Plugging the leaks

United we jump: Gisborne United players (from left) Lucian Nickerson (6), Dane Thompson (15), Kieran Venema (7) and Kieran Higham (2) combine to clear the danger against Western Rangers. Goalkeeper Jack Faulkner and player-coach Corey Adams are on hand should they be needed. Picture by Paul Rickard

COREY Adams knows his side can score goals . . . 43 in 11 Pacific Premiership games.

But the Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United player-coach wants his side to stop conceding them.

“Twenty-four in 11 matches is not what you want if you want to win championships and that’s still our goal,” said Adams ahead of a top-of-the-table clash against Napier City Rovers Seconds at Harry Barker Reserve at 2.30pm tomorrow.

“I’m going to bring Mal Scammell into a more defensive midfield role.

“He’s a player who loves to get forward and that’s something we encourage, but if we win this game we’re only four points behind Napier.”

Two points in front of third-placed Gisborne United are Port Hill, who play bottom-of-the-table Havelock North Wanderers Seconds.

“We can’t do anything about that game but we can control what happens in our game and that’s what we have to do . . . focus on Napier,” Adams said.

He has made one change to the lineup that started the game in which United beat Western Rangers 6-3 in Gisborne last weekend.

“Matt Adams comes in for Lucian Nickerson at rightback, to give us a bit more experience.”

Gisborne Thistle, who play Eskview at Childers Road Reserve, also at 2.30pm, beat Napier here in Round 1.

“But Napier came with only 10 players; we’re expecting a stronger team this weekend,” Adams said.

“They won’t want us and Port Hill closing the gap.”

Thistle are bubbling with confidence, and are now fourth-equal with Napier Marist, but tomorrow’s opponents, Eskview, are only three points behind.

“At this stage we have Olly Tilley away and possibly Jake Theron out, injured, but we have good depth at the moment,” Thistle coach Garrett Blair said.

“I’ll play Ander Batarrita in a defensive midfield role, and start Hector Araya up front with Davie Ure.

“Apart from those changes, we’ll go with the core of our starting 11 who have been playing extremely well over the past few weeks.

“We have some momentum after beating both Napier City Rovers and Napier Marist, and this weekend will be more of the same, provided we set up well, perform our individual roles and keep it tight at the back.

Blair said he was “extremely happy” with the way his back four and goalkeeper Mark Baple were playing.

“They concede very little and it’s where most of our attacks start,” he said.

“Eskview are a good team, and have some good young players. Their results are a mixed bag but I know Jimmy Calder (coach) will set up well against us and it should be a cracker of a game.

“If we play like we did against Napier Marist, I am confident we can get three points.”