Maycenvale out to break Gisborne United’s unbeaten run

Gisborne United's Jacob Adams, flying high, is in the starting 11 for United's clash with Maycenvale at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday. Photo / Paul Rickard

Gisborne United defend their unbeaten record against a Maycenvale side who would love to knock them off their perch in Eastern Premiership football at Harry Barker Reserve this weekend.

It is the Hawke’s Bay side’s second visit to Gisborne in as many weeks, and they will be out to show their 2-0 loss to Electrinet Gisborne Thistle last week was a mere blip.

Meanwhile, Thistle travel to Hawke’s Bay to play Taradale Reserves, who have made a habit of taking teams to the wire this season.

They lost their first game to title contenders Havelock North Wanderers 2-1, then lost 5-4 to Maycenvale and drew 4-4 with Port Hill.

Their first home game brought them a 2-1 win against Western Rangers and now they lie in wait for a Thistle side who have rebounded well from a bad start.

Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United look a bit different from their last home line-up. Left back Malcolm Marfell is away for the weekend, utility player Kauri Holmes will be in Australia to watch his sister Renee play for the Black Ferns, and striker Campbell Hall is suspended.

Jacob Adams will come into the side for Hall, and changes at the back are likely due to Marfell’s absence.

Co-coach Blake Mulrooney watched Maycenvale against Thistle last week and expects them to play with energy and spirit.

United striker Jimmy Somerton and a midfield featuring skipper Dane Thompson and Corey Adams will take the field, but Mulrooney is cagey about the rest of the line-up.

“We’ll be changing things a little bit,” he said.

Mulrooney and co-coach Kieran Venema have to factor in a road trip two days after this game, to play Whanganui Athletic Reserves in the Central Federation Cup at Park Island, Napier.

Hall is expected to be available for the cup game and Venema and club stalwart Aaron Graham will be on the bench or, if needed, on the field.

“We’ll just have to see how we come through Saturday’s game,” Mulrooney said.

United lead the competition, on goal difference from Havelock North Wanderers, with whom they drew 2-2 last week.

If Maycenvale beat United, both teams would be on 10 points. Wanderers play Napier City Rovers Reserves at Park Island and could go out on their own if they won and United did not.

Taradale are on four points, two behind Thistle, so could conceivably jump to third place on goal difference if they won and Maycenvale lost.

United’s game starts at 2.45pm. Thistle take the field in Napier for a 3pm start.

Football stalwart Royden Owen farewelled

Gisborne Thistle lost a valued club member last week with the death of Royden Owen, 75, who was farewelled at his funeral on Wednesday.

Owen was an outstanding athlete at school, and his brave and wholehearted goalkeeping earned him games as a teenager in the Gisborne City Central League team in 1968.

He went on to play an integral part in the 1970s High School Old Boys side that featured brothers Royden, Vern, Gwyn and Lester Owen, and brother-in-law Andrew Robertson, in one of the toughest defences around.

As the years passed, his football became more social and he was a popular figure in the Gisborne Thistle club.

He took a keen interest in junior and women’s football, helping out, coaching and managing teams as required. If his son Jared or daughter Mandy were there, so much the better.

A minute’s silence was observed for Owen before the Thistle-Maycenvale game at Childers Road Reserve last Saturday.

He is survived by son Jared and daughters Mandy and Melissa, and his grandchildren.