Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 203, 21 May 1904, Page 21

Association Football.

Though defeated, the Y.M.O.A. can congratulate tiiem&elves on tne ract that the honoui of breaking tlirough the Saints.' defence toi ILKM hat, come then way. Twice did the V.M.C.A. vanguaid fiud the taiget, Millai and Aney lespectively doing the needful. But the Saints' attacking line were aJso m scoring mood. Smellie (2), A. Mowat (2;, Brodie (1), and Dixon (1) pvoved conclusively that last yeai's champions have lost none of their ounmng when the finishing touch lsrequned. If anything, they have improved, for last Saturday's score, against a full defence, is a lecord as fai as the Saints are concerned. Of the eight goals scored, the piettiest of all was the last one secured by the winners, which came from the foot of Andy Mowat. "Andy, Andy, ever so Andy." The sterling mside-left made no mistake. His final aim was true and swift, and the ball, as it flew past McLean, was like a swallow vn its flight. The game was fought in deadly earaest, and. though the margin in the scoie was so marked against them the losers, i lght up to the finish, played in a> neve<r-say-die spmt. Success will surely come their way eventually, for they aie game to the very last. The Diamonds, and Parks encountei was such another game as the Roveis and Diamonds fixture of the pievious week. Combination by both teams wa^ veiy rarely forthcoming. Still, some vexy tasty" bite of back play were given on both sides. Clapham. in particular, distinguished himself. The Parks played but ten mem. Still, this was no excuse whatever for Downes, Shaikey, and Co. falling back so repeatedly. They were not wanted there aft all. The Parks' attacking line shouM educate themselves to the fact that defensive work in socker football is usually catered fo>r by the goal-keeper, fullbacks and half-backs. The Diamonds' forward rank did not appear to find their stride. Ido not think it was through any fault of theirs. The reason can be summed up m one woid— "Claik." What a wondeiful trio they are. Of the three, Bart— as tiicky as a monkey, and a.s cunning as a f ox — 1S still the gem "Yah," a wonderful tackier, shows a tendency to wander, and does not always place to a forward's advantage. "Fossey." though on the light side stuck to his eruns like a heio. This lad improves with eveiy match and bids fair to run both Bert and "Yah" a race for family honours in seeker history. Of the Diamonds, I withhold comment in this issue. They will be dealt with in my notes a week hence, for tomorrow (Saturday) the meeting of meetings takes place. Those who saw the match between the teams last season aie not likely to forget the sensational finish in a hurry. This year both teams have not a>s yet tasted defeat. The Diamonds have biushed aside Petone 7-0, Rovers 3-1, and Parks 2-1. The Saints have defeated' Rovers 3-0, Queen's Park 2-0, and V.M.C.A. 6-2. Given fine weathei , a magnificent struggle for supremacy should be witnessed on Miramar flat tomorrow. Peark, by then meritorious victoiy ovei Swifts., now occupy thud position on. the senior ladder. For a young club, this is no mean honour, and a prouder man than Bob Dewy could hai dlv be found around town last Saturday. Bob has worked 1 hard — veiy hard — to bring the Pearls up to thenpresent standard. "What about that limelight? Still geeing. Spooks 9 Well, turn it. on Pearls' Yes, full bang on to Pearls a,nd Bob Dewy '

Eie I ioi get, let me congiatulaie the Peails on then position. When watciinig then hist game, I stated that they aie capable of doing better, foi they ha\e grit, deteiinmation, and youtii \V iidt 1 ilked about them iasfc Saturday was the oonfideince the forwards lepose in their inteimediate lme, and the way they made for then opponents' goal ai every available opportunity. The club w ho imagines it is ceitam of the points when opposing Pearls will get left nine times out of ten. £»ike V.M.C.A , thej are never beaten until the filial \\ lustle i*s mounded. The Roveis liave uneaithed a goalgetter. The discovered one ha&, toa seveial seasons, worn a Rover habit, but toimeily his business has been to keep the other chaps fvoacu scoring. Evidently, the weakness of his own attacking line has palled somewhat on Hairry, foi on Saturday last he blossomed out into a left-wing foiward in a flowery style. To see Godber touching the s]3O(t without a.ny a.ppa.ent effort on his part made it appear as if he had been a ■umg-fonvaid ever since he left the ciadle. The S-aants are in danger of losing their piestige n the mattei of the fair sex bad rack. One fair followei of the V.M.C.A. in rjarticular la,st Satuiday put everyone else in the shade. It was certainly not this fair damsel's fault that her gaJlant knights lost, foi she urged them to do-o'-die in no uncertain manner.