The winner came in the 86th minute, when leftback Daniel Torrie crossed the ball to the back post, where centreback Jonathan Purcell was waiting. He had to backpedal to get a difficult header over the keeper and into the far corner of the goal.
After an even first half, United had territorial advantage in the second.
Cranswick said everyone in his side had a good day but he was especially pleased with the defence. Centrebacks Kim Perano and Purcell, rightback Matt McFatter and leftback Torrie produced their best performance as a unit so far this season.
Cody Keepa did not have much to do in goal but his positional play enabled him to nip danger in the bud.
In central midfield, Aaron Graham and Craig Christophers had a good battle with their Thistle opponents, Kane Stirton and Jason Scott.
Thistle coach John Stirton felt his side were a bit “flat” for the game, but the absence of midfielders Dave Watson (away on holiday) and Phill Gill (injured) had not helped.
He was confident they would be back for Saturday’s game against Athletic in Wairoa.
But he would have to wait and see who was still fit for Monday’s Federation Cup game against Napier Marist in Gisborne.
Stirton said Shannon Dowsing had another good game at centreback, but sweeper Michael Rogers picked up an injury that made him doubtful for the games this weekend.
Wainui Sharks held off a late charge from QRS Wairoa Atheltic to win 4-3 at Wainui.
Wainui went ahead when centreback Matt Smith crossed from the right for striker Damian Archdale to head home.
Wairoa equalised before the break but Wainui surged to a 4-1 lead through two penalties to Smith — one for a foul on Archdale and the other for handball — and a goal to young striker Sam Royston.
Wairoa were not done, though. They bustled their way back into the game and scored twice to give themselves a chance before time ran out.
Wainui coach Michael Smith felt his side were always in control but he said Athletic could cause a few upsets, particularly in Wairoa.
For Sharks, Shane Hooks was exceptional in midfield, where he and Mal Furlan are developing a good partnership, as are Archdale and Smith up front.
Royston continued his improvement on the right flank, while rightback Noel Amor, centreback Smith and keeper Andy Daubé all put in good shifts.
With four players having to go off hurt during the game and John Hill already injured, Smith could have a problem with numbers for Saturday’s game against Gisborne Boys’ High School.
Boys’ High had a confidence-boosting 3-0 win against Lytton High School at Harry Barker Reserve.
They went ahead two minutes before halftime when striker Josh Blair ran on to a ball from midfield and volleyed home from close range.
“We had a slow start,” Boys’ High coach Richard Mulligan said.
“Lytton were a little bit better than us in the first half.”
Mulligan made three changes at halftime and was pleased with the impact of the fresh players. One of them, Janai Randall, did so well at rightback that Mulligan made him man of the match.
Jakob Brown came on as a right-side midfielder and won the penalty from which central midfielder Brad Clark scored the third goal in the 75th minute.
Jirah Wanoa had put his side two up in the 50th minute, breaking through on to a pass following a nice move down the left flank.
From 20 metres, the right-footed Wanoa bent a left-footed shot in off the keeper’s right-hand post.
Blair and Wanoa are working well together up front for Boys’ High, while Jack Fenn and Clark are doing the same in central midfield.
Keepers Seth Piper and Regan Cameron are sharing game time in preparation for July’s Super 8 tourney in Hamilton, to which both will go.
