Still plenty at stake

OFF ON A RUN: Gisborne Thistle midfielder Malcolm Marfell in action against Havelock North Wanderers at Childers Road Reserve in June. Thistle won that game 1-0, but since then Havelock have gone on a five-game winning streak in the league, while Thistle have lost four of five league games. Picture by Paul Rickard

On paper, Thistle’s game against Havelock North Wanderers at Childers Road Reserve tomorrow doesn’t count for much.

Thankfully, football is not played on paper.

Havelock have already clinched the Central Federation League title and Thistle are ensconced in the middle of the table. Both sides appear to have little to gain from the season’s second-last league game, which starts at 2.45pm.

Thistle coach Matt Hastings begs to differ.

“Even though Havelock have won the league with two weeks to spare, they are not going to take it easy,” he said.

“They have two very important playoff games to get ready for.

“This is a chance to really express themselves as part of their preparation.”

Havelock will play home and away playoff games against Capital Premier League winners Waterside Karori for the right to be promoted to the Central League.

Thistle are the only team to have beaten Havelock in the league this season — a 1-0 victory in Gisborne on June 18.

Since then, Havelock have won all five of their games in the competition, including matches against fellow high-flyers New Plymouth Rangers and Wanganui Athletic.

Thistle’s record since that win has been four losses and one victory, 6-0 against Red Sox Manawatu two weeks ago.

Last week they lost 2-0 to Palmerston North Marist but dominated play for much of the game and were caught by fast breaks.

That shouldn’t be a problem tomorrow. Thistle can expect to be under considerable pressure from a side eager to wipe out the memory of their June defeat.

The coaches know each other well. Hastings lived in Hawke’s Bay from 2009 to 2015 and for the first four of those years played in midfield alongside Havelock’s current coach, Chris Greatholder. They played together at Maycenvale, Hawke’s Bay United and Napier City Rovers, and Hastings was coached by Greatholder for part of that time.

“Havelock are very dangerous going forward,” Hastings said.

“They are calm in possession, and very good defensively.

“We’ll have to be on our game from the first minute to the last.

“If we work hard and take our chances, we should be OK.”

Thistle will be without five, possibly six, of their first-team squad tomorrow, but should start with substantially the same side as last week.

Josh Harris is still suspended, David Salmon has gone to police college, David Barker and Matt McVey are working, Ander Batarrita has lingering concussion symptoms, and PJ Goodlett might be working.

Mark Baple will likely be in goal, with Ryan Majstrovic providing cover. The back three will probably be Mal Scammell, Liam Ryan and Riley McMenamin, with Nick Land on the right flank and Jake Robertson on the left.

Kieran Ryan and Kieran Venema will continue their holding-midfield partnership. Olly Tilley looks set to come back into the side, alongside Malcolm Marfell, in an attacking midfield role. Corey Adams will be the forward striker.

Max Mika is likely to be on the bench at the beginning of the game, but not the end. He got a start last week and Hastings said he did everything asked of him.

“Max did exceptionally well for us,” Hastings said.

Technically gifted, fit and aggressive in his hunt for possession of the ball, Mika kept the game simple, he said.

“Max will get time on the pitch.”

Tilley’s power in the attacking third was the factor that won him the starting spot, Hastings said.

Ian Cutler, Hastings, himself, and possibly Goodlett would provide further cover on the bench.