Heavy Equipment Services United received no such reprieve. They were 1-0 down after an evenly contested first half, and then Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks adjusted the controls and cruised to a 4-1 victory.
United’s goal didn’t come until they were 4-0 down with about 20 minutes to go.
Right winger Caleb Craig went on a run and crossed for Stu Cranswick, who made a run towards the near post and met the ball midway between the goal area and the penalty spot. Cranswick’s glancing header went in off the back post.
United coach Chris Adams said Wainui scored two quick goals after halftime and another midway through the second half.
“We weren’t even in it,” Adams said.
United double centrebacks Lucian Nickerson and Jonathan Purcell “gave it everything”.
Wainui had more chances, ran all day and “gave it their all”, Adams said.
Training this week was aimed at fitness, sharpness and not giving the ball away.
Wainui manager Blake Mulrooney said the first half was relatively even but the second was one-way traffic.
“We were probably trying to be a little too direct in the first half,” he said.
“We were a bit more patient in the second, and brought the fullbacks and wide players into play more.
“John Hill plays well every week, at rightback or leftback. He was rightback this week . . . he makes us tick.
“Mal Furlan was solid at centreback, and Max Logan did well in midfield.”
Mulrooney said a goal scored by Wainui striker Jake Theron was a highlight of the match.
“We had a good build-up and a through ball was laid on,” Mulrooney said.
“Jake came in from the right, took a couple of touches and, as the keeper came out, hit the ball with the outside of his right foot and chipped him.”
Mulrooney said that Jaiden Ibbetson, in left midfield, put in “a really good shift”.
Wainui played a 4-3-3 system, but with 15 minutes to go changed to 4-4-2 to give their opponents something else to think about, he said.
“In the second half we had a 30-minute period that was our best performance this year.”
Martin Brusco had given Wainui the halftime lead, Theron grabbed the second goal, Ibbetson the third and Thiago Carlos de Melo the fourth.
The victory came at a price for the Sharks — they could be without player-coach Michael Smith for up to three weeks, as he took a head knock during the game.
Central midfielder Leo Maisey got Thistle Development A off to a great start with a fourth-minute goal that set Thistle Massive back on their heels.
Maisey broke away from the Massive defence and shot from 15 metres.
Development team striker Levi Julies was looking dangerous in possession when he was fouled in the penalty area 20 minutes into the game. He took the penalty himself and made it 2-0.
Massive were awarded a penalty just before halftime and narrowed the deficit. When they equalised soon after the break, momentum seemed to be theirs.
But Maisey struck again to give the Development side a 3-2 lead.
It was not until late in the game that Massive were able to draw level then pull away as fatigue set in for the Development side.
Thistle Development A coach Ross Niven said Julies and Maisey threatened on attack, while schoolboy centrebacks Oli Gillies and Brad Hill had outstanding games in defence.
In the latter stages of the game,
Brett Dempster came on in central midfield and made his presence felt.
For Massive, Kane Stirton and Nicolas Montenegro played well, and the goals were scored by Raul Medina (two), Matias Pincini (two), Juan Celano and Ernesto Sanchez.
Smash Palace Shockers 1 Thistle Vintage 14, HES United 2 Coates Associates Wainui Demons 3, Tatapouri Bohemians 7 HES United Thirds 2, Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians 2 Thistle Development B 1, QRS Wairoa Athletic 0 1st Class Decorators Wainui Salty Dogs 7.
ITM Thistle.
Eastern League women: HES United 6 Neighborhood Pizzeria Wainui Wahine 0, Tatapouri Marist Thistle 2 Bohemians 5, Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina 5 Campion College 0.
Gisborne Girls’ High School.
