Soccer Rangers back in front

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 24

Soccer Rangers back in front

Rangers got their nose back in front at the top of the Hertz Soccer League title chase, when they won, and their closest rivals, Shamrock lost on Saturday.

While Rangers were beating South Canterbury United, 1-0, in Timaru, Shamrock was suffering its second consecutive defeat. It was beaten, 2-0, by New Brighton at Burwood Park. Having gone a record 23 league matches without defeat, Shamrock has now lost two in

a row, and must lift itself if it is to keep up its title challenge.

Keith Bullion scored Brighton’s first goal and Dion Moir added the second after halftime, as Shamrock struggled to penetrate a Brighton defence in which the goal-keeper, David van Voorst, stood out. Rangers decisive goal came from a penalty by Mark Gatenby, midway through the second half. However, South Canterbury’s Graham Jones hit the cross-oar in the first half.

Cashmere-Wanderers moved into third place with a 2-0 win over Nomads United. Mark Smith opened the scoring with his eighth league goal of the season. He later missed a penalty. Drew Hendrie made sure of the three points with the second goal soon after half-time.

Halswell United was unlucky not to pick up a point when it conceded a late goal to go down, 2-1, to Western. Lindsay Adams scored both Western goals, one right at the start, and the winner seven minutes from the end. Malcolm Williams scored Baisweil’s goal, in the ninth minute, and Chris Bruhns hit the cross-bar, even earlier in the match.

Four matches were played in the premier division, and two resulted in hefty victories for Technical and Burndale United.

Technical hammered New Brighton, 8-0, while Burndale best Western, 5-1. In the other games, Shamrock beat High School Old Boys, 1-0, while St Albans-Shirley beat Riccarton, 2-1.

There were only four lower grade matches played. In division one, Cashmere-Wanderers beat Lincoln College, 4-1; Technical beat Papanui, 2-1; and Christchurch United beat Western, 2-1. In the fourth division, Burnham crushed Bumdale, 12-1.

HERTZ LEAGUE P W D L F A Pt Rangers 12 9 0 3 25 10 27 Shamrock 12 7 3 2 24 12 24 Cashmere 11 5 3 3 17 12 21 Wools ton 10 6 2 2 20 5 20 Chch Utd 11 5 4 2 16 10 16 Brighton 11 5 1 5 13 13 16 Western 11 4 1 6 11 17 13 Sth Canty 12 2 5 5 12 19 11 Nomads 11 0 6 5 5 15 6 Halswell 10 0 1 9 3 25 1

PREMIER LEAGUE P w D L F A Pt Technical 10 6 4 0 30 9 16 Bumdale 11 7 2 2 17 8 16 Rangers 10 7 2 1 18 10 16 Shamrock 11 5 3 3 21 17 13 Riccarton 10 5 0 5 20 13 10 Western 11 4 2 5 14 25 10 Rangiora 9 4 0 5 14 13 9 S.A.S. 11 2 2 7 13 23 6 Brighton 11 1 4 6 19 29 6 H.S.O.B. 11 2 0 9 11 30 4