Play like that for full game says coach

RISING TO THE OCCASION: Gisborne Thistle utility player Ander Batarrita leaps for a high ball, with Jake Robertson in support. Batarrita is likely to play on the left flank against Taranaki at Childers Road Reserve tomorrow. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

GISBORNE Thistle coach Fred Robertson wants his side to play for 90 minutes the way they played for 10 minutes against Massey University, when the Jags host Central Federation League leaders Taranaki at Childers Road Reserve at 1pm tomorrow.

“We started slowly against Massey then scored three goals in a 10-minute spell, with some unbelievable football,” said Robertson, whose side then conceded five goals without reply.

“It wasn’t so much that Massey shifted gear, more like we just lost concentration. If we do that against Taranaki, PJ (Goodlett, goalkeeper) will be in for a busy afternoon.”

Taranaki beat Thistle 2-1 in New Plymouth in Round 1 and hold a seven-point lead on Robertson’s men.

“They’re top of the table, so obviously they’re a good side and we have to respect them. But we led 1-0 in that game, played most of the second half with 10 men, and it wasn’t until late in the game that Taranaki scored the winning goal.”

Two changes in the sideRobertson has been forced to make two changes from the side who lost last week, with sweeper Cullen Spawforth and left-flank midfielder Malcolm Marfell both suspended after they were sent off.

Kieran Higham, who was man of the match against Taranaki at rightback, replaces Spawforth, and the experienced Ander Batarrita comes in for Marfell.

“I’m hoping it’s payback time for that loss, but it won’t be if we play the way we did last week,” Robertson said.

“We need a repeat of the performance we put on when we beat Havelock North Wanderers.”

Taranaki go into the match on the back of a 9-3 away win against bottom-placed Wanganui. The league’s leading goalscorer, Nicolas Varela, bagged a hat-trick, while Abdul Ibrahim scored two goals. Josh Smith, Stephen Kibby, Jeremy Hawks and Charlie Krtek completed the scoring, with Smith’s goal the pick of the bunch — a sidefoot volley into the corner of the goal following some creative play by Ibrahim and a measured cross.

“They won’t be happy at conceding three goals so I’m sure they’ll have been working hard on their defence this week,” Robertson said.

“We have to win to have any hope of winning the league so we won’t be sitting back, and the good news is that Corey (Adams, striker) has recovered from the knee injury that forced him off last week.”