United, Jags in Central Football Federation Cup action

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne teams United and Thistle are in the last 16 of Central Football’s Federation Cup knockout competition.

Both sides could be considered favourites in their matches in Napier tomorrow, but their circumstances are different.

Heavy Equipment Services United Premiers play Palmerston North Marist Reserves on Park Island 2, while ALH Thistle play Linton on Park Island 3. Both games start at 2pm.

Marist Reserves play in the Horizons Premiership, the Manawatu version of the Pacific Premiership that Gisborne United won last season.

United decided to take a break from weekly outside competition but have retained the core of last year’s squad and lead the Eastern League 1 competition.

Despite the drop in the level of competition, it is hard not to expect a United win.

Marist Reserves sit at the bottom of the nine-team Horizons Premiership, with one draw and three losses from four competition games.

Linton are sixth in the Horizons Premiership and have a win, a draw and two losses from four competition games.

Thistle play a level up from Linton, and sit fifth in the eight-team Central Federation League.

Normally they would be hot favourites to win this tie. However, suspensions, injuries, Covid-19 effects and players being unavailable to travel have lowered the heat of their favouritism to “warm”.

United player-coach Josh Adams has picked up a two-man bonus from the United Firsts, in the form of striker Stu Cranswick and midfielder Aaron Graham for the game against Marist Reserves.

Adams intends playing a 4-3-3 formation with Cranswick attacking down the right flank, Malcolm Marfell on the left and Adams himself through the middle.

Graham will fill the defensive midfield role, and Corey Adams and Dane Thompson will link up with the attack.

Kieran Higham and Mal Scammell will be double centrebacks, with Jonny Curle at leftback and Adam Simpson on the right, with Seth Piper in goal.

On the bench, they will have Josh Blair, Baxter Mackay and Corey Boocock to provide cover for forwards, midfielders and defenders respectively.

Last night, Thistle head coach Garrett Blair was still mulling over the possible make-up of his team to play Linton.

First-team squad members Travis White, Sam Patterson and Andre Riley are suspended after being sent off, leftback Kuba Jerabek is out with a calf injury and Leo Maisey is unavailable.

Centreback and captain Ryan Anderson is a doubtful starter after rolling an ankle at training. Cory Thomson also has an ankle injury.

Blair said he would probably bring in

players from the Reserves. They have no game this weekend.

As at last night, he had Mitchell Stewart-Hill in goal, and a back three that would feature Ander Batarrita and possibly Alex Davies, along with Reserve team players Raydon Semmens and Reece Brew

Kieran Venema and Ash McMillan would be the holding midfielders, with Matt McVey given more freedom to make attacking runs.

Blair was looking at using Thomson as right wingback and Daniel Venema on the left.

Cullen Spawforth and Jarom Brouwer would continue their strike partnership up front.

“We want to be defensively sound,” Blair said.

“We know we can score goals, but we don’t want to concede any.”