenders Ethan Kitt and Isaiah Andrews.

Goodwin scored a hat-trick, Andrews scored two, and Jake Rosandich, Luke Woon and Dylan Cozens scored a goal each.

Maycenvale lie fourth in the eight-team premiership but their rise up the table has been delayed by five draws. Thistle Reserves lie seventh.