ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 2

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

MOSGIEL'S NOTABLE RECORD [By Fikst Timer.] Mosgiel has achieved a remarkable record since 1932, when it first came into prominence in Fletcher Cup foothall, being runner-up on four occasions before starting on its winning series over the past four seasons. It is an achievement of which any team might rightly be proud. But, going back 10 years, Mosgiel s record revealed not so much success, but lack of it. It was not so long ago that the club’s first eleven had about six times ns many goals scored against it in a season than it managed to hoist itself. This, then, speaks volumes for what keenness can do in the making or marring of a team. Viewed in the light of early results, the march to domination of the competition by Mosgiel is all the more praiseworthy. And what Mosgiel has done—all credit to the club and its supporters—so can other clubs do, and in so doing they can lift Soccer into the position of prominence in Otago sport it deserves. “An almost unchanged team from season to season ” would bo the answer by most Soccer players and supporters to the question of the reason underlying Mosgiol’s success. To a certain extent this would supply the solution, but it is far from being the whole reason. One of the biggest factors in the success of Mosgiel has been that it has been not only a collection of 11 good players, with the understanding of one another’s playing peculiarities born of long acquaintance, but the members have preserved a harmony in their acquaintance that has merited the description, “ A team on and off the field.” Congratulations to Mosgiel, winch deserved its Fletcher Cup honour. It was held to a draw in each round, but 9 goals for, 17 against, in 16 matches is ° illustrative of its performance. Northern, runner-up, scored 55 and conceded 39—sufficient justification for the statement that -Mosgiel was head ami. shoulders above the other teams in the competition. Last season it scored over 100 goals. Chinese Cup. It would not bo a surprise if Mosgiel failed to head Northern in the Chinese Cup game on Saturday, if only for the peculiarity shown by the former in 1939, when in end-of-season matches both Maori Hill and Northern forced the leaders to drop a point. Chinese Cup games are always strongly contested, and Mosgiel, on its reputation in closing games, will have to pick up its heels to keep the Black and Whites from annexing this cup to add to the Andrew Brown trophy. Jubilee Funds. Messrs S. N. Brown, S. Hickey, J. Simpson, and A. Sligo have contributed to the funds of the controlling body as a jubilee gesture. Notes. Two goals to one, 1-2, and 4-3 have been the results of the H. 5.0.8, games against Cavorsham. The last of the trio was the Thoruo Cup, but it took

extra time for Old Boys to emerge with the honours.

It was perhaps considered unfortunate in some quarters that both the Andrew Brown and Thorn trophies went to the teams opposing those representing the donors, but the object of both is to foster goodwill and the game generally, as thus, apart from the natural rivalry born of such games, the result of the meetings is secondary to the main object. Soccer for the 1939-40 season closes officially with the Chinese Cup match.