Demons, Thistle Youth battle out six-goal thriller, United 1sts roll on

Kaleb Jacobs is probably not your ideal poster boy for what to do after you’ve dislocated your shoulder.

Playing striker for Coates Associates Wainui Demons against Gisborne Thistle Youth last Saturday, Jacobs hit a shot towards goal and fell awkwardly, dislocating his right shoulder.

With time almost up for the first half, he came off.

At the break, Jacobs and captain/coach Yannis Kokkosis worked on the shoulder and “got it back in”.

Fair enough . . . just take it easy and see how it goes, you’d think.

Ten minutes from time, with the game delicately poised, Jacobs lobbied to get back on the field, and on he came.

He did no further damage to his shoulder (that we know of) and a keenly contested match ended 3-3.

For Demons, Jacob Moorcroft was “sensational” in goal, Mark Harris had a solid game in central midfield and Mike Morrissey was busy up front, scoring his first goal of the season — a six-metre finish to a shot from Kokkosis.

Thistle Youth played some good football, and benefited from the inclusion of some of the Federation League squad.

Property Brokers Thistle Firsts had a 3-1 victory over clubmates Thistle Vintage, but it could have been closer . . . or more convincing.

Federation League squad member Cory Thomson scored for Vintage after 15 minutes and Firsts left-winger Lukas Ricard equalised after 30.

Striker Marek Netusil scored the Firsts’ second and third goals in the 60th and 75th minutes to secure the three points and clear fourth place on the table, with nine points.

Leading the competition are Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United on 18 points, followed by Demons (13) and Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks (12).

Netusil showed his goalscoring potential in the first half by turning on the ball 40 metres from goal and hitting a shot that crashed against the crossbar. It could have been a fantastic opener to a well-deserved hat-trick.

And for Vintage, Thomson came close to making it 2-2 when his shot whistled by a post in the second half. He had given Vintage early encouragement when he met a right-wing low cross from his second cousin Dave Watson, went past a defender and knocked the ball into the far corner to give his side the lead.

Best on the day for the Firsts were man of the match Netusil, Ricard, central midfielder Max Kune, rightback Shai Avni, striker/midfielder Lucian Nickerson and centreback Chris Cockburn.

For Vintage, striker Watson, central midfielders Dave Raggett and Thomson, and father-and-son centreback combination Roger and Stefan Faber were outstanding. Stefan Faber, in particular, made numerous timely interceptions and launched promising attacks with his distribution.

RESULTS — Eastern League 1: Coates Associates Wainui Demons 3 Gisborne Thistle Youth 3; Property Brokers Thistle Firsts 3 Thistle Vintage 1; QRS Wairoa Athletic 0 Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United Firsts 5; Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks 9 1st Class Decorators Wainui Salty Dogs 1.

Eastern League 2: Smash Palace Shockers 4 HES United Thirds 0; HES United Seconds 1 Tumu Thistle 2; Neighborhood Pizzeria Wainui Sandbar 3 Ngatapa Brandt Silkies 2; High School Old Boys 3 Tatapouri Bohemians 1.

Bye: Gizzy Bobcat Services Thistle.

Women’s league: Campion College 6 Tatapouri Marist Thistle 2, Gisborne Girls’ High School 0 Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina 8, Bohemians had the bye,