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FOOTBALL
THISTLE and United are in a dogfight for the Division 1 title in Eastern League football, and on Saturday it got even more interesting.
Carpet Court Thistle Massive beat Heavy Equipment Services United 2-1 at Harry Barker Reserve.
United are still four points ahead, on 27, but Thistle have a game in hand.
These teams are out ahead of the rest in the title race, and this was their last league face-off, so United are still favourites to retain the championship.
But upsets happen, and United won’t feel secure until they have the points to make it mathematically impossible for them to be overtaken.
On Saturday, Thistle went ahead after 30 minutes when rightback Emerson Araya got to the byline and cut the ball back for central midfielder Dave Watson to apply a sidefoot finish from six metres.
United equalised 15 minutes into the second half. Player-coach Stu Cranswick attacked down the left and passed the ball across the goal, where Zane Destounis put pressure on the defence and an attempted clearance ended up in the net.
The winner came 20 minutes from time, when Thistle recruit Rory White sent in a cross from deep on the left to striker Nic Somerton, who lobbed it over the keeper from about level with the penalty spot.
The match was evenly contested. United had a late chance to equalise, and neither side could have grumbled at a draw. This result sets up a more exciting finish to the league, though.
For Thistle, Shannon Dowsing and Michael Rogers were solid in the middle of defence, and received valuable help from Jason Scott, who kept a close watch on United dangerman Cranswick.
Midfielder Kane Stirton and United striker Aubrey Yates had a head clash two thirds of the way through the first half.
Stirton went to hospital to have the wound treated, and was replaced by Max Mika.
White and Watson had influential games, White impressing on his first game with his new team and Watson dictating much of the play.
Araya was a threat on his frequent forays down the right flank.
Cranswick was happy with his side’s performance. Everyone played well; they simply lost a close game by the odd goal in three.
Craig Christophers and Aaron Graham got through a lot of work in central midfield, and Jack Feyen had a lot to do in his 60 minutes on the park. When Destounis came on for Feyen, he continued the good work.
Again, Cranswick had no complaints with his defence. Matt McFatter at rightback, Jonathan Purcell and Kim Perano in the middle, and Dan Torrie at leftback were sound all day and could do little about the goals.
“Thistle played well,” Cranswick said.
“It’s always close when we play them.
“If we win all our games from now on and they win all theirs, we win the league by a point . . . no pressure.”
In Wairoa, Athletic and Wainui fought out a 1-1 draw.
Wainui could muster only 10 players for the trip, but went ahead with 20 minutes to go.
Striker Ricky Boyd latched on to a through ball and beat the Wairoa keeper with a clinical finish.
Regular fullback Noel Amor played in goal for Wainui and made several good saves, one in particular where he tipped a goalbound shot over the bar late in the game.
But, one player short, Wainui came under heavy pressure from a Wairoa side keen to take advantage of the situation.
Wainui held out by getting players behind the ball, but Wairoa were relentless.
Late in the game, Matt Webb and Marek Schirnack combined in a promising move that ended with Schirnack being brought down 25 metres from goal.
He took the kick and curled it over the wall and into the net to level the scores.
For Wainui, Boyd made himself available up front, and Greg Judd, Korbi Schallinger, Matt Smith and Ron Potter worked tirelessly in midfield.
At the back, John Hill swept Shane Hooks, with fullbacks Diego Pedrioli and Mike Vita shoring up the flanks.
Wairoa’s man of the match was Jason Smith, who impressed at the back.
Goalkeeper Paul Kavanagh made some outstanding saves to keep his side in the game. Wairoa were also well served by defenders Mike Hardie, Ben Blake, Nick Thompson and Kieran Thomas, while Webb, Te Ahu Munro, Shannon Crane and brothers Marek and Reon Schirnack troubled the Wainui rearguard.