Close Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 679, 3 June 1929, Page 6

Close Soccer

FIRST ROUND FINISHES Two Saturday Games Drawn CLOSE finishes were the features of the haul games in the first round of the senior Soccer championship. Trams missed a point in a lucky draw with V.M.C.A., after a hard and exciting game. Ponsonby. could only draw with Celtic in the preliminary game and is still two poiifits behind the leaders. Shore was beaten at OneJjuuga by the odd goal in five, and Thistle won a scrambling game from Belmont at Devouport by two goals to nil.

The racing carnival liad _ its effect on the attendance at Blandford Park, but there was a good crowd present, and it was rewarded with two very even struggles, the second spell of the Trams-Young Men duel being productive of many tense and thrilling moments. Both teams were at full strength, except that Hoban deputised for Whaley on V.M.’s left wing, and was a weak link in an ineffective attack,awhile on both sides *tho defenders were too smart in their smothering tactics to allow the marksmen much time for shooting. A QUIET OPENING Play was interesting in the early stages, but with nothing startling to rouse- up the Ixirrackers, and the forwards on both sides were too much inclined to stand off the opposing backs and allow them time for leisurely clearances. In a series of exchanges Batty was ealled on to handle more frequently than Hilliard, but the longrange pots lacked sting until :Sp©ng sent across a scorcher which Hilliard ! saved brilliantly. The Y.M. backs and : halves were holding the powerful Tram j van well, and feeding their own forwards with good judgment, but the Y.M. left wing spoilt some good raids by sending too far ahead instead of centering or crossing to the opposing wing. A diversion was caused by a disagreement between a club linesman and the referee about giving a goal kick, the flag-waver retiring from his post. The incident emphasises the advisability of neutral linesmen where available. The only score in the first half came from Christie trapping a clearance and slamming home a piledriver through his forward line to the net, Hilliard being baulked and beaten by the intervening players. PLAY LIVENS UP It was obvious on the restart that I Young Men liad adopted a change of ! tactics, and at once set out to tear down on the Trams’ defence with a series of short-passing rushes and shock I assaults, Humphreys going to the in- | side position where he. Woods and Mcj Auslan combined well together in the i close came. Hard defensive work and long by Simpson and Christie ! raised the siege and sent Trams away I on occasional reprisals, but the Y.M. defence was very sound, and the ball was soon booted back for renewed rushes to the Trams lb. Y.M. forced two corner kicks, and then Clanachan sent in a perfect centre for Woods to secure in a scramble and equalise with a nippy shot. From this out the pace became hotter than ever, and the Young Men fought hard to gain the lead, but the Tram defenders dropped back and packed the goal area to smother up. ! One regular Rugby rush seemed certain to score, but Batty went to earth with the ball and a free for dangerous play brought a welcome relief. Trams countered with some speedy runs and Spencer brought Hilliard to his knees with a hot pot which the colt cleared cleverly. Y.M. continued to press till the end. but Batty defended desperately and Simpson was a tower of strength. The Young Men were frequently well inside the 18, but lacked the finishing thrust to find the net, and the game ended all square in a chorus of continuous cheering. The ! sold defence of Y.M. was thoroughly j tested and came through the ordeal with the greatest credit. Hilliard gave a great display in goal, while Mowat and Otter were sound throughout. Chapman had a strenuous afternoon against the solid inside Tram men, and the redoubtable? Christie, and the colt was the outstanding half in a gruelling game. Malcolm nursed his wing well, but Spong and Bell were a bit too strong a wing for Riddolls at times. Woods and Humphreys stood out in the front rank, but Clanachan and Hoban failed to go the pace set. Batty, Simpson and Christie were the mainstay of the Trams defence, but Spencer was too carefully watched by Chapman and the fullbacks to be dangerous. As the game went the transporters were lucky to retain their unbeaten record. PONIES DROP A POINT As Ponsonby had only lost one game, the club supporters were confi- ; dent of claiming full points from Celtic to wind up the first round. But both teams had to call on reservists to fill gaps in the firing line. After leading by two goals in the first spell, the Ponies attack faded out and the Celts made up leeway to share the points in a quiet even game. With a bit of luck, Celtic would have scored in the opening half, but some good centres by Simm went begging, and Lyon brought off some snappy saves. Innes went to the centre-half position, and it was from judicious openings by him that Wilson was able to work his passage through the defence and put Ponies two up. In the second spell play livened up «a bit, Simm forcing a corner, which he placed for Wright to head in smartly, and then Hunter made the score even with a swift shot from long range. Both sides finished strongly in a battle for the winning point, but the shooting was erratic and a two-all draw resulted. DULL GAME AT DEVONPORT Thistle journeyed across the harbour to meet Belmont, and gained a full points’ win by two goals to nil after a straggling and disappointing game. Thistle opened strongly when Cummings sent in a long dropping Shot whiehWylie cleared weakly, and the ball rebounded from a Belmont Player into his own goal. Even play followed and Belmont .made good attempts to equalise by Cleal and Stewart, but Gerrard was safe in the Scots citadel. Woodall was an effective obstacle in the side of the Thistle left wing, and most of the danger came from Gumming and Chalmers on the rtght, but Wylie was smart in some and “"conventional clearances. In the second spell the veteran Stewart tried hard to rally the Belmont t anguard, but the response was unimpressive and the Thistle men pluved much below form with feeble and futile ball tapping, which got them nowhere s C otan ~ ? ta « es Kay darted in her-a , ° ld ' t,me dash - a "d drove ' ia^ d to the net. a poor game endingtwo goals to nil in favour of Thistle. SHORE DOWN AGAIN W^r^r, k a "' 'akened eleven to the " ast ground. Bush and Goldsvacancies in the half line. ! ; " C i X s up to fill °"i ank * In spite of this, the the string", Ut Up a Kood same against I ni,r, nsr home tea "h the promoted •IT K, ac,|oltt,r « themselves very creditably and showing great promise

both Whiteley and Goldsworthy sessing commanding nhysiques to tl them for senior struggles. Onehumhad Bentley to thank for- a narrow vi tory by three goals to (wo after th centre-half had landed a double bv two powerful drives from well do# the field. Onehunga led by two to or. In the first spell. Whiteley scoring Shore with a neat bit of play. b U j‘ made matters even in the second ' by heading past Zuill, but Bentley p—his side ahead again and clever ing by Zuill cleared some strong tacks by Shore, and the home tea'a scored a popular win. SENIOR B GAMES Jlanurewa met with its first defeat at the hands of Philomel, and bom clubs arc now level at the top of the table with one loss each, so the race for promotion seems certain to be exciting. Metropolitan again showed b, improved form by drawing with Corinthians, and Bon Accord accounted for Newmarket easily by five goals i„ one.