Midfielder Samson Hotas, pictured in action against Taradale, and his Thistle teammates were pipped by an early lone goal in their Central League second-division playoff game in Palmerston North. Photo / Paul Rickard
Midfielder Samson Hotas, pictured in action against Taradale, and his Thistle teammates were pipped by an early lone goal in their Central League second-division playoff game in Palmerston North. Photo / Paul Rickard
A first-minute goal put paid to Gisborne Thistle’s hopes of competing in next year’s Central League second division.
Capital Premier team Te Kotahitanga beat Electrinet Thistle 1-0 in one of the playoff matches to determine the last four sides in next season’s Central League 2 football competition.
Results of the other playoffs were Taradale 4 Victoria University 1, Douglas Villa 4 Havelock North Wanderers 3 (after extra time), and Seatoun 2 New Plymouth Rangers 1.
With four clubs from this season’s Central Federation League — Palmerston North United, Palmerston North Marist, FC Western and Taradale — competing in Central League 2 or higher next year, only five of this year’s field remain to contest the Federation League in 2025.
They are Havelock North, Thistle, New Plymouth Rangers, Whanganui Athletic and Peringa United.
Central Football administrators will consult these and other clubs about the options for next year.
Thistle coach Tam Cramer said he thought if Te Kotahitanga had not scored in the first minute, the game would have been decided on penalties.
Both teams had opportunities, and he did not think Te Kotahitanga — a corroboration of clubs on the Kāpiti Coast and in Horowhenua — were significantly better than Thistle.
“They managed the game well,” he said. “We lacked a bit of quality and experience.”
He felt if Thistle had David Salmon, Nick Land and Ruben Garcia on the pitch, it would have been different.
Garcia was injured, Land was unavailable and Salmon, having travelled to Palmerston North with the team the previous day, was sick on Saturday and couldn’t play.
The experience of Land and Salmon and the energy and pace of Garcia would have made a difference, especially late in the game.
Hugo Lodewyk had another strong game in goal for Gisborne Thistle who lost 1-0 to Capital Premier side Te Kotahitanga in a playoff game to make next year's reformed Central League second division. Photo / Paul Rickard
Te Kotahitanga were physical and experienced, and “good at what they did”.
“We were just not good enough on the day,” Cramer said. “There’s no shame in that. We pushed them, took it to them and gave a good account of ourselves.
“We did well to get through this season, go there and get it as close as it was, given the difficulties we had [with players being injured or unavailable].
The game could hardly have started any worse for Thistle. Within the first minute, the ball was played into the Thistle goalmouth where Te Kotahitanga had a man roaming free on the edge of the 6-yard box. His header from close range gave Jags goalkeeper Hugo Lodewyk no chance.
In the second half, attacking midfielder Travis White moved up front and Central Fed League Golden Boot-winning striker Jimmy Somerton dropped into a deeper role.
“Their centre backs looked like they were tiring, so I wanted Jimmy to run at them from deeper,” Cramer said.
Somerton got off three or four strikes, but they were generally dealt with comfortably. He connected well with one effort, which was blocked by a defender throwing his body in the way.
Even though his opponents closed him down well, Somerton was one of Thistle’s best on the day. The Jags’ spine was solid, with goalkeeper Lodewyk making several fine saves, centre backs Junior Jimmy and Ziggy West-Hill dealing with most that came their way, and skipper Cory Thomson working hard in the centre of midfield, but none of the side disgraced themselves.
The Jags line-up was keeper Lodewyk; fullbacks Te Kani Wirepa-Hei and Shai Avni; centre backs Jimmy and West-Hill; midfielders Samson Hotas, White, Thomson, Euan Cramer and Kaden Manderson; and striker Somerton.
Xavier Mennie came on for Cramer in the 76th minute, Isaac Bush came on for Manderson in the 81st, and Gavin Derr came on for Hotas in the 88th.
