Burndale youngsters consolidate lead

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 21

Burndale youngsters consolidate lead

The Burndale under-12, section one team consolidated its lead in the grade when .it beat Nomads United, 2-0, on Saturday. There was no score until late in the first half when a through pass by Stephen Toohey was driven on the run into the goal by Chris Patient.

Early in the second half, Andrew McDermott set up an easy goal for Burndale’s left wing, Grant Harris. Jeremy Blade, at centre back, and Brendon Furness comfortably kept Nomads strikers out, as Nomads, playing a short passing game, found it difficult to make much headway on a sticky surface. Danny Read and Gareth Wynn were solid in the midfield while Ben Turner repulsed many Bumdale attacks.

Shamrock dropped its first point in the tenth grade, when it drew, 0-0, with Cashmere-Wanderers. The Cashmere defence, led by Krishna Freeman and Steven Freeborn, was far too strong for Shamrock’s strikers, and Dean Forster and Craig Wilson also covered well.

Darren Reekes, Shamrock’s key striker, was sel-

dom able to get a shot on target, but there was some good play from Michael Killick and Nicholas Larkin to ensure Shamrock had a fair share of possession.

The usual tense battle between Riccarton and Hornby in the fourteenth grade, was won by Riccarton, 2-0.

Mark Thompson scored the first, after following up a long ball, and the second came when Hornby’s goalkeeper, Andrew Hattrill, was lying injured on the field.

David Coppart and Andrew Drayton, Riccarton’s full-backs, were sound and Stephen Cleave, playing as a linkman, was always conspicuous. Hornby’s right wing, John Bayford, was dangerous on attack, and combined well with Karl Davis. Stephen Hadlee and Gavin Chapple toiled honestly in an unlucky Hornby team. St Albans-Shirley’s under--13 team reversed the first round result against Riccarton, when it won, 1-0, on Saturday. John Green scored the all-important goal, five minutes from the end of the match.

Tony Wall and Shaun

Shannon were always alert to the half chance, and Jason Garrick used the long ball to good effect. Riccarton, playing with only nine men, was on top for much of the game, with Alan Abernathy always threatening, and Richard Austin showing a fine turn of speed on the wing. Ben Robinson and Charles Coleman held a depleted defence together determinedly. Shamrock’s ninth grade, section five coach, Ron Bitschkat, had no sooner finished saying how much his team had improved when it conceded the first of three goals to Western. Glen Thompson scored all three goals, showing a fire sense of anticipation and making good use of his opportunities. Nathan Green and Nicholas Crooks were the heart of a good Western team, while Brendon Ives and James Ward made a fine job of the midfield tasks.

Nicholas Waldron, James Mantann and Brett Robinson, until Thompson’s burst, had defended well, while Jeremy Bain and Blair Hamilton searched eagerly for any scoring chance for Shamrock.