Important game for Trans Tours United

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 26

Important game for Trans Tours United

By

DAVID LEGGAT

In every Rothmans Soccer League competition, the matches between two teams, Trans Tours United and Mount Wellington, have invariably produced the best football. This tradition should be upheld w'hen the teams meet in Auckland on Sunday. The Mount has won eight of the 18 league games involving the teams in the nine years of the competition, United has won seven and three have been drawn. Last year, United lost only three matches in the course of winning its third league title. Two of those losses were to the! Mount. The opening rounds of; this year’s .league have fol-I lowed a familiar pattern, the Mount being four points clear of the field after having played only four matches. It has scored nine goals — four coming from Clive Campbell — and has con ceded only one, an own goal against Manurewa. It has, as usual, an impressive allround unit, with Keith Nelson, Campbell, Brian Turner and Bill de Graaf all renowned goalscorers. I Warren Fleet, the stocky I international midfielder, has (joined this season, and another interesting player is Billy McClure, formerly a professional with Liverpool. United has had a slow start to the season, having a Iwin, a draw and a loss in its first three games. Against Dunedin City last Sunday, there were definite signs of improvement. Its most important defender. Bobby Almond, is still out with injury, suf-1

fered in the first match of the competition against Courier Rangers, but Graham Griffiths has resumed training and should be available for selection.

However, it is unlikely that United’s manager (Mr Brian Hardman) will change the team, unless injury or illness should make an "alteration necessary. A participant in many clashes with the Mount himself, Mr Hardman is optimistic about United’s chances and is well aware of the importance of this match.

“We are playing well and irrespective of our league positions, a game with Mount Wellington is always ’.something special,” he said. “This relationship has been built up over the years and even if we were the two bottom clubs in the league it would still be an exciting game. I do not think that this one will be an exception.”

The other league matches, which will all be played on Sunday, are: Wellington Diamond United v. Eastern Suburbs at Wellington. Manurewa v. North Shore at Auckland, Blockhouse Bay v. Stop Out at Auckland, Newmans Nelson United v. Manawatu United at Nelson and Dunedin City v. Courier Rangers at Dunedin.

The Midland Coachlines Soccer League matches for tomorrow are: CashmereWanderers v. Woolston W.M.C. at Queen Elizabeth Il Park No. 2, North End United v. Caversham in! Dunedin, Rangers v. Techni-; cal at Rangers Park, Sham-i rock v. Papanui W.M.C. at Riccarton Domain. and’ Western v. Green Island also Queen Elizabeth II Park No.’ 2.