PETONE'S RECOVERY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 4

PETONE'S RECOVERY

Potone Diamond by 3 goals to 2 in the first round of the Auld Memorial, played at,.the Basin Reserve on Saturday. It was a lucky win, for Petone were ahead only after extra time, and almost two hours after the match had begun. Diamond dominated the play throughout the match, and should have finished a couple of goals up, but too many chances were lost, and Petone lasted better than their rivals. '■. The teams were: — Petone: Mewton; Scott-Brown, Haines; Riddolls, Campbell, Smith; Dunlop, Watson, Leslie', Woods, Craig. ' Diamond: Wyatt; O'Connell, Hopper; Todd.. Geddes, Beasley; • Mc'Leo.d, Ncale, Babbitt, 'Cunningham,':Stark., ; Referee: Mr. N. Bryan. Diamond won the toss, and Petone had to face the slight southerly at the1 kickoff . Diamond forced the pace at once and Cunningham headed over the bar from a centre by McLeod. Geddes then had a drive at goal,, and the ball fell over the bar. McLeod was very dangerous, and kept sending over crosses, at one of which Mewton had to dive to clear. Todd then tried a long shot without success, and Petone at last broke away, Campbell sending to Dunlop, who made a good opening, but Wyatt cleared. After twenty-five minutes the first corner came and Geddes shot over the bar. Rabbitt then got the ball, touched to Cunningham, who returned the pass, and- the centre made a mighty drive at .goal which Mewton had no chance to stop. MoLeod followed with a cross to Stnrk, and the goalie rushed out, leaving the goal open to Cunningham and Babbitt,'.but''both missed the ball altogether, and Petone escaped. McLeod made several runs, and at last he sent over a centre' which Scolt-Brown cleared. Beasley missed the clearance altogether, and Dunlop pounced on it and started a run at the end of which he lifted the ball over Hopper's head for Leslie to slip through and score. Just after this a shot by McLeod hit the lower edge of the crossbar, but half-time came with the score 1-all : Wyatt1 made good saves from a shot by Leslie and one by Craig when the second half opened, and for the next half-hour Diamond almost completely dominated the the game. McLeod made a' spirited run and sent the ball across, Scott Brown missing it and Stark shooting at close range for the goalie to make a poor clearance. Cunningham wag waiting, and ho lifted the ball into the goal. Diamond forced a corner, and Cunningham gave the ball to Rabbitt close in, but the ceptrc's shot was wild. Stark then made a good run, and shot over the bar, and after that Leslie made a great effort and finished by heading.a trifle high. A foul by Beasley gave Petone a chance, but they threw it away, and McLeod opened the way for a shot b,y Todd which missed, while Cunningham made another chance which was not taken. There was less than ten ininutes-to go when Leslie found the net after a series of attacks, and the score was then even, Petone'reaching time after luckily equalising. They' carried off the honours' in the extra session, Campbell heading through shortly before time. The final score was Petone 3, Diamond 2.