Association Football.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 273, 23 September 1905, Page 20

Association Football.

The semi-finals far the Charity Cup took place last Saturday, and hue weather wias experienced, although a fairly heavy wand spoilt the play to a great extent. • » * Diamonds played St. John's, at Newtown Park, and! a fairly large crowd assembled in anticipation of seeing a good game between the two teams. Thea hopes, however, were hardly reaiksed, as, except on certain occasions, the play was on the poor side. Diatnomdls won tine game by six goals to two, amid, as three of these goals were scored during the first five minutes, they had practically the upper hamdl right throughout, although at times St. John's made things lively for the champions. Diamonds, except for the absence of Cunningham, played their full strength, Burbush being 'dirawin ufpoe to take his place, and Hathaway being shifted to the centre-forward pa-ation. This was a good move, as all thei Diamond rushes were, as a rule, started by him. On the other hand, St. John's were a greatly-weakened team, and the absence of their goal-keeper (Irons) was seveirely felt. lam afraid 1 that until this club give some of their youinger players a ohanoe they will not regain th© high position they have held in senior matches since the club's inception. There was fax too much pushing with the hands during the came, and on several occasions players were nearly shoved over. I have a very great, resneot for Referee Machin, and consider hem to be one of the best referees' we have, yet I should have liked to have seen him in. a- stricter mood. Mick Fitzeeraldl was in perfect form in goal for Diamonds, an'd made hardly any mistakes. His "-roumd work was good, and equally so was his punching the ball away. One save of Mis. a high, dropping shot, was a brilliant effort. He has just cause to be satisfied; with his afternoon's work. To my mind, Overend was, the bettei of the back's. He stopped the rushes Vail, and got the ball away on many occasions. "W. Roberts also played! well, a^d kicked well to his forwards, but why find the line so often, Peter? This is becoming a very ba<3 habit of yours, a-rl should be knocked off. Taylor, at centre-half, massed the ball well to his forwards, but he did mot ap-

pear to stop the rushes as well as usual, and on. seveaal occasions h& mibkic-ked the ball altogether. His screw-kick-ingj however, was peifect. Thoaiey and D. Roberts both did their work well. Tom was very much surpass on mis-kicfcwig the ball through Ins own goal. Hathaway played a hne game at oentire-foiwardi and kept his forwards well m hand. He passed the ball well out to his wings, and, as already stated, started all the rushes going. Bed'dy was very fast on the wiug, and gaumed a lot of ground. He centred well, and combined excellently with Hodges, who allso did all hi& work nicely. Budbush and Duffy did all they had to do well, but on some occasionis I thought the former kicked rather too haid, and thus allowed 1 has opponents to get the ball. For St. John's, Burns was unfortunately right off, and l was also very neivous. On occasions, though, he. showed that with experience he would be all right. On two occasions he stopped a couple of particularly hot shots. McNair was the best of the backs, although Ballingall also did; we!. On a couple of occasions, this player miskicked the ball, whuoh accounted for two of the goals scored against Iks side. Sparrow was the best of the halves, and worked very hard indeed, feeding his forwards splendidly on many occasions. Andy Mouat was probably the best forward on the field, and dribbled splendidly, besides passing the ball well. On one occasion, he got past everyone, but the bard game he hadl played told against his shot. W. Mouat dribbled well down, the line, and oenifored to his brother finely, but he has a bad fault in getting offside so much. Millar also did well, but George Williams had a day off. McWhamnie! Ido not consider, as a forward, is in- his proper position. • • » The remaining senior game played was between Swifts and 1 Rovers, tihe former team winning the match by three goals to nil. This game was played at Miramair, in haJf a g"aJe of wind, and a strangle tihin.gr about it was that the passing of the two teams was far better against the wind than with it.

Owung to a severe cold, Frank Waddell was unable to play for Swifts, so Leia White, who had 1 re.tare.dl far the season, was pressed into service once moire. For the winners, Woodhams made some fine saves, beu.nig very clean and effective against the long shots which were put in, although one or two of them bothered him considerably. Duff, at. full-back, used his pace well, and broke up the opposing left-wing rushes many times. His partner, Elsgiii, was equally good, and' effected some clever left-foot ,sprewang. Swifts have certainly dame th*e correct thing in at last giving him a place in the team. J. Pyet-Smith played a solid game, at right half. He placed the ball well to his forwards, and his corner kicking was very fine, two goals being the result of his admirable placing. Peiks, m the centre, kicked and headed the ball well, the latter, as usual, beimg a feature of his play. Lsn White, the popular skipper of the club, who all thought had retired' (m peace), was rather at sea during the first spell, but later he played a brilliant half-back game. His "heady" play led 1 up to many a Swifts' attack, and I hear now that he is quite keen on playing again, and will be found in his place to-morrow (Saturday). J. Muir did some good wotrk at rightwing, but should centre sooner. Cotes, although he missed a couple of easy chances to score, played well, and made some good openings for his partners. lam looking for a similar game to-day from you, "Rosy," such as you crave us against St. John's a short while back. P. Pye-Smith was very "tired" during the first spell, but essayed some long shots in the latter portion of the game. How about feeding that left-wing of yours more, though, Percy? It is hard to say whether Twohill or Reddy is the fastest forward that we have here at present. Certainly, the former has the necessary dash and cleverness to make him a rare wingforward. Webster, the Rover goal-keeper, gave me the impression of having a day off. He. was several times at fault, and his clearing of his goal seemed to be very indecisive. Martin, at full, wias good l all through the game, returning the ball well to his forwards. He, however, mad© one mistake which gave his opponents their first goal.

Reynolds, at centre-half, worked hard and passed the ball well. He should, however, have kept tne ball away from has left-wing forward instead oi giving it to him so often. Taylor did not have many chances to distinguish himself. His bad fault, though, js that he jumps far too often when playing the ball. Frank Williams was the best of the forwards, and dribbled and passed well. However, through Reynolds'© fault, he was well watched, and thus told against his play to a 1 great extent. By the wiay, Frank, what was the matteir with you and Bob Duff? The two O'Shea brothers combined cleverly together, but should 1 have passed the ball far oftener. Tricky play is no good with a heavy wind blowing. During the second spell," Renal was shifted up forward from the full-back position. Well, Rovers may think that he is a good forward, but, although he played well in this position the previous week, I don't consider him much, and he should never have been shifted out of his proper position. Again, although Rovers are perfectly justified in placing their field as they like, yet I think they made a mistake in play.ng the one-back game. Probably, they considered! that Swifts would be pulled up for off-sad© play, and if thisi was their reason, let me say at once that White isi far too old a hand at the game not to be able to alter his attack to meet the occasion. • • • Wellington will be sending a senior rep. team to New Plymouth, to try conclusions with the Taranaki Association next week, the match probably eventuating on the 28th. A coincidence : Swifts won four games last Saturday, the final score of each game being three goals to nil.