SENIOR A GRADE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 118, 21 May 1928, Page 14

SENIOR A GRADE

V.M.C.A. 2, PETONE I. ' Thei'e was a large attendance of spectators at the Basin Reserve, -where on No. 1 ground V.M.C.A. defeated Petone by 2 goals to 1. The match was keenly contested from start to finish, and some brilliant football was seen. Each side gave of its best, and the result of the game Was in. doubt till the last minute. The teams were: — V.M.C.A.: Lucas, M'Girr, Trott, Pearson, Armitage, Ballard, Worth, Dempster, lligby, Lack, and Stocks. Petone: M'Vean, Steele, Haines, Farquliar, Campbell, Irvine). Hunter, Harrington, Leslie, Cameron, and James. Petone kicked off, and they immediately attacked strongly. In the first quarter o£ 'an hour they kept the ball in V.M.'s half, and missed scoring by a narrow margin on three occasions. Hunter, on the right wing, played brilliantly in the opening stages. He _ centred with judgment and gave the inside men plenty of chance's. ' M'Girr cleared for Young Men, aud the ball went via Dempster and Lack to lligby, the .latter shooting without success. Petone had a glorious chance to score, when Leslie received a pass from Hunter. The centreforward was a few yards out from the goal with only Lucas to beat. Leslie shot, but Lucas saved in brilliant fashion. Trott miskicked, and Hunter carried the ball past M'Girr, and centred to Leslie. The latter ehot, but Lucas had no difficulty, in picking up the leather and clearing. From Ballard, the ball went out to Worth on the right wing, and there was a thrilling moment when the winger, shot, .and the ball hit the upright. Stokes crossed nicely, and Worth just failed to connect with the leather to score. Young Men pressed, aud Steele performed valuable work, in defending. Further efforts by V.M.C.A. brought the desired result. Ballard sent the ball to Worth, the latter scoring with an easy shot. V.M.C.A. 1, Petone 0. Petane retaliated with a forward attack, and CameroTi shot from close quarters. The leather was well picked up by Lucas. From Hunter, the ball went to James, but -the latter shot wildly from: close quarters,. the ball travelling high over the net. Pctono had another chance to score when Hunter again passed the full-back, and enabled the . forwards, with the ball at their feet, to approach, close to the goal. Leslie's kick seiit the ball over the cross-bar. James passed to' Leslie, and the latter took another shot, this time Lucas saving brilliantly. A few minutes later, M'Vean brought off a fine save stopping a fast ball sent in by Worth. Petone kept pressing, and Lucas left his goal to meet the, opposing forwards. He slipped on the greasy ground, and Leslie dribbled the ball into the goal. V.M.C.A. 1, Petone 1. The fast pace that was set in the first spell was not maintained in the second half. Soon after play had started again, lligby and Lack were associated in a forward movement close to Petone's goal. The ball was transferred to Worth, who did not fail to find the net. V.M.C.A. 2, Petone 1. Petone again pressed, but Hunter was not as sure as he. had been in the first half, and some of his shots at goal were weak. Each side found the net, but the goals were not allowed on account of offside play. Petone attacked with determination, and there were exciting moments before the pressure was relieved. Hunter shot, and the leather missed the net by inches. His shot was followed by one from Leslie, which almost reached its mark. Two shots by Young Men just failed to get home, Worth hit the upright, and a shot sent in by Stocks was saved in fine style by M'Vean. Petone battled till the end, but could not penetrate'the V..M. defence, and the game ended: Y.M.C.A. 2, Petone 1. Mr. F. Sanders was the referee.