SOCCER SURPRISES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 6

SOCCER SURPRISES

First Defeat for Y.M.C.A. THISTLE OUTPLAYS SHORE

THERE was a marked increase in the attendance at Blandford Park on Saturday, and in spite of the recent downpour the ground was in splendid order. Ponsonbv maintained its improved play, and administered the first defeat to Y.M.C.A. this season in a decisive style. Thistle outplaced Shore in every department to win s—l. Belmont was a<*ain unlucky to lose by the solitary goal scored, but Yortheote notched its first point with a draw at Onehunga.

UECENT Soccer form lias been so inconsistent that the positions on the championship ladder are likely to vary a lot in the near future. In the first game on Saturday Y.M.C.A. was unfortunate in having to take the field without Grant and Chalmers. The former turned out soon after the start, but was not medically fit for a hard ?ame. Chalmers failed to materialise, and Mowat filled the vacancy. In spite of starting with the handicap of a forward short, the Young Men were the first to warm up, and a strong left wing attack from Mowat and Goodman forced a corner. A. faulty clearance was fastened on to by Humphreys, who returned to the goal mouth for Hoban to head in neatly. Ponsonby then woke up and had the better of the play until halftime sounded, an equalising goal coming from some nice cross wing play from Innes over to Wilson, for Stewart to pot from a neat centre. PONIES’ SUPERIOR COMBINATION In the second half Y.M. fell away badly and the Ponies were quick to take advantage of their flagging opponents. Morrison speculated a long shot which caught Paton unawares and curled into the corner of the net with but a feeble attempt to stay its course. Y.M. made repeated attempts to break away, but found Wright and Miles too solid in defence, and Innes was tireless in tear’* — * the opposing defence and setting the other forwards on the attack. A hot rally found Paton “carrying” too far in avoiding a charge, and although Y.M. crowded the goal, Innes tapped the ball to Morrison, who crashed it through a forest of legs to put the Ponies two up. The Young Men made some gallant attempts at a recovery, and play was fast and lively. Ponsonby was not to be denied, and another dashing run by Wilson was finished off with a perfect centre which Stewart again collected to score from a close-up. After starting badly the Ponies have now recovered some of the form which won the Chatham Cup last season, and will be a hard combination to beat from now on. Miles and Wright were at their best in defence, and played a hard game in beating back the swift rushes of the Y.M. van. After many changes and. experiments the blue and black line is now a cohesive quintet, with plenty of pace and penetrative force. For the losers Paton was not as safe as usual in goal, and the backs were bothered by the speed and accurate long passing of the opposing forwards. Dick had a lively wing to watch in Wilson and Williams, but was the best of the half-line. Humphreys battled hard to raise the Y.M. tally, but lacked support from his confreres. SHORE’S SORRY COLLAPSE The big game started in a most promising style, but in its subsequent development it resembled the opening match, as, after Shore had scored first, the side seemed to fall to pieces, and Thistle ran out easy winners at the finish by the unexpected margin of four goals in its favour. Shore was at full strength, but the Scots were without Carter. The evergreen J. Stewart filled the vacancy very capably when he warmed up to his work. After preliminary exchanges a good opening by Gilmour set the Shore inside men moving, and a spectacular piece of close passing between Jay, Woolley and Cleal completely nonplussed the Thistle defence and gained a brilliant goal; but after that meteoric start the Shore had shot its bolt, and for some inexplicable reason faded right out of the picture, and gave a very ragged display both in defence and attack. THE SCOTS TRIUMPHANT Some hard play followed and the hore defence began to sag and crumple up before the furious onslaughts of the Scots. Kay was too elusive and pacy for Renshaw, and on the opposite wing Cummings was leading Jones a lively dance. The result was the Shore backs were drawn to the line chasing the express wingers, and Giles proved a shrewd opportunist by his “wait and see ’policy in the centre, and used his weight to advantage. He is not as polished an exponent of the code as his co-mates, but on his first appearance he impressed one as a useful find. With the Shore defence so harrassed by the Scottish offensives, the forwards were being starved, and had to drop back foraging for the ball themselves, instead of playing on to the Thistle backs and bustling them. The first two goals came through the irent, however, that the students will

POSITION OF CLUBS

SOCCER CHAMPIONSffIT

repressible Kay, the second being brilliant solo effort with a wonderful finishing shot which flew in from an acute angle with only an inch to spare either way. Eacock was hard pressed in the Shore goal, but proved himself a fearless guardian and brought off some desperate saves when all seemed lost. SHORE’S FEEBLE FINISH Turning round with a goal advantage the champions continued to pen Shore in its ovm territory, except for a few ragged and futile spurts from the black and gold forwards. More trouble struck Shore early in the second spell, when Gilmour, who had been battling gamely to stem the Scottish flood, wrenched the ligaments of his knee and had to retire. That left no one to oppose effectively the increasing "Jirust of the Thistle van. Neither Colebourne nor Oerrard were as safe as usual, twice in quick succession Eacock was penalised for “carrying' in order to escape the enemy surrounding him and threatening him with legalised assault and battery. SOME WORDY WARFARE With the second offence for carrying Shore lined the goal and the Thistle marksnan drove hard for a direct hit. The ball hit a Shore player, all of whom claimed to be behind the line .and out of play. The referee first awarded s. goal kick, but after some clamouring and hectoring from Thistle, he called the linesman across for an autopsy, and then gave a goal against Shore. After this Shore seemd to lose all interest in the proceedings, and with a man short for the rest of the spell was severed trounced, after a poor gane by five goals to one. NORTHCOTE’S FIRST POINT Like Y.M. and Shore, the Onehunsa men seem to be suffering from a temporary loss of form, and although playing at home on Saturday, the Mj.nukau men were unable to secure the full win, and Northeote was able to notch its first point this season in the championship table. Neither ske was at full strength, North cote flndirg it difficult to raise an eleven for tie journey out. In spite of this the strawberry-growers were unlucky, a* l the two goals against them both came from penalties in the first spell. Lyon put up a great defence in goal and the Onehunga forwards were unable to get past him. BELMONT ONE DOWN AGAIN Tramways were also suffering from a long list of sick and injured players, and could only raise a skeleton team to meet Belmont at Victoria Park,bu: was lucky enough to scrape home by the only goal scored. The low scoring was largely due to the stubborn defence put up by Batty and Chesney in the opposite goals, only a nicelytimed touch by the wee Fyffie, from a good centre by Spong, securing the solitary goal which was worth two boys. Belmont battled y plnck.lv for an equalising effort, httt JgJ* une has not yet smiled on the new recruits. and a long series ot losses the odd goal was added to on Satrrday.

Thistle .. . P. 6 W. 5 D. 1 L. 0 Goals Ch. F - A. pj. 10 o -- V.M.C.A. 6 5 1 0 16 ° ig Ponsonby 6 4 0 20 14 Shore .. . 6 3 2 1 17 11 ( Onehunga <» 3 3 I 11 10 $ Trams .. . 6 2 3 1 11 North cote 6 0 5 1 8 27 i Belmont 6 0 6 0 7 15 0