Tough games for Gisborne sides in Pacific Premiership

KING OF THE ROAD: Thistle striker David Ure (right) ruled Childers Road Reserve last week. Ure scored six goals in the Jags’ 13-1 demolition of Havelock North Wanderers Seconds in a Pacific Premiership football match. Picture by Liam Clayton

GISBORNE Thistle coach Garrett Blair has been forced to make changes from the side who thumped Havelock North Wanderers Seconds 13-1 in Pacific Premiership football last week.

Thistle play competition leaders Port Hill United in Napier tomorrow.

“Max Mika, who started at rightback, is unavailable so Dan Venema will slide to the right and Jake Robertson will make his first start of the season at leftback,” Blair said.

“Cole Devonport is also unavailable, so Chris Spurr slots in at centreback, and Jake Theron will start up front. Jake came on at halftime last week and made an immediate impact.

“We have two new signings, Matias Rees and Pablo Silva from Chile. They give us options off the bench. Both are technically sound players who are here for the rest of the year.”

While Thistle were happy to get their first win of the season, Blair said they would not be getting ahead of themselves.

“Port Hill are a good side but our focus will be to continue playing the way we have been over the past two weeks.

“The boys turned things up a notch in training. They know that each week is a new challenge and we can’t afford to drop our standards.”

After a great start to the season — two wins from two games — Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United have lost their past two games 3-2 and 5-0.

“This is a big game for us,” said player-coach Corey Adams, whose side play third-placed Eskview United in Hawke’s Bay tomorrow.

“We need to win or at least draw to get back on track, and it’s a chance to pick up silverware, with the Challenge Cup up for grabs. Eskview beat the previous holders, Taradale, last week.

Adams said he would field a similar team to the side who lost 5-0 to Napier Marist last week but he was changing the formation.

“We’ll use KV (Kieran Venema) in a more defensive role in front of the back four, with three in midfield. I’ll play in front of them, just behind Josh (Adams, Corey’s younger brother).

“We had a good talk before training this week about where we went wrong last week, but Napier Marist also played well.

“They were the better team on the day. We’re looking to bounce back this weekend.”