Thistle and United impress in victory

FOOT ON THE BALL: Gisborne United’s Malachi Scammell (left) is challenged by Taradale’s Greg Jackson in a Pacific Premiership game last season. Scammell was United’s man of the match against Maycenvale on Saturday. File picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne teams Thistle and United had impressive wins in Pacific Premiership football in Hawke’s Bay on Saturday.

Gisborne Vehicle Testing Thistle came from a goal down to beat Port Hill 3-1 at Marewa Park, Napier.

Meanwhile, Josh Adams scored a hat-trick as Heavy Equipment Services United built on a 3-0 halftime lead to beat Maycenvale 4-1 at Hastings Sports Park and stay at the top of the table.

Thistle coach Garrett Blair was wary of Port Hill as Thistle have often struggled against them. Last season in this fixture they lost 1-0, and on Saturday they found a pitch that looked as if it hadn’t been mown in weeks.

To make matters worse, Thistle were without four first-team regulars.

But Blair’s roster is deep and he had no shortage of willing replacements.

Attacking midfielder Brad Reynolds and rightback Max Mika were both handed starts, and Blair might now have some selection headaches as Mika played well and Reynolds was named man of the match. Both players played the full 90 minutes.

Port Hill went a goal up following a defensive error, but just before halftime Thistle equalised through captain and right-winger Nick Land.

In the second half, Thistle played some nice football, controlling possession. They created a lot of chances, hitting the post and having a shot cleared off the line, before they scored again.

Defensive midfielder Ander Batarrita hit a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area to the far post, where Brandon Josling scored with a powerful header.

A minute from time, Thistle added a third. Pulse Academy striker Liam McMenamy drove the ball past the Port Hill keeper after a goalmouth scramble.

Blair was relieved to come away with a scoreline that looked comfortable.

“We played good constructive football on a pitch that wasn’t fit for rugby,” he said.

“We held the ball well and kept our shape.”

With Davie Ure’s red-card offence from the Taradale game downgraded on appeal from “violent conduct” to “behaving in an irresponsible manner”, Ure will be one of the four players welcomed back to the side on Saturday.

If Thistle beat Eskview at Childers Road Reserve on Saturday, they will go to the top of the table as they have a game in hand on Gisborne United, who have the bye this weekend.

Against Maycenvale on Saturday, United scored their first goal after 10 minutes. Jarom Brouwer, playing as a second striker just behind Josh Adams, latched on to a ball played over the top of the defence. He rounded the Maycenvale keeper and tapped the ball home.

Five minutes later, goalscoring machine Josh Adams fired a bullet of a shot into the right corner of the goal.

Adams made it 3-0 in the 30th minute, delicately chipping the ball over the advancing keeper.

United looked comfortable, and after halftime they continued to dominate, playing one-touch football and giving their opponents nothing to work with.

On the hour mark, Adams completed his hat-trick, beating a player on the byline and smashing the ball into the far corner from seven metres.

Maycenvale scored a consolation goal, a header, in the 75th minute.

United player-coach Corey Adams was happy with his team’s performance.

“We controlled the game well and took our chances,” he said.

Adams was particularly pleased with the play of his back three — Kieran Higham, Matt Adams and man of the match Malachi Scammell — who gave great support to goalkeeper Jack Faulkner.

“They cleared their lines well and held a great defensive line.”