FOOTBALL
WAINUI Sharks could clinch football’s Eastern League Division 1 title with a draw against Thistle Massive on Saturday.
But they will want to do it in style, with a win.
If they succeed, they might like to tip their hat to the development-focused Thistle teams in the first division of local football. Altogether, Gisborne Vehicle Testing Thistle Reserves and Thistle Youth have taken nine points off Thistle Massive this season.
Wainui are four points ahead of Massive, with a game in hand and three matches to play. Massive have only two matches to play, and are the only side with any chance of hauling in Wainui.
Their task would have been so much easier if they had beaten their club’s Reserve team at Childers Road Reserve on Saturday. Instead, they lost 2-0 in what both player-coaches said was a great game.
Both sides were scratching for substitutes but managed to field two capable teams. Massive had the edge in experience; the Reserves had youth on their side, plus Mark Baple in goal.
Reserves player-coach Davie Ure said Baple was his man of the match for his all-round sound play and the assurance he gave the defence. He was helped by a handy back four in Andre Riley on the right, Shannon Dowsing and Daniel Venema in the middle and Fletcher Stewart-Hill on the left.
Cullen Spawforth and Ure filled the central midfield roles and kept wide midfielders Sam Patterson on the right and Leo Maisey on the left supplied with a steady stream of ball, with which they were able to stretch Massive’s defence.
Up front, PJ Goodlett was given free rein to “run about and make a nuisance of himself”, which he did to excellent effect, scoring two goals. The Reserves went 1-0 up 20 minutes from time and 2-0 up with 10 to go. In between the goals, Massive’s Juan Celano was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ure.
Travis White combined well with Goodlett up front, while midfielder Alex Davies shone in his restricted time on the field . . . he asked for limited playing time as he was in the Gisborne Boys’ High School team for the Super 8 football tournament that was hosted by Napier Boys’ High School this week.
Massive player-coach Craig Stirton, like Ure, played the full 90 minutes and enjoyed himself at rightback and on the left wing.
“It was pretty even,” he said. “They just managed to finish their chances.
“It was a good battle in midfield. We had Ash McMillan in there. His all-round play was awesome. Kane Stirton was in there, too, and did well.”
Others to shine were goalkeeper Raymond Rickard and central defenders Chris Spurr and Mike Rogers. Strikers Alan Zarate and Nic Somerton did well in general play but it was not their day in front of goal.
Craig Stirton pushed Spurr up front for the last 20 minutes to support Massive’s attacking efforts, but the Reserves’ defence held firm.
Ure said that Thistle, with so many of their teams in local competition, needed to ensure that the integrity of the league was maintained.
“We don’t want to be accused of stitching it up,” he said.
“I think the results show we have done things properly. Whoever is playing is trying to win.”
In the other Division 1 game, Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United beat Thistle Youth 8-5 at Harry Barker Reserve.
Thistle’s youngsters dared to pull the tiger’s tail by scoring first, after 10 minutes, through right-flank midfielder Jamie Joblin.
“United came back at us almost straight away,” Thistle Youth coach Ross Niven said.
“Stu Cranswick got among the goals and they led by a few at halftime.”
But, like cavalry coming over the hill, Leo Maisey and Travis White arrived after playing in the early game for Thistle Reserves against Massive at Childers Road Reserve.
New boots were among the culprits that had Thistle Youth players limping to the sideline, and Maisey and White found themselves in action as central midfielders before halftime.
Just after halftime, Maisey scored with a strong, low shot from the right into the left-hand corner of the goal, and midway through the half scored again, this time with a header from a corner.
White got in on the act, putting the United defence under pressure that led to an own goal.
In the last minute of the game, Thistle Youth were awarded a penalty, from which Maisey scored to bring up his hat-trick.
Niven said that Joblin, Maisey and White were outstanding but that all team members were showing improvement and getting used to playing in the senior competition.
“My team are basically schoolkids,” he said. “And schoolkids can be a bit overawed by these big, strong men they play against. But they’re starting to stand up and have a go in these games. I think they were pleased with their effort.”
From United’s point of view, the game was safe at 6-1 after 30 minutes, so from the 35th minute coach Chris Adams gave all his subs a run and gave regular starters game time in unfamiliar positions.
For instance, defenders Jonathan Purcell and Matt Adams were put up front, Lucian Nickerson went from the back four into midfield, and striker Stu Cranswick went to centreback and conceded the penalty.
Cranswick scored five goals, four of them in the first half. Aubrey Yates and Purcell also scored before the interval, and Dave Glassford scored United’s other second-half goal. It was 6-1 at halftime.
April 17, Thistle Reserves 2 Massive 1; June 12, Thistle Youth 6 Massive 5; July 3, Reserves 2 Massive 0.
April 24, Massive 1 Wainui 2; June 5, Wainui 2 Massive 3.
HES United 0 Coates Associates Wainui Demons 8, 1st Class Decorators Wainui Salty Dogs 4 Tatapouri Bohemians 1, Thistle Vintage 2 Gisborne Pro Roofing Bohemians 0.
Gizzy Bobcat Services Thistle 1 QRS Wairoa Athletic 4, HES United Thirds 3 ITM Thistle 0.
HES United 2 Bohemians 0, Tatapouri Marist Thistle 2 Gisborne Girls’ High School 2, Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina 6 Neighborhood Pizzeria Wainui Wahine 0.