Massive took the lead against Wainui in the 20th minute. A good passing move through the midfield culminated in the ball being played in to striker Raul Medina. He managed to find space in the Wainui penalty area to fire in his scoring shot.
“The first half was good for us,” Massive coach Craig Stirton said.
“We created a lot of chances, but I think we need to get a little more clinical with our finishing.
“Nic Somerton played well alongside Raul but Nic had to leave at halftime.
“In the second half we lost our structure a bit.”
Juan Celano took Somerton’s place up front and Massive created a few second-half chances with through-balls, but Stirton felt they had done better with a more direct approach in the first half.
A training-ground move led to Jamie Gallacher’s 69th-minute equaliser for Wainui — a firm header from a free-kick.
Ten minutes from time, Jake Theron split the Massive defence with his pass in to Dan Torrie, who glided on to the ball and finished well to make it 2-1.
Wainui were without Shane Hooks, who was getting married, and player-coach Michael Smith, who was at the wedding. And for the last half-hour on Saturday they played with 10 men.
Team manager Blake Mulrooney was happy with the shift put in by the whole squad.
“We lost our rightback, Caleb Baldacchino, 15 minutes into the second half,” he said.
“Caleb was last man when he brought down a player running through on goal, so it was a straight red card.
“We went to a back three, and Jamie Gallacher, Mal Furlan and John Hill did really well to keep things tight.”
Mulrooney said Theron troubled Thistle with his movement across the front line, and Torrie was relentless in his efforts despite a first-half ankle injury that could keep him out of action for two or three weeks.
Mulrooney is enjoying his role at Wainui, where he gives his input from the sideline after a long spell as a player-coach at senior level. It’s not an unfamiliar role, though, as he has been on the sideline for decades as a coach of junior teams.
“Wainui have three men’s and two women’s teams . . . there’s a good feel about the place,” Mulrooney said.
“Shane Hooks and Michael Smith will return to the side, Dan Willock is making good progress in his recovery from injury and Max Logan will probably start this weekend.
“On Saturday the guys worked really hard for each other. To have a player sent off and still come back from a goal down says a lot about the spirit in the team.”
Massive coach Stirton said Somerton and Medina looked dangerous any time they got near goal.
Michael Rogers had a sound game at sweeper, and Aaron Carpinetti did well on the left wing.
In Thistle Reserves’ win against the Development side, the goals came from Travis White (two), Justo Rodriguez, Oska Smith and Alan Zarate.
Reserves coach Davie Ure said Zarate’s goal was a “rocket of a free-kick” from about 20 metres.
“Our top performers were rightback Andre Riley, who again showed excellent determination and willingness to get forward, Alan Zarate for his outstanding midfield play in the second half, and Travis White for scoring two good goals,” Ure said.
Development team coach Ross Niven said midfielders Gaurav Chetan Kashyap and Shihab Altour played well, showing strong commitment to the team.
Niven said his side had a good first half, but lost their shape in the second.
