Jags set sights on second

MIDFIELD TUSSLE: Gisborne Thistle midfielder Cullen Spawforth goes after the ball in the game against Wanganui Athletic at Childers Road Reserve last month. Spawforth has had an outstanding season in the Thistle engine room alongside fellow Gisborne Boys’ High School student Jarom Brouwer. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE Thistle cemented third place in the Central Federation League with a 2-1 win against Palmerston North Marist Reserves in Palmerston North last week.

But Jags co-coach Liam Ryan says his side have their sights set on closing the gap on second-placed Havelock North Wanderers before the top-four round — when points are carried over — starts next week. And that means backing up last week’s result with victory over Marist at Childers Road Reserve tomorrow in a game that starts at 12.30pm.

“We’re six points behind Havelock, who have a game in hand on us — but that game is against Taranaki, the competition leaders,” Ryan said. “We can’t catch Taranaki, even if we win all three games in the top-four round, but we can come second and that’s the aim.”

Ryan said the starting 11 tomorrow would be similar to the team who started last week.

“Josh Harris had to go off with a groin strain but he trained this week and we’re hoping he’ll be OK.”

Ryan, rightback in the side he co-coaches with Matt Hastings, said the season had had its ups and downs.

“Even before we’d kicked a ball, some were saying we wouldn’t survive the season and would have to pull out, but we proved them wrong and that’s something I’m really proud of. We didn’t really know what to expect — different teams, different grounds and more travelling — but we’re third and in with a chance of coming second.

“Childers Road Reserve has been great to play on — always flat and wide — whereas some of the away grounds have been small with a bumpy clay surface. That, plus the travelling and the fact that teams who on paper appear weak, have always lifted their games at home against us, has made the season a real challenge.

“But we took it on and, even though we’ve got four more games counting the top four, the boys are looking forward to next season. Jarom Brouwer could be leaving the district; but I’m hopeful that, apart from him, we’ll have the same squad plus maybe some university students coming home.

“I’ve heard Jared McMillan could be coming back and Kieran Ryan (Liam’s brother) is keen to play next year. Jarom and Cullen Spawforth, who are both still at Boys’ High, have been brilliant for us this season. Mal Scammell has a lot of potential, and Josh Adams has stepped up in recent weeks, taking over from Corey (Adams), who was our main striker until he got injured.

“Nicky Land can train only once a week and feels he is letting the team down, but he’s naturally fit and has never let us down. He can and will play anywhere we need him. KV (Kieran Venema) has really grown into the role of captain. If we can keep this squad together and add a few more players there’s no reason why we can’t challenge Taranaki next season.

“They’ve set the benchmark but only beat us 2-1 at Yarrow Stadium. It was a game we could have won if I hadn’t got sent off. I’m still getting over that. It was a long trip home.”

That may be, but Ryan has not just been a leader on the field, he took on the added responsibility of coaching the team after replacing Fred Robertson nine games into the season.

“That was one of the downsides of the season. We respect what Fred did for the team and it was tough to handle at the time, but the players showed real character to battle on.”

Marist are still in with a chance of making the top four. They are sixth, two points behind fourth-placed Port Hill United and one behind Red Sox. Red Sox should pick up three points when they complete their campaign against Wanganui, who have yet to win a game, while Port Hill are favourites to beat Massey University. But if Marist beat Thistle and Taranaki they would claim fourth.

“From a travel perspective we want Port Hill to come fourth,” Ryan said. “That’s an added incentive to win tomorrow.”