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Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 15

PROMISING YOUNG FORWARD. . trip to Onehunga was always an interesting adventure for a city Soccer scribe and pleasure was added to interest when it happened—as it did on j,?~ urc ? a y— that game, on this most difficult of all the local grounds,- was worthy of description, and also that it should produce a new player of real promise.

There is an old saying that "The coach goes on, even though the passengers dismount." Therefore it may savour of putting the cart before the horse to describe the work of one player before giving a general indication of the plav. Such, however, must be done in this case for the work of Whimster, the Onehunga forward, brought him into senior grade rank. It was good to see the way in which the youngster — he has played in less than half a dozen senior matches — gathered and controlled the ball on the run and, after , beating his man, either swept in a centre or t6ok a snapshot af' goal. Whimster was carefully watched by Riley and Thompson, but he held his

own in excellent style and he should go far, given careful coaching. His shot—at long range and over the head of a crowd of players— during the later stages of the second half was well judged and well "put in," and it brought Lyon into vigorous action. Northcote's keeper was the mainstay of the defence throughout a keen and well-fought game. He made more than one daring save in the second half, and his judgment was always sound.

So much for the two outstanding figures of the match; now for the match itself. Put briefly, it resolved itself into a stern tussle between two teams, neither of which was at full "paper" strength, but each of which managed to field a strong and vigorous side. Onehunga were weakened by the absence of Rimmer, their regular inside-left, who had broken his toe during training, but Cotton deputised in useful fashion and fitted in well with his front rank colleagues. Northcote at one period looked like having some difliculty in fielding a full team, for Cole, Williams, Balmforth and Gidley were unable to turn out, and the attack had to be reinforced by reserves. These were Neil and Wylie, on the left wing, and a very useful left wing they made. Wylie deserves every credit for his equalising goal, the result of a well-directed shot at the end of a clever run.

And so ended Northcote's best match this season, a matato in which they earned their first point on a foreign ground and stood up well to strong opposition. If they can maintain this form there will be some pretty football to watch on their new ground on the banks of the Waitemata.