THISTLE TOO GOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 6

THISTLE TOO GOOD

Second Round Soccer Starts

Y.M.C.A.’S POOR SHOWING

THE interesting position of the Soccer match drew a larc crowd to Blandford Park on Saturday for the openin games of the second round. By a decisive win over p ol f sonby (and with Y.M. defeated by Shore) Thistle increased its lead by two points, although Ponsonby put up a great struggle until the closing stages, and only went down after a hard fight. Trams won comfortably at Northcote a—o- - Onehunga defeated Belmont s—l.

AWING to being on the sick list Giles was missing from the Thistle eleven, and the always useful “Darkie” Stewart was called on as the spare wheel in place of the naval man. and played his usual sound game. Ponsonby had reinstated the veteran Watts in goal, and also secured a good partner for Innes with the transfer of Thomas from Onehunga. KAY'S BRILLIANT DISPLAY The Ponies recently have taken their Soccer in the same serious spirit which won the Chatham Cup last year, and were confident of giving the Scots the shock of the season. And so it might have happened but for the inspired play o*" Murray Kay, who was in his most elusive mood and emphatically clinched a victory for Thistle by collecting four goals off his too clever toe. and only missed a full routine by smashing a penalty shot the wrong side of the upright. Kay’s mercurial display dominated the game, and it is largely owing to his dynamic scoring power that Thistle occupies its place on top. AN EVEN BREAK Play was fast and willing from the outset, and the first half was an even and hard-fought struggle for the lead, Thistle turning round with the odd goal advantage. Kay opened. Thistle’s account on the credit side by - securing a wide open opportunity with Williams drwn out of position, and cut In behind

the Ponsonby backs to score witt typical cross drive which gave wV no chance. Ponsonby retaliated ,!' 5 some rousing counter-attacks, W corner kicks went west and the came back for Miles to check * T’ 4 Serous offensive. a ***• Then a long blaze by Wright a trail for Wilson on the extremfw? and the colt carried the ball clever along the line to centre at the J-S 7 moment. Stewart gathered neatly 5 : slipped a perfect pass for Thoml* , dash in and even matters with a vl! lirst-timer. Then both teams wert,l it with a will, and warmed the ct*c° tators lungs with some desperate r>‘ lies in the tussle for the lead, w* slow work by the Ponsonby defendrin getting the ball clear gave Kay an other opening for an individual eflnr,' and he flew through with the ball »ri’ crashed in a net flnder before War* knew what was what. SECOND SPASM TO THISTLE After a protracted breather, with an exhibition spell by the juveniles, hostilities were resumed and after ware exchanges a free against Wright fora wrongful act was lobbed into Po o . sonby’s danger'zone by Christie, and after bobbing about near the goal, mouth the ball felt the magnetic attraction of Kay’s toe—and then the net, putting the Scots’ two up. Thee Ponsonby was compensated whet Christie brought Thomas down fn® behind, just when the ex-Manukas man was having a pop at ZuilL Innfc made a certainty of the spot kick and Ponies were again within a goal of the champions. PONSONBY’S FINE EFFORT For about ten minutes the blue and black brigade put up a great attack, and were more than unlucky not to equalise. But the Thistle defence held sound, and Zuill brought off some marvellous saves in some hot mix-ups in his goal area, but the Ponies’ last effort gradually faded and the Thistle thrust was felt again. Kay was checked in a run down the line, and Williams took the ball from him near the penalty area, but an unaccountable free kick saw Dicks an slam in a hard long-range one which Williams deflected into his own goal. Miles was penalised for using his shoulder while in a passive position, but the free went wide, and then hands against the same player saw Kay miss a penalty kick, but he made amends just on the final toot of a too frequent whistle, by another characteristic solo dash, and Ponsonby were down 5-2. STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS Apart from Kay the Thistle right winger Cummings was outstanding and is more impressive sirce he has abandoned the irritating practice cf trying to use his arms as wings. The Scots’ inside men were ineffective and rarely in the picture. The halves an: backs were as sound as usual and fed the wings with good judgment and placements. Zuill in goal was really brilliant, and fully justified the Auckland selectors’ award. Ponsonby s weak spot lay- in the wing halves, whe had the unenviable job of holding Kay and Cummings, and usually fell down on it. "Wright worked like a carthorse in the shafts at centre, and spoiled the opposite inside trio effectively, but placed his counters too oftt: to the Thistle backs instead of to own good wingers. Miles was another glutton for work and never let up, tor. Williams was not at his best. lan« and Wilson did a bit of a freeze common with the other forwards, were not fed with the same skill ai the opposing. Mr. Low was in a sever mood and the pace of the play wa ’ often checked by the whistle for sons cause which was not clear. Y.M.’S POOR SHOWING Y.M.C.A. was close up in the runnia? for the leadership, and expected j settle the weakened Shore eleven, wthe seasiders sprung one of their ny quent surprises and won a some* * lifeless contest by two goals to The Young Men missed Hoban m U* front and the frequent changes in formation did not assist eohesit e tics. Shore owed its victory large!, pressure from the right wing. Bush fed Moore industriously and ga him a good chance to use his spe£ with effect, but Bradshaw and -ay» the left were not so prominent « usual. Gilmour was absent from half line, and Fwenshaw changed wiu. Colebourne at full-back. The reconstructed Shore del®* k the Y.M. van so effectively that Ba in goal had his quietest time for eral weeks, and Gerrard shon ■ rliwg the defence with some strong _ and clean clearances. The -^!? a bouthe ‘curtain-raiser” r £, eP uv it, and there was very httle in theP£ to enthuse over. In the S u p £ the growing gallery wok ® l^i n |Jtewpt bit, and Y.M. made a spirited to retrieve the situation, hut fo , defence impenetrable. Ann saw Chalmers nearly smash the . bar with a terrific drive, _ a! Beilin? grafted hard for a scoring P but without reward. ONEHUNGA’S RECOVERY After a run of . tb ®iPdasb # team showed some of its ol 3,;. a five to one victory at home mc-nt. The Old Boys battled against their powerful opponen vfopening spell, and showed nP that the teams turned rouna score even at one all. “u th e secteam showed its superiorit. eoa ond half, and added four more its score, while Belmont fa , ga# f the bell again. It was ah w fcic.with a number c f knock-o - * phy ba* Belmont suffered most. £ n d his nose knocked out of - . ; a gfisC' other Belmont player received gash over the eye. TRAMS DOWN NORTH** The Trammies journejea yortt’ harbour for their first gam hon , e it? cote’s new ground, and eame victors by three goals to on ■ home side put up a stubborn. g and had hard luck m not occasions, but with tinkle ce r back to form, and tt> e g* Scott and Reid from ' ; 0 r transport men were too co& !ort ' strawberry growers, ana ably at the finish.