Thistle beat cup final victors

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FOOTBALL

CONFERENCE teams provided the eye-catching results in Gisborne club football at the weekend.

Poverty Bay Cup finalists ITM Thistle, who lost a penalty shootout to Heavy Equipment Services United (3) two weeks before, had a 4-0 win against the same opponents in the league.

Thistle remain unbeaten in the Conference — equivalent to the old Eastern League third division — and have 20 points from six wins and two draws. Goal difference indicates their league form this season . . . 42 goals for, and four against.

United are a point behind in second place but have played one game more. Then come Three Rivers Medical Bohemians, 15 points from eight games, and Smash Palace Shockers, 15 from nine.

The three school teams are jostling for bragging rights in the lower reaches. Campion have nine points from eight games, Lytton High School (2) have six from nine, and Gisborne Boys’ High School (3) have three from nine.

Campion and Lytton (2) provided the closest result of men’s football at the weekend — a 3-2 win for Campion on the Lytton ground, in a game that split two teams who were level on points before it.

The top-of-the-table clash between ITM Thistle and United (3) was the attention-grabber of the division.

United had a few players out with injuries but were still able to field a capable side. They simply struck a Thistle team who were running hot.

Thistle dominated the first half and led 3-0 at the interval, through goals from Brazilian striker Eduardo Bastos, centreback-turned-midfielder Gareth Hopkins and centreback Craig Frazer.

The goal by Hopkins was a “screamer” of a shot from outside the penalty area, and Frazer’s header from a corner was also classy.

United fought back in the second half but Thistle went another goal up, through midfielder Mike Callaghan.

It was just the sort of solid team performance Thistle wanted following the disappointment of losing the cup final. They have 10 games to go and show no sign of easing up.

For United, rightback Tim Urry, leftback Matt Downie, centrebacks Laurence Fleming and Dylan Babbington, and utility defender Bradley Allan were outstanding under considerable pressure.

In midfield, Warren Muir had another powerful game, and Dean Wrigley was back to add his brand of footballing nous to the mix.

Campion had to come from two goals down for their win against Lytton (2)Campion had to come from two goals down for their win against Lytton (2), who struck twice in the first half hour and were still two up at the break.

Lytton deserved their lead, having played some good football and taken their chances.

Two minutes into the second half, Campion striker Josh Purll nodded down a chip from midfielder Shea Rolfe and left-winger Blake Marshall sidefooted his shot into the bottom right corner from five metres out to make it 2-1.

Campion equalised in the 80th minute, when central midfielder Yobi Rush hit a “stunner” from 25 metres into the top right corner. Known for his ability to shoot with both feet and a liking for long-range goals, Rush hit this one with his right.

Marshall scored the winner in the 84th minute, cutting in from the left and smashing in a shot at the near post with his favoured right foot. The goalkeeper hadn’t a show.

Outstanding in a good overall performance from Campion were Marshall, Rush, Purrl, skipper and centreback Jake Moroney and rightback Liam Mackay.

With Bohemians having the bye, Shockers took the opportunity to draw level with them on points by beating GBHS (3) 6-2.

Bohemians have a goal difference 11 better than that of Shockers, but that could be less important after this weekend’s games. Shockers play the team one place below them, Campion, while Bohemians play the team one place above them, United (3).

Thistle will be favourites against GBHS (3).

In the Championship — equivalent to a combined Eastern League first and second division — Heavy Equipment Services United maintained their three-point lead over second-placed Carpet Court Thistle Massive.

United beat Sunshine Brewery Wainui Sharks 6-0, and Thistle Massive beat Coates Associates Wainui Demons 9-2.

Lytton High School (1) beat QRS Wairoa Athletic 6-0, Thistle Vintage beat Riverina 4-1 and, last Thursday, GBHS (1) beat their second team 5-0.

The top six teams of the Championship have sorted themselves out pretty well. They are: United on 27 points, Thistle Massive on 24, GBHS (1) on 19, Demons on 16, Lytton High School (1) on 15 and Sharks on 15.

The bottom five are Thistle Vintage on 12 points, Riverina on eight, ShipWreck Bohemians on seven, Wairoa on four and GBHS (2) on no points.

All but Vintage have played nine games. Vintage, having played 10, have the bye this week.

Competition is keen at the top of the women’s league. Gisborne Laundry Services Riverina took advantage of the bye for Heavy Equipment Services United, beating Campion College 3-1 to go level with United on points but ahead — by one — on goal difference. Riverina have played one game more than United.

Gisborne Girls’ High School stay fourth but their 8-2 win against Tatapouri Marist Thistle has closed the gap to third-placed Campion to three points.

Top 10 Holiday Park Bohemians and Riverina Ritana drew 1-1 to stay fifth and seventh respectively.