Football: Tom Biss changes flights to score more goals

Hawke's Bay United soccer team's centre midfielder Tom Biss is planning a late change to his Christmas holidays in an attempt to stay on his goalscoring roll.

Biss is scheduled to fly to the Gold Coast with his parents Matt and Jo and brothers Nick and Ben on Sunday morning. However, with Kinetic Electrical Hawke's Bay United's next game against Auckland City set for a 2pm kickoff in Auckland on Sunday, Biss, 20, will be seeking a later flight.

"Hopefully I can change it and hopefully it won't cost too much if I can," Biss said.

If Biss can score against Auckland City like he did in the December 8 2-all draw with Waitakere United in Auckland and in Saturday's 1-0 win against Canterbury United at Napier's Bluewater Stadium it will be no surprise if one or two of the Bay side's wealthy sponsors cough up the difference in flight fares for him.

The former Phoenix Development side player who is in his second season with Hawke's Bay United pushed the hosts up to third place in the ASB Premiership with his 75th minute left foot volley which beat Canterbury keeper Adam Highfield.

"It was really good to score that goal but at the same time it was a big team performance which saw us grind out the win. What made it even more special for me was the fact my grandmother [Jenny Biss] was in the crowd today," Biss added.

Grind was an appropriate word for Hawke's Bay United's display. The hosts' performance was often untidy, particularly in the first half.

Like their opponents, Hawke's Bay United couldn't retain the ball for long enough to do anything constructive with it. Hawke's Bay United had five shots on goal in the first half, two more than their opponents and in the second seven, four more than Canterbury United.

"You're right ... it was a hell of a fight out there," Hawke's Bay United's acting head coach Perry Cotton said afterwards.

The former All White told his players at halftime it wasn't going to be a case of playing all the football to win the game.

"In tight games like this one was it's the little things which can sway momentum and that was the case today," Cotton said.

"This win sets us up well for our match with Auckland City. If we can beat Auckland it will certainly make it easy for us all to relax over the Christmas holidays."

As was the case the previous week, there were no serious injuries for Cotton's medical staff to deal with and he said this was a tribute to the work done by fitness trainer Brendon Campbell during the past four months. Captain Bill Robertson, playing against his former team, was again a rock at centre back, while left back Danny Wilson impressed with his intelligent option taking and physicality.

For Robertson's father, Bob, who is on holiday from the United Kingdom, it was the first time he had seen his son play in a Hawke's Bay United winning team.

Right back Ross Haviland was industrious in his first game back after recovering from a fractured foot injury collected last year. Keeper Richard Gillespie was safe.

Left back Danny Boys was strong for Canterbury United and despite being well marked, midfielder Aaron Clapham enjoyed some classy patches in humid conditions.

Canterbury United head coach Keith Braithwaite was disappointed with his troops.

"We were a bit flat. To be honest with you compared to last weekend we weren't at the races today and it doesn't get any easier as we host top-of-the-table Waitakere United next weekend."