Thistle beat Marist away

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne Thistle beat Napier Marist 3-0 in Pacific Premiership football in Hawke’s Bay on Saturday.

The win brought the Jags level with Marist — on points and goal difference — in fourth place, five points behind third-placed Gisborne United.

Thistle coach Garrett Blair said a challenging fixture became even tougher when striker Hector Araya and defender Max Mika could not travel because of work. But the side rallied and produced their best team performance so far this year.

“We tried to dictate how Marist would play, because if we let them play how they like to play, they would really come at us,” Blair said.

The first 20 minutes were even, Marist playing at high tempo and moving the ball quickly.

“When we regained possession, we simply slowed it down, which frustrated them,” Blair said.

Thistle scored in the 25th minute. The move started with leftback Daniel Venema, included central midfielder Ander Batarrita and striker Jake Theron, and featured a wall pass between midfielders Max Logan and Olly Tilley. It ended with Logan’s curling 25-metre “stunner” into the top left corner of the goal.

Sam Patterson came on up front for the injured Theron and troubled Marist with his pace and work rate.

The action continued end to end, and Thistle’s midfield started to take control.

Ander Batarrita scored from the penalty spot after Jags centreback Eliki Ravosai was fouled at a corner, and Thistle led 2-0 at halftime.

After the break, Batarrita went to leftback and Sam Hogan came on, for Venema, in midfield.

Marist lost a man, sent off for a second yellow-card offence, and Thistle started to spread them more.

Tim Hofman came on up front for Davie Ure 10 minutes from time and soon put Thistle 3-0 up with a goal fashioned by three substitutes.

Hogan won the ball in midfield and switched it to the right to Patterson, who drove it hard and low into the box for Hofman to finish, first time.

Ravosai was named man of the match for his control and strength at the back. Others to stand out were Logan, Tilley and goalkeeper Mark Baple, whose saves kept Thistle in the hunt until they could assert control.

“We are starting to create some momentum,” Blair said.

“We are playing good, attractive football that is winning games. We are scoring goals and conceding very few.

“As a coach, that’s all you can really ask for.”