Another Golden Boot to ace Gisborne Thistle striker Somerton

Electrinet Gisborne Thistle striker Jimmy Somerton lets fly at goal in Saturday's Central Fed League game against Havelock North Wanderers at Childers Rd Reserve. Somerton missed on this occasion but found the back of the net three times as he clinched another Golden Boot honour as the league's top goalscorer. Photo / Paul Rickard

Gisborne Thistle striker Jimmy Somerton has scored his fourth hat-trick of the season and clinched the Golden Boot award for Central Football’s Federation League.

He helped Electrinet Thistle beat Havelock North Wanderers 5-2 at Childers Road Reserve on Saturday.

Somerton scored the Jags’ second, fourth and fifth goals to go to 18 league goals for the season – two clear of the runner-up, Palmerston North United’s Benjamin Mori.

Last season, Somerton won the Golden Boot with 21 goals. He scored four hat-tricks then, too.

Havelock North striker Vince Mackirdy, who scored his side’s two goals on Saturday, finished third in this year’s goalscorer standings, with 15.

The Wanderers led 1-0 at halftime but Thistle struck back in the 47th minute through midfielder Kaden Manderson, in the 61st through Somerton, and in the 82nd through Alex Shanks (again scoring as a substitute).

In the 85th, Mackirdy grabbed his second goal to briefly give Havelock North hope at 3-2.

But Somerton, from the penalty spot in the 86th and from open play three minutes into stoppage time, sealed the victory.

The win took Thistle past New Plymouth Rangers into sixth place in the Federation League, and a playoff in Palmerston North this Saturday against the second-ranked playoff team from the Capital Premier/Capital 1 leagues.

Thistle will play Te Kotahitanga, a collaboration of Kāpiti Coast United, Waikanae, Paekākāriki, Ōtaki and Manakau football clubs, formed this year to retain Kāpiti Coast-Horowhenua youth, create stronger local teams and seek silverware.

Thistle had an indifferent first half against Havelock North on Saturday and went a goal down in the 20th minute after skipper Cory Thomson was judged to have brought down a Wanderers player in the penalty area and Mackirdy scored from the spot.

Wanderers attacking midfielder Kenny Willox almost made it 2-0 when he broke clear in the 40th minute, but Jags keeper Hugo Lodewyk came to the rescue.

Gisborne Thistle's Jimmy Somerton is fouled by Havelock North Wanderers goalkeeper Nicco Swensson in the box. He subsequently converted the resulting penalty, much to the delight of the home fans. Photo / Paul Rickard

At halftime, Thistle coach Tam Cramer challenged his side to show more energy, and they responded immediately.

In the 47th minute, the Wanderers cleared the ball as far as Jags left-flank midfielder Manderson, whose rasping shot from 15 metres gave goalkeeper Nicco Swensson no chance.

Somerton worked his way clear then turned back on to his left foot to score in the 61st. Two minutes later he was through again but shot just wide. A minute later, he almost wriggled clear but miscued his shot.

In the 66th minute, Wanderers centre back Mason Cook came off injured. His team’s only reserve had already come on, so they shuffled their formation to try to cope. Ten against 11 was a big ask, though.

Nevertheless, Lodewyk had to look sharp to tip a 30m scorcher from Willox past the post in the 68th.

A minute later, Shanks came on for Manderson and went up front, chasing every loose ball. He was rewarded in the 82nd minute, when he found space in front of goal and calmly placed the ball past the keeper to give Thistle breathing space at 3-1.

Mackirdy defty lobbed the ball over Lodewyk two minutes later to close it to 3-2, and a minute after that, Swensson brought down Somerton in the penalty area and the Jags striker moved a goal clear in the Golden Boot race.

Gavin Derr came on for Jags attacking midfielder Travis White before the Wanderers could restart, and that gave Thistle eight teenagers on the pitch.

Somerton clinically finished a breakaway effort in stoppage time.

Thistle’s best on the day were Lodewyk, centre backs Junior Jimmy and Ziggy West-Hill, central midfielders Nick Land and Thomson, and striker Somerton.

For Havelock North, leftback Carter Lachmund, Willox and Mackirdy put in good shifts.

Referee Chris Niven kept order without breaking the flow of the game.

Thistle coach Tam Cramer was pleased with the second half.

“In the first half we had no energy,” he said. “We were playing long balls and giving the ball away too much. I told them to shorten the game up and play through them rather than over them, and it worked. The second-half performance showed some of what we are capable of.”

Hat-trick scorer Somerton said the team had done well to come through a lot of injury troubles and push through to sixth. Their achievement in making the Central League playoffs and his Golden Boot success were the season highlights for him.

A year into a refrigeration apprenticeship, he is already looking ahead to next season with the Jags.

Federation League final points: Palmerston North United 36, Palmerston North Marist 33, FC Western 31, Taradale 28, Havelock North Wanderers 25, Gisborne Thistle 22, New Plymouth Rangers 19, Whanganui Athletic 10, Peringa United 7.