FOOTBALL by John Gillies
THREE games in, Gisborne United lead football’s Eastern League 1 with maximum points.
On Saturday they beat Carpet Court Thistle Massive 4-1 to move three points clear of their nearest rivals.
Gisborne Boys’ High School are second on six points, ahead of Massive on goal difference.
Fourth-placed Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks have three points, as have Thistle Reserves, whose goal difference leaves them fifth. Lytton High School have yet to register a competition point.
Heavy Equipment Services United got off to a slow start on Saturday.
Thistle went a goal up in the 15th minute when left midfielder Matt Smith rose at the far post to crash home a header from a right-wing cross.
Smith and right midfielder Kane Stirton were in good form for the Jags, and the rest of the team looked in reasonable nick for players who train once a week and didn’t get out much during lockdown.
United looked to have the edge in fitness, and got the break they needed in the 30th minute, when striker Stu Cranswick benefited from United pressure on Thistle’s defence. Cranswick hit his shot hard and low past goalkeeper Raymond Rickard.
United scored again before halftime and grabbed two more goals after the break for a comfortable margin.
Thistle coach John Stirton said his side weren’t too bad but weren’t as fit as United.
“We always start off like slugs,” he said.
“I changed things halfway through the second half — put three up front — but it didn’t make any difference.
“We got a penalty near the end. Kane was pushed over in the box. He took it and it hit the post and came straight out.
“We’ll get better.”
Gisborne Boys’ High got off to a smart start against Wainui, but then couldn’t shake off a side who showed a lot of resilience.
Goals to left midfielder Oska Smith, right midfielder Levi Julies and centreback Adam Simpson (from the penalty spot) gave Boys’ High a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Wainui got back to 3-2, Boys’ High went further ahead with goals to strikers Jimmy Somerton and Tommy Peterson, and Wainui had the last say to make the final score 5-3 to Boys’ High.
Scorers for Wainui were Jaiden Ibbetson, Olly Tilley and Steffan John, and their man of the match was Simon Blaker.
Boys’ High coach Sebastian Itman said the goals scored by Julies and Peterson were outstanding.
Julies provided the finishing touch to a move that began with leftback Sam Dempster. He fed the ball to Smith, who outpaced the defence and crossed the ball to Julies, who sidefooted it home at the far post.
Peterson’s goal was a “beautiful” strike from the right side of the field, outside the penalty area, across the goal and into the far corner.
Itman was particularly pleased with his midfield, where Johannes Wolf, an international student from Germany, and Alex Davies were prominent.
He also praised the play of goalkeeper Regan Cameron and centrebacks Corey Boocock and Simpson.
In the other first division game, Thistle Reserves beat Lytton High 6-0.
On Saturday, the up-and-comers of Thistle Reserves play Gisborne Boys’ High on Childers Road Reserve No.1 at 2.30pm, while Wainui Sharks play Thistle Massive at Wainui at the same time.
United play Lytton High at Harry Barker Reserve at 12.30pm as a curtainraiser to the Pacific Premiership game between Gisborne United and Western Rangers.
In Eastern League 2 last Saturday, the Wainui and Bohemians clubs had two wins each.
Coates Associates Wainui Demons beat Thistle Vintage 2-1, and Wainui Sports Club beat Smash Palace Shockers 5-0.
Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians beat Heavy Equipment Services United (3) 3-1, and Tatapouri Bohemians beat ITM Thistle 2-1. Wairoa Athletic beat Campion College 12-2.
Saturday will be big at Wainui. The club’s second division teams play a curtainraiser for the Sharks-Massive game.
In the Women’s Eastern League, Gisborne Laundry Services Riverina and Heavy Equipment Services United have maximum points from three games, but Riverina top the table on goal difference.
Following them are Bohemians, Campion College and Tatapouri Marist Thistle, in that order on goal difference and all with three points.
Gisborne Girls’ High have yet to register a competition point.
On Sunday, Bohemians beat Girls’ High 3-1, United beat Campion 6-0 and Riverina beat Tatapouri Marist Thistle 8-0.