Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 204, 28 May 1904, Page 19

Association Football.

By Nondescript.

THE Daamonds gave their supporters a pleasant smpu.se la*t Satuiday. The Blacks' learguaid, against a stiffisli bieeze, coveied themselves with glory. To keep the Saints' attacking line out for foity-five minutes is a feat to be proud of. And the Blacks' attacking quintette, with the wind in their tavour, fairly sent their supporteis into the seventh heaven of delight. Never in the annals of sockerism has such a crowd assembled at Miramai to witness a club fixture. Everybody who is anybody in Association football was present. An extra steamer had to run to transport the can go of humanity homeiwaids. The game — brimful of clever touches —was anybody's right up to within five minutes of time. Then, Hathaway, with a long, drooping shot, placed the issue beyond doubt, and the hearts of the yellow barraickers went down to zero. I have nothing but praise to bestow oi the losers. They fought a great fight against worthy foemen. A dozen times did the Saints' a/ttacking line, in the fh-=t half, manipulate the leather to the exact spot necessary. But the Blacks' custodian, combined the fnskiness of the kitten with the sagacity of the nobler animal Looking at matrters through St. John's spectacles, the way that sihots from Smelbe, Brodie, Dixom and the brothers Mowat were tinned aside in such a masterly style must have been heartrending. At times, the combination, of the losers' quintette was perfect. It rose far above anything witnessed on the Miramar flat since the memorable seven minutes the identical five gave when pitted aeatmst the same team last season. So brisk and stinging was the Saints' attack d<uringr the last fifteen minutes of the first half that nothing but fine defensive work bv Webster, P. Roberts. Lame, and Taylor prevented a score beinp recorded. Of the intei mediate line, R. Nagle stood out head asnd shoulders above his wing halves. McWhannell was in one of his roving moods, and 1 the open field he piesented to Hathaway courted nothing but disaster. Amies and McNair both put m a good afternoon's woik. Irons can hardly be blamed for the first goal, for neither he nor any othei man could have parried such a shot. •'What will the Lance say now?" I heard a Diamond supporter remark at the finish. Well, I will be as generous as I can. I had no chance of congratulating the winners at Miramar. A hearty shake of the hand to the team individually with an extra shake to Webster, P. Roberts Lane Taylor, Roberts Chalf), and Reddv, for thei7 iiifw ltorious performances would have been forthcoming had the opportunity piesented itself. To individualise the winneis is somewhat difficult. The whole eleven were alert throughout. Hardly a chance — with the exception of one by Redd^ m the first half — was let go. Still the outsjjde-left over-redeemed tho error in the latter part of the game. He was, to my mind, the pick of the Diamond quintette. In addition to scoring the first goal — the outcome of a maTiificently-placed kick by his 1 skipper — Reddv wot ked round his opposing half with surprising skill, and gave his opponent fourteempence for every shilling received. Cun.ndn<rh_am was also very effective and industrious. Though not so showy a playe 1 as Reddy, still, handicapped as

he was by the attention both R Nagle a,nd McWhannelJ thought fit to bestow en him, Cuniuingrham got in some usciul work and was "sharp and accurate in placing the ball out to his wings .whenever the opportunity piesented itself. On the wins:, Hathaway, whetn the ohance came his way, which was far too ia>ie in the latter half, was oR conspicuous and the haid-uorknw Collins was ever to the fore. Of the halves, I was most taken by Tayloi, the centie. The ex-Rovente was lieie, there, and everywhere Now assisting his backs, now backing up the left half, now covering a possible miskiok of his 1 iffht half, now aiding his forwaids in the attack. A great deal 1 of tilie brilliant triumph which sent the Diamonds to the head of thte League laddei is due to the sterling defence that P. Roberts, Lane, and Webster .presented. In the first half they very raiely had an idle moment; sti'i they resisted) the onslaughts of the Saints in masteirily style. Webster is deserving of a pai to (himself. When facing the' breeze he keipt a great goal. Never once did he misjudge the ball. The way he daftly dddged danger, and an opposing forward at the same time, while cleaimg a dropping shot, was a treat. The Parks had no difficulty in oveicomine Y.M.G.A. Veteran ShieUds aienain donned the jersey. The aid Wellington, rep. by no means disgraced himself. Tom intends to turn out for Masterton. against the New South Wales team when the latter oome along. At present, the League fixtures which the Rovers are fulfilling appear to be Godber versus the other team. Harry was again the means of securing another paint for the Blues, for he scoied the enualising goal against the Pearls. The Swifts journeyed to Petone and returned with two points. The form shown by both teams was only mediocre. A little third-class energy in the players' movements would have bean ar>nreciaited.