SOCCER FINALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 253, 26 October 1931, Page 11

SOCCER FINALE.

THISTLE DOUBLE HONOUR.

SECOND DEFEAT OF Y.M.C.A.

SUCCESSFUL SEASON CLOSES

The curtain fell on the 1931 Soccer season on Saturday after an unusually nrolonged period, when the .Falcon.'Cup was won by Thistle from Y.M.C.A.; Sor the second Saturday in succession and the third time in about five weeks the Scots have triumphed over Y .M.UA.,-. m fact Thistle have succeeded m landing the double," which, a few , weeks ago seemed fairly secure to Y.M. While Thistle have certainly cultivated a strong, clever, cohesive side, Y.M. have been unfortunate in the back end of f through injuries to pkyere, deny the assertion that Thistle fully deserved their honours.

EXTRA TIME NEEDED. On Saturday extra time had to be played to. decide the issue. Thistle. again got ahead two goals for Y.M. to plod Pluduly on,J fliaw. level, and then get one ahead. Afterwaids Thistle showed their best form and got on level terms. In the extra time they stayed the pace better, scoring the necessary go£l to give them the trophy. a typical end of season affair. 'Thistle tuert to play their customary combined game, and to a degree they succeeded, but Y.M. adopted their typical style of vlgoroM-nn orthodox and bustling football that kept their opponents from settling down. Jhe best play in the match always came fiom Hislop and Cummings on Thistle right and they repeatedly wended their way past the opposing defence by really clever pjaj. Theirs was the outstanding display ot understanding and studied tactics in- a game that, while it was' hard and. keen throughout, never reached a really elevated level. Thistle defence was. often beaten down by Y.M. in the opening spell, but Y.M. forwards showed, palpable weakness in finishing. As the .game progressed, however, and particularly in the-, second spell, the Scots' rearguard took a. much firmer grip. Gerrard was not so * sound as he has been. Chapman was •outstanding at back with Williams, also vigorous and forceful. The half-back line was only fair. Kennedy did not prove half so troublesome to .Kay as McLean did the week before. -Wright, was always in the picture, but his placing was often faulty, while Watson played hard if not praiiantly. The Thistle right wing, as stated, was at its best, McLeay played with rare judgment in centre, and fed his wings in masterly style. Gill and Woods on- the left, however,, again failed as a wing, and seldom made the most of their opportunities. - ■.. " ■ ~ . . While Y.M. had to take the field minus four of their regular seniors, it cannot be said that the team suffered to any extent on this account, such was the ability shown by the substitutes. Milliard, had a busy time during, the afternoon, aud showed a great tendency to take risks to get his kick in when he eould.have thrown' the ball out. Beckett, a junior right back; gave a very promising display, and was oiie of the successes' of the Y.M. team. MeGladdery was again unlucky to gn*e away a goal, but he played hard during the afternoon. Chalmers proved a useful man at centre half, while veteran Clanachan, while lie lasted, held the opposing wing, well. R. Riddolls at left half was not nearly so successful against the Thistle right wing as on the previous Saturday. His lack of experience was clearly shown, but he was far from beiug a failure. As usual, there was little cohesion in the attack, positional play being decidedly faultv. This was obviously due to the lack 'of confidence at the .centre, for sometimes Kay and sometimes Humphreys crowded into A. Riddolls' position to try t'o press home attacks. This disorganised the team work, and certainly assisted .the opposing 'defence. And it was what cost Y.M. the match. All the forwards played hard, were always triers,'but most of their efforts faded.out at the critical juncture. The Season in Retrospect. ' :

.Thus passes into history .season. .1931. If'''^the: , - h,, Auckland; i ,-'A'ssoclatibn,'' : ;Jiaß}-'nbt succeeded in retaining its position .as champions of New,, Zealand,.; it has. at least brought back'the' Chatham*-Cup, the' club premiership of the Dominion. The ;r.ep. season has been decidedly unfortunate, but it need not be disconcerting if the association experiences one lean year after seven profitable ones. The standard ot club play, taken generally, cannot be said to have' fallen, and in the case of one or two teams it lias been well maintained. In lower, grades the.. same lusty growth can- be recorded;-, and" a very -successful season has been carried through.

• The greatest satisfaction in connection with Soccer in. Auckland for season 1031, however, has not been on the playing field. It is a success on the administrative side, and the control board, under Dr. MacDougall, must be congratulated on the, thorough business overhaul which ■ they have given the affairs of the code. A tremendous amount of ' work has- been done to carry out the financial reconstruction of the association —a work long, overdue, but which has been tackled at last with determination and on' sound business lilies. As yet the work is uncompleted, but the foundations have been ' laid of what promises to lie a bright future. The aim of restoring Blnndford Park to an all-weather playing area seems well on the way to achievement, and with the financial responsibilities substantially curtailed, the control board may yet be'able to say that the code has received a' new lease of life. With this bright prospect, Soccer followers can be encouraged to look forward to season 1932. ■ •

The closing item for 1931 will be that to-morrow night in the Y.M.C.A.,' when, at a social function, the trophic? won during the season will be presented by Mr. Ernest Davis, president, and the code will also sliow tangible appreciation of 20 years of invaluable service rendered by Mr.