ASSOCIATION CODE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1938, Page 2

ASSOCIATION CODE

DIAMONDS v MASTERTON.

(By “Centre Half.”)

The weather proved favourable for the opening game of Association football on the Park Oval on Saturday, the Diamonds junior B team travelling from Wellington to meet the local representatives.

Masterton kicked off, and from the start the ball travelled to Longworth who centred with Campbell following up, but the Diamonds keeper cleared easily. Play was patchy but a movement by the visitors saw their centre' forward fail in front of the goal, and Constable attempted a .long shot but Dixon was safe. From the goal kick the ball went to Longworth who had bad luck in hitting the upright. Again the local team pressed, but the visitors’ goalie gathered the ball very neatly and cleared. Masterton still had the better of the game but could not find the net. The visitors then broke away and a pretty centre from Hooker gave Russ the opportunity to score and he made no mistake. Diamonds 1, Masterton 0. From the kick off Masterton again forced the game. Bell and Longworth attempted to score but Walker was too strong, and from his clearing effort Dunlop put in a beautiful centre for Russ to score the second goal. Just before halftime Longworth centred to Bell who put the ball over the bar, and after the play went down field and back Bell again missed an open goal. The half-time score read: Diamonds 2, Masterton 0.

Play in the second spell steadied down as the pace had been too fast for the local team. From a movement among the backs King touched the ball to Bell, who this time made no mistake, giving Masterton their first goal. Several corners were forced by the local side, but Walker, the visitors’ goalkeeper, was always there to punch the ball away. The play was now very slow. The local team showed little enterprise and the visitors took their tally of goals to 5. Just before the final whistle there was a pretty little bit of football. Longworth came

in from outside to inside right, and the game ended with an exhibition of how football should be played. For Diamonds Russ and Scott (2) scored goals in the second half. Mr J. Ross was referee.