The outcome of the main game on Saturday was in doubt until well into the second half of extra time.
High School Old Boys central midfielder Matt Miller scored two outstanding goals in the space of five minutes midway through that last period to clinch victory.
The first came seven minutes after the halftime break in extra time. HSOB right-winger Caleb Craig crossed to the far post, where Miller arrived with a late run to connect with an unstoppable header to put his side 2-1 up.
Four minutes later, Miller reacted quickly when Thistle goalkeeper Mark Baple miskicked a clearance outside his penalty area and then struggled to get back into his goal as cramp gripped his leg muscles. Miller chipped the ball over Baple and into the empty goal to give HSOB a two-goal cushion going into the last few minutes.
Baple’s attack of cramp was unfortunate for him and for Thistle, but understandable. He was called on often to act as sweeper and rush out of the penalty area to nip danger in the bud, and he was kept busy inside the penalty area, too, blocking shots, diving at feet and claiming crosses.
Several players, particularly among the more experienced in HSOB, suffered the effects of cramp as the heat of the day and pace of the game took their toll. Miller, himself, had come off under the rolling-sub provisions of the competition when he was crippled by cramp. He returned to action rested, and changed the game.
Miller, 38, was born and raised in Auckland but developed his football skills mainly in Wellington. He played at lower-league level for Island Bay, Petone and Naenae, although he also played for Naenae in “a couple” of Capital 1 games, a level about that of Central Football’s Pacific Premiership. He came to Gisborne three years ago and works for a forestry roading contractor.
He and Steve White got though a power of work in midfield for HSOB and helped bring dangerous wide players Caleb Craig and Jack Adams into the game.
Rob Fitzpatrick caused Thistle a lot of problems with his strong running on the ball. He started out wide but soon took a role down the middle and linked up with, in turn, brothers Will and Tom Garrett, and Jirah Wanoa.
HSOB were solid at the back. Cody Keepa had a near-faultless game in goal and often cleared danger before it developed. Centrebacks Jeremy Ion and HSOB man of the match Dylan Goldsmith were steady under pressure, while rightback James Craig and leftback Kosta Destounis were kept on their toes by lively Thistle wingers Josh Hughes and James Talbot. HSOB co-coaches Kerryn Pegram and Matt McFatter came on for spells at rightback and centreback respectively, allowing the back four to freshen.
Thistle had opened the scoring nine minutes into the final when right-winger Hughes crossed the ball to the far post, where left-winger and Thistle man of the match Talbot powered home the header.
The Jags midfield had a good mix of flair and work ethic. Travis White produced some telling runs, particularly late in the game, that could have brought goals. Taylor Scott looked to switch play with some good crossfield balls, and Jakeb Te Kani-Brown got stuck in when the ball was up for grabs, then looked to use it.
Rotating strikers Connor Evison, Shehab Altour and Aiden Armstrong kept busy looking for gaps in the HSOB defence, but those were scarce.
Thistle central defenders Logan Scanlan and skipper Daniel Walters ran a tight ship at the back, well supported by fullbacks Charlie Harvey on the right and Kyran Lasenby on the left. Shannon Dowsing gave Harvey a spell and showed speed to the loose ball and in recovery.
It was going to take something special for HSOB to equalise, and Adams produced it. In the 35th minute he beat two players on the left of the penalty area and fired the ball into the goal area low and hard.
Wanoa launched himself at the ball and from six metres hit a one-touch finish with an outstretched boot.
Baple never had a chance.
The action didn’t let up but the decisive goals wouldn’t come until well after the 90-minute mark.
Thistle Youth coach Matt Harvey said his team’s performance was the culmination of eight months of hard work by the boys.
They had grown as players and as people, and had put in an outstanding performance.
“Hats off to Daniel Walters for his special brand of leadership, and Shannon Dowsing for his support . . . he’s been a rock on the field for us.”
He said the experience and maturity of the HSOB players had counted in extra time, but Thistle Youth had played as well as they had all year, and he was looking forward to next season.
HSOB co-coach McFatter said the score didn’t reflect the game. Thistle had been outstanding, and gave his side a real challenge.
“Our boys worked really hard and dug deep,” he said.
Referee Chris Niven kept things running smoothly in a match played in good spirit.
Tumu Thistle stormed home in the second half to win the Poverty Bay Cup final against QRS Wairoa Athletic.
Thistle scored first and Wairoa equalised just before halftime through striker Joe De Kock. Just after the break, Wairoa striker Avikesh Kumar put his side in front, but Thistle responded with three second-half goals to take the silverware.
Scorers for Thistle were Josh Scandrett, Dan Crofton, Joe Macdonald and Tom Peterson, while strikers Nico Sannevigo and Kyle Frazer shone in general play. Frazer’s father Craig, a member of Thistle teams for decades, had a calf injury and was on the bench only in case of emergency. It was the first game in which he hadn’t played this season.
Outstanding for Wairoa were strikers De Kock and Kumar, midfielders Mike Hardy and Ryan O’Sullivan, and goalkeeper Mark Anderson.
The match was well controlled by referee Ian Sambrook.
