ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 2 November 1925, Page 12

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

SEASON OFFICIALLY CLOSED. THISTLE WIN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP. The Association football season was closed on Saturday, when the senior League competition was concluded. The lust match was between Thistle and Northcote. on tne result of which depended the premiership. For the first 20 minutes Northcote more than held their own and surprised their opponents, scoring the opening goal, following the equaliser to Thistle, however, there was never any doubt as to the result, and the Scotsmen ran home easy winners, thereby winning the championship, in additYi to the Falcon Cup, which they won last Saturday. THE GAME. The teams were:— Xorthrote: Chesncv. Hibbert, Thompson. Woodall, r.nll. Uthgow, Trow heller, Holmes, Trein.iin, Scholes. Burford. Thistle: Jack. Ferguson. Reid. Buchanan. Tinkler. Dickson, Duusmore, Dodds, Humphries, llislop, Kay. ' Referee: Mr. F. -T. Knightley. Immediately after the Kick-off Northcote worked up an attack through Scholes and Burford. The ball bobbed about in front of Jack till Burford sent past from close range. The Thistle gradually reversed the order, and by a series of touchline kicks, bore down on Chesncy. Thompson, however, relieved. Woodall let Tremain away and Scholes and Burford set out on their own. The extreme winger beat Ferguson on the run, and getting right down on Jack, beat the custodian Willi a hard left foot drive. Northcote 1 Thistle ° Play brightened up after this, and Chesnev's goal was besieged. Kay and Humphries, in quick succession, tried the goalkeeper, who cleared smartly. After a short visit to I'ergusou's quarters, the black and whites again attacked but the spoiling tactics of the young Northcote defenders upset their calculations. Back again came Northcote, aud a long shot from a free kick by Woodall troubled Jack. He cleared by fisting out and Bull dropped in a dangerous baH-, which Tinkler headed out and Buchanan cleared. Having staved off the attack Dodds and Dunsmore made ground but Lithgow was penalised for an illegitimate tackle. Dp to this point Nortlicote had quite held their own and Trewheller forced a corner which Tinkler cleared. A spirited contest between Kane and Woodall followed, and for a time the Northcote goal was jeopardised till Hibbert relieved with a huge punt. The pace was fast and the ftlay interesting, Thistle putting in strenuous efforts to equalise. They were once more repulsed and danger threatened when a fast ball beat Ferguson and let Scboles in. The Northcote colt, however, shot from too fa\' out and Jack easily saved. Fallowing a spell of midlield play Thistle forwards came away in a combined run. Dunsu\ore carried the ball down and shot Onesney. saying smartly. The goalkeeper failed to clear comple'telv and Humphries got possession lust on the line. Centring squarely the ball rebounded off T>oin_>son Into the net. Northcote ~ Thistle - 1 From the recentre the Thistle again pressed with force, and after Thompson had temporarily cleared, Humphries sent out to Kay. The outside left caught the ball on the swing aud with a nrst time shot beat Chesney with a hard, low drive. Thistle * Northcote x Undeterred by this sudden . reversal, Northcote set up a spirited attack, and danger threatened from Burford, but he ultimately shot past. At the other ena Humphries had a great run and shot, ms parting drive from the touchline dropping behind by inches. From a pass forward by Dodds Humphries forced a corner off Hubert and Kay took the kick. He placed the ball beautifully, and Buchanan was presented with an easy chance, which he instantly accepted, beating Chesney with a hard shot. Thistle 3 Northcote a Play after this was decidedly iv Thistle's favour. They hemmed their opponents into their own quarter, and the defence waa sorely tried. Till the interval, however, though the pressure was maintained, no •further scoring was registered, and the teams crossed over with the score thus: — Thistle ..„«..« — 3 Northcote 1 Play opened quietly at the resumption of the second spell. Thistle were first to press. A clearance by Reid gave Dodds a chance, and he passed out to Kay. The winger sent in a daisy cutter, which cannoned off Hibbert. The resultant corner was loosely placed, and easily cleared. A fast sprint by Burford transferred play to Thistle's end. but nothing resulted, and for •the next fifteen minutes, the leaders monopolised play. A long punt from Reid was taken by Humphries, who manoeuvred for position cleverly, and, with a lightning drive, gave Chesney no earthly chance to save. Thistle ■* Northcote .-.- 1 Fom this on play was practically all in favour of Thistle. Occasionally Northcote bad a breakaway, but they . were 'seldom dangerous. The pace toned down for a time, till an unusual incident occurred at Northcote's goal. A long, dropping shot from Humphries found its way to the net, the referee whistling before the ball was over the line. There was a likelihood of Northcote leaving the field,. when it was pointed out that the linesman had signalled a corner. A corner kick was given, which proved abortive. Thistle again pressed, and a free kick just outside the penalty area resulted in Dickson scoring again. Thistle 5 Northcote 1 Northcote then took up the running, and from a centre by Scholes, Bell rushed in and scored. Thistle 5 Northcote 2 Till the close play was in Thistle's favour, but there was no further scoring, and the game ended iv an easy win for Thistle. Score: — Thistle ..................... 5 Northcote ■ 2 Just before the close Tucker retired witn an injury to his nose..