ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 218, 15 September 1925, Page 14

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY. THISTLE AND SHORE HARD PRESSED. CBy OLD PLAYER.) A -pleasing feature of Saturday's game was the infusion of -young blood into senior teams, and the very promising displays given "by the recruits. This season- m.iv see the end of more than one well-known Soccerite from a playing point of view, and it is just as well that there are players coming on fit to take their places. Oniv in this way will the standard be improved and maintained. There should not be much difficulty in selecting the senior player who "has made most progress this season. Williams, of Ponsonhy, ought to walk away with' the medal. The lower grades were very busy on Saturday with the knock-out competitions. There were some almost sensational runaway victories, and on the other-hand, one game had to he extended to four extra spells before a verdict was arrived at. There was a good deal of ill-considered talk at the second match on Blandford Park on Saturday relative to the work of the referee. Some of it was not surprising, coining as it did from oue-eyed partisans, but when officials of the A.F.A. and referees as well' cast aspersions on a referee, or cast doubt upon his rulings, the matter calls for serious comment. It displays an appalling lack of common sense and decency in any official or referee.' more so the latter, who make* any utterance In a public gathering derogatory of the ability or decisions of the knight of the whistle. Being referees, they ought to have tact, for one thing, and surely they ought to know that the referee is in the best' posit'on to see. But there is a good deal of'petty jealously and ■ self-opinionated puerility amongst some members prominent iv the A.F.A.It.A.. At all events • everyone iv Auckland could benefit hy endeavouring to emulate the methods of the referee in Saturday's second game. > A Remarkable Recovery.

Probably Northcote were the most surprised individuals ou Blandford Park, as they trooped off on Saturday, two "goals down, after being four goals to the good midway through the game. The fixture by hilf-tiine had practically no interest for those present, and looked like being a proper fiasco. liven when Navy got two goals on their chances seemed very-long odds, but ou scoring the third point, matters commenced to 'brighten up. From this on it was a real exciting hoot, and the spectators were quite reconciled iv the thrilling finish. Northcote played throughout with ten men, and were without the services of W. Knott. The side, however, gave a plucky exhibition though it was the weakness of the Navy dfence more than anything'that was responsible' for the wide difference in the scores at half-time. As the game progressed the sailors' rearguard improved, aud, thanks to some fine longrange shooting 'by Merritt. the match was pulled out of the fire. Tucker played well in the face of indisposition, and Batehelor, at right-back, is also worthy of mention. He Is perhaps slow moving and ponderous, but it would take more that a four-goal deficit to make him downhearted. Bradley was fair at right-half. He certainly appeared to take the advice given to part with the 'ball, and Improved his general usefulness. -Baxter has not yet returned to form. Merritt was the man of the moment in Navy's front rank. Throughout he played a fine go-ahead game, and in the second spell repeatedly showed very clever touches, getting three goals. His shooting was a treat, and right on the target. He was but indifferently supported, nevertheless, and the passing of the vanguard left a lot to be desired. "VVarwick, as a right-footed outside-left, did pTetty well, and the way he manoeuvred to get the ball to his right foot when he scored was almost amusing. But he. beat Chesney all the same. The other, forwards were always willing for the fray, though their play was hardly np -to senior standard.

One felt it difficult to resist the feeling that Northcote was rather unlucky on the day's play. Prohahly that was due •to the plucky fight they put up in the face of shortage of numbers. Chesney . made -praiseworthy attempts to reach all the shots which- got past him. It was a coincidence that the whole ten goals scored were registered at the Bridge end of the ground. In the Northcote defence Thompson was always prominent, as was Hibbert and Calderwood. Roberts was promoted for the day, and played very creditably. The blue forwards got through a deal of running and bustling work, but towards the close lost their penetrative effect. SHORE'S STRUGGLE TO WIN. A dour, determined struggle resulted in the' meeting of North Shore, the competition leaders, and Ponsonby. It was a gamewherein defence triumphed over attack. The backs on both sides were much too strong for the opposing forwards, and the shooting on both sides, though it. lacked not pith, was sadly wanting in accuracy. Lipscombe got comparatively little to do, and did not receive one really diflicult shot to dcnl with. Gerrard was right on top of his form and gave a masterly display. Cool, calm and collected, he repeatedly robbed Ponsonby of the ball with apparent ease, aud quashed, attacks innumerable. Corbett, too, was very safe. There was no neater play than that of Jones, at'centre .half, who made a .very welcome return after his recent accident. His trapping of the ball and placing were a treat to witness, : McGnrry played better than he has done, for many a day,' but-perhaps the greatest surprise of the day; was the display of young Hanklns at right half. Thisyouth, popped iv. from Grade' 3 to fill a gap, played and judgment which augurs exceedingly well for *the future. He tackled or twice with too much vigour—but was just a trifle reckless in parting'with the ball. In the forward line Dacre was the outstanding player. He kept the Ponsonby defence -always on the move, and took a power of watching. Palmer, too, was always In the limelight when Shore were pressing, but J. Woolley was off colour. The extreme wingers were not often brought into the picture.

Ponsonby had good cause to thank their rear line's of defence that the score against-them was not much greater. Morrison, who Was recently regraded,- but who has since played two senior games, gave the -best display of his career ,-so far. He tackled with marked confidence and showed fine Judgment in his-clearances. If he can maintain Saturdays-form Ponsonby will" have no need to think 'of another partner for Williams. Hall ; deputised for Craxton and is a custodians who' can be thoroughly relied upon. JOJVilliams at back was again a shining light in -Ponsonby's backs, nnd further enhanced his reputation for BOlid, sound defensive work. His speedy recovery came in useful on manyoccasions. The half back line was not up to standard. ' Neesham again Impressed, as several other players have done this season, that he ' dislikes sloppy grounds such as Saturday's. He was but a shadow of his former self. O'Brien was probably the best half back in the loser's side, and he often popped in from nowhere when danger threatened. Mitchell got through much solid work and was very energetic. Once again the Ponsonby attack failed through indifferent shooting, and the mistake of keeping the ball far too much infield. The inside passing game is quite desirable from the point of view of the opposing defence, as it saves them, much running about, but It seldom proves efficacious, to the side adopting it. It is a remarkable fact that since the forwards departed from the swinging wing-to-wing game they worked up earlier in the season their star has been in the descendant. And yet they have had probably the most competent outside wingers of any club in the city. Certainly the dropping of Christie was a heavy blow to the and the transference of Kennedy from left to right inside has not improved matters. The consequence is that Innes in his attempts to redeem things is usually out of position. What Ponsonby requires most, and what will require to be, got if the club hopes to go. any distance "in fhe cup ties', is a brace of- inside forwards.

While Shore were baring a struggle to extract full points from Ponsonby, Thistle were having a keen battle against T.M.C.A' Both teams were _ good deal under full strength, and the game could hardly betaken as .a criterion. The points went to Thistle, however, with the last kick of the" ball. -.;" . .-■ \ ••_, - -The other', match on the Domain between n.llttoy's <utl Tramways was, very clcteely contested, the corporation side "carrying off the points by the odd goalin three.