16-05-2025
Top four Eastern Premiership football teams on show in Gisborne Saturday
Thistle will be close to full strength.
Coach Tam Cramer is likely to rest utility player Nick Land, who has been playing with a niggling injury, and midfielder Federico Suarez will still be missing through injury.
But the influential 'spine' of the side – goalkeeper Mark Baple, centre backs Martin Kees and Junior Jimmy, midfielder Cory Thomson and striker Jimmy Somerton – will be there.
'We're expecting a tough game,' Cramer said.
'They won the Pacific Premiership last year – went through the season unbeaten – and they've been pretty good this year.
'With a full squad we fancy ourselves against anyone, but it won't be easy.'
Gisborne United have looked to be title contenders in their first year back in this level of competition. They took their foot off the pedal in the second half of their game against HSOB Gisborne Boys' High School last week, but that won't happen against Havelock North.
Player-coach Josh Adams has a side close to full strength, although Andy McIntosh – a standout performer in goal this season – is unavailable for the clash due to a longstanding commitment.
Adams picked up an injury niggle on Tuesday and, with the Thistle-United derby only a week away, will look to protect it by playing in goal. He has played there before and is not a weakness in that position, but he will be missed up front.
Campbell Hall will take his place as central striker and will offer a different though still effective type of threat. Corey Adams will play alongside Hall.
Sam Royston looks set to be in the starting line-up at right wingback, a role he has filled admirably in the past two weeks.
The rest of the side look solid. Dane Thompson, Dan Torrie and Aaron Graham are a formidable central midfield combination and central defenders Kieran Higham, Ryan Anderson and Jonathan Purcell are all likely to feature at some stage. Kieran Venema is also having a good season in the back four or in a holding midfield position.
Warren Muir has come into the squad and can cover both goalkeeping and outfield positions.
United will need to be at the top of their form, as Havelock North have an enviable reputation as perennial contenders for honours at this level and above.
HSOB Gisborne Boys' High School travel to Hastings to take on Western Rangers, who are only three points ahead of them on the league table.
Centre back Kauri Holmes is unavailable, but midfielder Matt Hills and defender Kaden Manderson return to the squad. Left back Kyran Lasenby, who has been sidelined with an elbow fracture, is expected to be fit for training in a week or so, and goalkeeper Aiden Armstrong came through the game against United with a man-of-the-match performance a week after dislocating a finger.
Coach Garrett Blair said he would have a squad of 15 to travel and was looking for a continuation of last week's second-half performance.
Jacob Adams would probably play alongside Hills in an attacking midfield role, with Euan Cramer looking to build play from deeper positions.
Blair said Boys' High had interschool qualifying games against Hastings Boys' High School on May 26, Napier Boys' High two weeks after that and Lindisfarne College on June 19. Eastern Premiership games were providing invaluable preparation for those matches.
