Jags win, lose and draw

TROPHY WINNERS: Gisborne Thistle are the first holders of the Len (LJ) Cudd Memorial Trophy to be contested whenever Thistle play Napier City Rovers. Pictured after their 7-6 victory over City Rovers last Saturday were the Thistle squad, back (from left): Garrett Blair (coach), Ander Batarrita, Sam Patterson, Andre Baple, Cai Maclean, Finn McAuley, David Salmon, Nick Land and Oska Smith. Front: Daniel Venema, Sam Royston, Ash McMillan, Mitchell Stewart-Hill, Jimmy Somerton, Davie Ure and Mark Baple (goalkeeping coach). Picture supplied

A win, a loss and a draw, with no more than a goal to separate the teams each time — no one said it would be easy for Gisborne Thistle this year.

The Jags play Palmerston North Marist on artificial turf at the Arena in Palmerston North tomorrow.

Thistle lie second in Central Football’s Federation League, two points behind  Napier City Rovers Reserves but with a game in hand, level on points with Taradale and a point ahead of Palmerston North Marist.

Thistle drew 1-1 with Taradale, beat City Rovers 7-6 and, in a Chatham Cup game on Tuesday, lost to Papakura City 3-2 after conceding a penalty in the 90th minute.

The thing that distinguishes this run of results is that all three games were away fixtures for the Jags. It’s part of their commitment to play the first half of their season away from home, to soften the impact of travel to Gisborne over cyclone-hit roads.

They have six more away trips before they embark on a wind-assisted run-in to the end of the season.

With only five teams in the Federation League this year, the competition will comprise four rounds of round-robin play — 16 games for each team.

Thistle coach Garrett Blair was without four established players for the past two games — defender Matt Smith and midfielders Cullen Spawforth, Matt McVey and Cory Thomson. None of them will be ready for tomorrow’s match.

But Blair has plenty of cause for optimism with the players he has used so far.

In particular, strikers Oska Smith and Jimmy Somerton have struck up a productive combination that should deliver plenty more goals before the season is over.

And while the playing strength of Palmerston North Marist is largely unknown, Blair has seen no mention in match reports of Nick Carrick, their most prolific striker in recent times.

“They have lost a few players to Whanganui Athletic, who were promoted to the Central League last season,” Blair said.

“We just have to focus on our game. It’s always a bit different going to Palmerston North and playing on the artificial turf. We still have to get used to it. It’s more bouncy, and the ball has a true roll. You have to make sure your passes are really good and crisp so they get to where they’re meant to go.”

Thistle’s one training session this week included a lot of work on tightening things at the back and not putting themselves under unnecessary pressure, he said.

He could not fault the players’ commitment and match intensity. It made team selection difficult at times, but he was trying to develop a settled squad in the interests of consistency.