Thistle struggle to make most of opportunities

FOOTBALL

GISBORNE United and Wainui Sharks have opened a gap to the rest of the field in football’s Eastern League 1 competition.

Heavy Equipment Services United sit atop the table on 19 points from six wins, one draw and one loss. Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks are second on 18 points from six wins and two losses.

Gisborne Boys’ High School and Carpet Court Thistle Massive are third and fourth respectively, both on 13 points from four wins, a draw and three losses, and separated only by goal difference.

Thistle Reserves and Lytton High School are fifth and sixth respectively on seven points and no points.

Thistle Massive coach John Stirton reckoned his side had the better of the first half of their game against United at Harry Barker Reserve. Yet they were two goals down at halftime, and it could have been three had goalkeeper Raymond Rickard not saved a penalty with the score at 1-0.

“We played good football and created a lot, but we couldn’t finish it,” Stirton said.

United’s goals came from central midfielder Craig Christophers midway through the half and left-flank player Damon Husband just before the break.

The Jags got a goal back early enough in the second half to give them hope.

Juan Celano and Matias Pincini had woven magic on the right and left wings respectively, and at the end of one of his mazy runs Celano bent the ball into the net.

Midfielders Matt Smith and Kane Stirton worked hard to provide for their frontrunners and break up the attacks of their opponents.

Brad Reynolds answered the call from Thistle’s Eastern League 2 ranks and looked right at home at fullback, where he started, and up front, where he finished.

Josh Blair, too, showed his versatility when he replaced the injured Daniel Contreras at leftback.

On the right flank, Massive have what could be a longer-term problem. A back injury prevented Michael Rogers from playing on Saturday, and Stirton fears he could be out of action for several weeks.

Emerson Araya came on at right back towards the end, but he was also required for the Pacific Premiership team and did well enough to suggest he could be needed there more often.

Stirton was particularly pleased to have Liam Ryan back, playing centreback alongside Chris Spurr. They quickly formed an understanding that will keep improving.

For United, keeper Al Knight made some crucial saves to keep his side in the box seat, while striker Stu Cranswick harried the Thistle defence relentlessly, even though he had the prospect of another game to follow for the first team in the derby against Thistle’s Pacific Premiership side.

At Wainui, Boys’ High went a goal up against the Sharks after a training-ground move from a corner went according to plan.

Not to give too much away, Jimmy Somerton, Oli Davies, Johannes Wolf and Alex Davies did the work leading up to the shot, and Matt McNeil pounced on the rebound to score from 10 metres in the 20th minute.

Ten minutes before halftime, Wainui equalised from the penalty spot, and seven minutes later they took the lead.

Three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half took the game beyond the reach of Boys’ High, but in the 78th minute, they scored again to make the final scoreline 5-2.

For Wainui, winger Steffan John’s hat-trick took his goal tally for the season to seven, while someone with an interest in match analysis has midfielder Jimmy Walker sitting on nine assists. Olly Tilley and Matt Tong got the other Sharks goals.

Boys’ High coach Sebastian Itman said that for the second week in a row his side had played “really nice football” for the first 30 minutes of a game.

For the game against Thistle Reserves at the Rectory this Saturday, he wanted his team to continue that pattern of strong play early in the match.

The next stage would be to increase the duration of that strong play, and keep increasing it until they could maintain it for the whole match.

Itman noted that in the first game between Boys’ High and Wainui this season, Boys’ High had won 5-3.

With Wainui having won the second game 5-2, the scene was set for an interesting decider.

Itman said keeper Regan Cameron made many fine saves in Saturday’s game, and striker Jimmy Somerton showed outstanding commitment and game sense.

In the other Eastern League 1 match, Thistle Reserves beat Lytton 6-1.

This Saturday, the Childers Road Reserve curtain-raiser to the Pacific Premiership game between Gisborne Vehicle Testing Thistle and Napier Marist Seconds could rival the main event. Thistle Massive play Wainui Sharks at 12.30pm.

In Eastern League 2, the games between ITM Thistle and Wainui Sports Club, and Heavy Equipment Services United (3) and Wairoa Athletic were both 2-2 draws.

Coates Associates Wainui Demons beat Smash Palace Shockers 10-2, Tatapouri Bohemians beat Campion College 8-2 and Vintage Thistle beat Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians 11-1.

In the women’s competition on Sunday, Gisborne Laundry Services Riverina beat Tatapouri Marist Thistle 10-1, and Bohemians beat Gisborne Girls’ High School 5-0.