‘Stepping stone’ for Fed Cup knockout match in Gisborne on Monday

Josh Adams used a game over a week away as motivation for Gisborne United Firsts before their Eastern League 1 match against Wainui Demons.

It worked.

Heavy Equipment Services Gisborne United beat Coates Associates Wainui Demons 10-1 at Harry Barker Reserve last Saturday.

“They were second on the table before the game, and we wanted to make a point leading into our Federation Cup game,” said United player-coach and striker Adams, who scored five of his team’s goals.

“We wanted to create a stepping stone for the next game — Napier Marist at Harry Barker Reserve on Monday. I said to the boys, ‘The way we want to play in the cup game is the way we have to play today’. Everyone stepped up.”

United are the holders of the Central Federation Cup. They beat Palmerston North team North End on penalties in the final at Harry Barker Reserve on September 3 last year.

On Saturday, Adams opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but Demons equalised three minutes later. Adams scored again in the 21st and left-winger Damon Husband scored in the 32nd.

With the halftime score at 3-1, Demons were still in the game, although United were in dominant form. The second half was scoreless until Adams completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute. Then the floodgates opened.

Adams scored again in the 73rd minute, attacking midfielder Malcolm Marfell scored in the 79th, Adams scored his fifth in the 83rd, younger brother and right-winger Jacob Adams scored in the 85th and 87th, and Marfell scored in the 89th.

Adams is pleased with the development of the younger generation of United players. Two of these, Jacob Adams and Matt Hills, have played age-group representative football together.

Hills, 15, has been playing in central midfield with Corey Adams, who broke into senior football at a similar age.

Demons were without regular goalkeeper Jacob Moorcroft, who had to work, Kaleb Jacobs, who was at the Warriors’ game in Napier, Tom McFarlane and Matt Tong. But they still had some handy players on the field.

Captain/coach Yannis Kokkosis said fill-in goalkeeper Clay Parker, who normally plays centreback, made some incredible saves, which – given the scoreline – shows the extent of United’s dominance.

Ben Burgess, usually a winger, played well at leftback, while midfielder Jarom Brouwer and striker Max Harris kept going to the end.

In other Eastern League 1 games, Sunshine Brewing Wainui Sharks beat Thistle Vintage 5-3 at Childers Road Reserve and 1st Class Decorators Wainui Salty Dogs beat QRS Wairoa Athletic 4-1 at Wainui.

In Eastern League 2, the closest game was Neighborhood Pizzeria Wainui Sandbar’s 3-2 victory over Tumu Thistle in the early game at Childers Road Reserve.

Attacking midfielder Connor Putnam opened the scoring for Wainui, heading in a Jesse Fox cross from the right.

Thistle  equalised with a breakaway goal before Ziggy West-Hill scored with a shot from near the byline, to the left of the goal, to give Wainui a 2-1 halftime lead.

Midway through the second half, Thistle equalised when they pierced the Wainui defence with a through ball.

Putnam got the winner 10 minutes from the end.

Standout players for Wainui were Putnam, goalkeeper Leroy Shaw and centreback George Zame.

In other second division matches, HES United Thirds beat United Seconds 3-1, High School Old Boys continued their march to the title by beating Ngatapa Brandt Silkies 7-0,  and Smash Palace Shockers beat Gizzy Bobcat Services Thistle 5-0. Tatapouri Bohemians had the bye.

In the Women’s Eastern League, Bohemians beat Tatapouri Marist Thistle 6-0 and Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina beat Campion College 5-1. Gisborne Girls’ High School had the bye.

No Eastern League football will be played this weekend.