Central Football Tairawhiti Gisborne operations manager Fletcher Stewart-Hill said the two postponed Division 2 games would be played at the end of the fixtures listed on the website. He would talk to the clubs about what to do beyond that.
Women’s Eastern League games are set to finish on September 3, with Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina assured of top spot.
Once league competition has wound up, knockout cup games start. Bailey Cup fixtures for men’s Division 1 teams are likely to be the first under way.
United Firsts must be considered favourites to complete the league-and-cup double. They dominated the match against Demons, and centreback Jonathan Purcell even grabbed a hat-trick. Once he had two goals, he was put up front to give him the best chance of scoring a third. Josh Adams, usually the attack leader, played in goal.
Demons striker Innocent Nyasha scored both his team’s goals. He, fellow striker Ben Inder, central midfielder Max Harris and goalkeeper Clay Parker played well, although it was an all-round gritty effort for a Wainui side without a few of their regulars and no subs.
Wainui Sharks were convincing 6-1 winners against Draggnett Thistle Vintage. Jaiden Ibbetson and Korbi Schallinger scored two each, and Matias Pincini and Cris Court, one each. Stefan Faber scored for Vintage, who were lent a couple of players in the first half to make a game of it and had two players from their youth team in the second spell.
Thistle Youth had another one of their special games, beating clubmates Thistle Firsts 2-0 on the Childers Road Reserve No.2 pitch.
Federation League squad member Andre Baple played about 30 minutes in left midfield and scored the second goal at the end of a sweeping move. Striker Travis White had given Thistle Youth the halftime lead with a clinical finish midway through the half.
Players of the day were midfielders Jakeb Te Kani-Brown and Taylor Scott.
Federation squad goalkeeping coach Mark Baple was outstanding in goal, especially in dealing with set-pieces. Logan Scanlan is proving the find of the season. He had a tremendous game at centreback.
Coach Matt Harvey said the team showed a lot of maturity. They did well when they had the ball and defended strongly when the other team had it. “We’ve played like this before and not had a result, so it’s good for the boys to get a reward for their efforts,” he said.
Firsts coach Craig Stirton said his team played “pretty well” but came up against a determined youth team. Goalkeeper Hugo Lodewyk, sweeper Shae Avni, central midfielder Max Kume and striker Lucian Nickerson were outstanding.
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