United went ahead through Cranswick after 10 minutes, when he ran on to a ball from midfield and from just outside the penalty area lashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar and in.
Five minutes later, United went two up when Cranswick’s strike partner, Aubrey Yates, ran on to right midfielder Jimmy Holden’s low pass into the penalty area, controlled the ball and fired it into the bottom left-hand corner.
Wainui got one back five minutes later but United regained their two-goal cushion 10 minutes before halftime when left midfielder Damon Husband bundled Holden’s cross over the line from close range to give his side a 3-1 halftime lead.
United played into a strong wind in the first half, and Cranswick said both sides seemed to play better into the breeze.
Nevertheless, United scored the first goal of the second half. In the 65th minute, rightback Matt McFatter hit a long ball over the top of Wainui’s defence to Cranswick, whose attempt to chip goalkeeper Andy Daubé succeeded despite the toe-poke execution of the shot.
Almost straight from the kick-off, Wainui closed it to 4-2 after a defensive mix-up, and that’s the way it stayed.
Sam Royston and Matt Smith scored the goals for Wainui, who were boosted by the return of Shane Hooks, whose all-round play and presence made a big difference.
Carpet Court Thistle Massive’s 5-1 victory over Lytton High School was marred by an injury to Thistle rightback Simon van Haandel.
Van Haandel was having his first run-on start for Massive — and playing well — when he and his side’s defensive midfielder, Cole Devonport, went for the same high ball midway through the first half.
Devonport was relatively unscathed but van Haandel went to hospital for treatment to a head cut.
Thistle coach John Stirton said he doubted van Haandel would be fit for this weekend’s game against United, but he hoped he would be available before long.
Max Logan scored Massive’s first goal from close range after good work on the right by striker Nic Somerton 10 minutes in. Logan added another, lobbing the ball over the keeper, and midfielder Dave Watson made it 3-0 before Riley Harrison scored for Lytton from a Matt McVey cross to make it 3-1 at the break.
Somerton, always dangerous up front, won a penalty that midfielder Kane Stirton put away for a 4-1 lead. Twenty minutes from the end, Massive rightback Emerson Araya played a one-two in midfield, advanced to the edge of the penalty area and finished well to complete the scoring.
Outstanding for Thistle were striker Somerton, midfielders Stirton and Devonport, centreback Shannon Dowsing, sweeper Michael Rogers and rightback Araya.
John Stirton said he was lucky to have a core of players who played well week in, week out, and a team who could adjust to changes in positions and still be effective.
For Lytton, centrebacks Harry Win-Hewetson and David Barker were outstanding, while Caleb Baldacchino and McVey posed the biggest threats on attack.
Gisborne Boys’ High School showed character in a hard-fought 4-3 win against a never-say-die Athletic side in Wairoa.
QRS Wairoa scored first, Teahu Munro finishing from close range after good work out wide from brothers Reon and Marek Schirnack.
William Page equalised for Boys’ High soon after, the right-footer curling one in with his left from just inside the penalty area.
Boys’ High then went on a scoring spree, adding goals through a hard and low drive by striker Jirah Wanoa, a 40-metre half-volley by rightback Adam Simpson, and an inswinging corner by wide midfielder Alex Larkins.
Just before halftime, Munro got his second to make it 4-2 at the break.
Both teams played well with the wind, and it was Wairoa’s turn in the second spell. Munro completed a tidy hat-trick midway through the half, and Wairoa pressed until the end.
Player of the day for Boys’ High was Josh Blair, who was up front in the first half and did a valuable marking job in the second. Connor Putnam at centreback and Seth Piper in goal were outstanding as Boys’ High kept Wairoa at bay, while Larkins and Wanoa combined well, particularly in the first half.
For Wairoa, Tim Gledhill’s strong defensive play made him man of the match, and Ethan Macrae in goal and Munro up front deserved special mention.
