Two games, three goals for Cranswick

FOOTBALL

Two goals in 30 minutes from striker Stu Cranswick set up Gisborne United’s 3-1 victory over Wainui Sharks at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday.

The win extended to four points United’s lead over second-placed Sharks in football’s Eastern League 1.

After playing 90 minutes in the top-of-the-table curtain-raiser, Cranswick played two-thirds of the main event — the Pacific Premiership match between Gisborne United and Napier City Rovers Seconds.

In the 55th minute, he scored the fifth goal in a 6-1 win and five minutes later was subbed. Two weeks earlier, he had played two full games in succession, so this must have seemed like a doddle.

Cranswick’s goals against Wainui came in the sixth minute — from the penalty spot after midfielder Aaron Graham had been pushed — and in the 30th. For the second, Cranswick turned 25 metres out and hit a curling right-foot shot into the top left corner.

Wainui replied with a goal to striker Jimmy Walker off a through-ball from midfielder Olly Tilley. Walker won a race to the ball with United goalkeeper Al Knight and dinked it over him.

United got the cushion they needed in the 70th minute, when left-flank midfielder Damon Husband made a run down the wing, beat a player and then slipped the ball past the keeper.

Five weeks earlier, when these sides last met, Wainui beat United 2-1 at Childers Road Reserve. United were five players down on their usual line-up.

This time, Wainui were down on their usual quota of game-changers. Striker Jake Theron and midfielder/striker Michael Smith, both out with hamstring injuries, leave big boots for any player to fill at this level. But Wainui are a three-team club these days and had the resources to put out a side that gave United a hard run for their money.

United were at full strength: “Saturday was the first time in six weeks that we’ve had everyone back on deck,” coach Dean Wrigley said.

Knight, like Grant Jones before him, has made a second career out of a switch from outfield roles to goalkeeping. He was a safe pair of hands behind a solid backline of Ben Hansen on the right, Jonathan Purcell in the middle and Jimmy Holden on the left.

Andrew Bristow did well in a holding midfield position until he had to come off early in the second half with a recurring calf injury.

Central midfielders Craig Christophers and Graham kept the United engine-room humming, and Graham was unlucky not to score with two 30-metre belters.

With Sam Royston and Husband on the flanks, frontrunners Aubrey Yates and Cranswick were seldom short of work.

Wrigley, with an embarrassment of riches on the sideline, emptied his bench in the second half. Carl Shaw replaced Bristow, Matt McFatter replaced Holden and Kim Perano went on in the closing stages for Yates to shore up the defence.

Goalkeeper Paddy Pierard was Wainui player of the day, coming up with a strong game against the league’s most prolific attack — 38 goals in 10 games.

Walker, Tilley and central midfielder Simon Blaker ensured United’s defence could never relax, while double centrebacks Mal Furlan and Jamie Gallacher were outstanding in a resolute Wainui defence.

Gisborne Boys’ High School had to wait till the 89th minute to make the game safe against Lytton High School on the Rectory field.

Ethan Thompson, just turned 15, was the Boys’ High player of the day in a 2-0 victory.

He set up the first of striker Jimmy Somerton’s two goals with a defence-splitting pass in the 59th minute, and coach Sebastian Itman praised his distribution, game sense and overall improvement.

Somerton was always dangerous, and with time almost up he was one on one with the last defender.

Hard to stop in these situations, Somerton got clear and placed his shot past the Lytton keeper.

Itman said Boys’ High were well served by two Year 12 players, Mace Collins and Robin Broadstock, who had come into the squad to help the team out.

On Saturday they each played 45 minutes in attacking roles and “did a great job”.

Collins had a powerful shot that Itman was sure would bring goals before long, and Broadstock was a strong player in midfield or up front.

Restrictions on the number of players in squads meant Broadstock would not be at the Super 8 tournament in Rotorua, starting on Monday, but he would be a key player for the rest of the Eastern League 1 campaign, Itman said.

Three other players unable to take part in the Super 8 were rightback Joey Kwak and right midfielder Dylan Anderson, who were injured, and Will Pittar, who would be competing in kayaking events that week, Itman said.

As part of the team’s Super 8 preparation, Itman had former All White, Gisborne City, Glentoran and Irish League defender — and Gisborne Herald rugby writer — John Hill take a training session this week.

As well, Junior A team coaches Dave Watson and Marty Ryan had been a big help in preparing the team and recommending promising players.

Lytton impressed as a well-coached, spirited side playing good football. Their best on Saturday were sweeper Ryan Anderson, centreback Kyle McVey, hard-tackling central midfielder Toby White, who was their man of the match, and striker Breeze Parsons, who had his best game of the season so far.

Thistle Massive beat clubmates Thistle Reserves 4-0 on Childers Road Reserve No.1.

Matt Smith — playing with a sore shoulder — scored twice with headers, and the other goals were scored by Brad Reynolds and Nic Somerton.

The Reserves were under-strength, partly as a result of the first team game against Port Hill in Napier. League 2 players from Thistle Vintage and ITM Thistle came in to fill the gaps, and at halftime the Reserves were only 1-0 down. But the goals kept coming in the second half, and the Reserves could not breach Massive’s defence.

Massive players to shine were strikers Kieran Ryan — who hit the bar twice — and Somerton, midfielders Smith and brothers Kane and Craig Stirton, and defenders Stefan Faber, Chris Spurr, Josh Blair and Reynolds.

For the Reserves, attacking midfielder Merlin Parsons, holding midfielder Charles Morrison, and centreback Shannon Dowsing were outstanding.

Also playing for the Reserves was 15-year-old Cory Thomson, son of Thistle stalwart and former Gisborne City national league player Grant. Cory Thomson’s League 1 debut was his third game of the day. More on that in Saturday’s Gisborne Herald.