“In trying to clear the ball, one of our defenders hit it straight up in the air. It could have gone anywhere but as it came down one of their strikers volleyed it past Baps, who had no chance.
“We were 1-0 down but still in the game. Cullen Spawforth had a shot saved, then Josh Harris weaved his way into the penalty box and I was already celebrating when he shot, but somehow their big keeper threw out a hand and palmed the ball away.
“If we’d scored a goal then, it was all on. We were playing well.”
Havelock’s second goal came out of nothing.
“Reece Brew (centreback) was in control of the ball looking to play it to one of our players when he rolled an ankle on what was a very bumpy pitch. One of their players nipped in and was in for a one-on-one with Baps. Again he had no chance.
“At 2-0 down it was looking pretty grim but the boys kept playing away.”
With five minutes remaining, Thistle midfielder Jarom Brouwer followed up a shot that the keeper parried and closed the deficit.
“Even then we could have snatched a draw,” Ryan said.
“We had a corner that came out and Jake Robertson, who was on for Brew, hit a 20-metre screamer that flew just past the post."
Ryan brought on David Salmon and Kieran Higham in an effort to get something from the match.
“David came on for Josh Adams, who had been unable to train this week, and I brought Kieran on for myself. I was feeling the effects of a knee injury, and Kieran has a lot of pace.
“It wasn’t to be, but we were certainly not disgraced. On the day, Havelock got the bounce of the ball.”
Baple was Thistle’s man of the match.
Thistle are at home to bottom-placed Wanganui Athletic on Saturday and Ryan said he would be looking for a good win.
Other results: Wanganui Athletic 1 Massey University 2, Palmerston North Marist (2) 1 Port Hill United 1, Team Taranaki 4 Red Sox Manawatu 0.
