THISTLE DOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1938, Page 15

THISTLE DOWN.

SOCCER SURPRISE. SHORE REGISTERS WIN. POSSONBY GETS HOME. Ideal weather conditions induced larger attendances at Soccer games on Saturday, and spectators were rewarded by sonj: exciting contests and surprise finishes. Last year's champion, Thistle, met their first defeat this season from Eastern Suburbs, 4 —l, while Shore defeated Abek 3 —l after being a goal down at the interval. Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys defeated Comrades after a bard struggle by 3 —2, and Onehunga improved by drawing with Metro-College 3—3. Ponlonbv notched the first win in defeating V.M.C.A. by 4—o, and t>he Young Men have yet to move off the zero mark. How they stand:— Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts Thistle 5 4 1 — 16 11 8 Suburbs 5 3 1 1 18 10 7 North Shore 5 3 1 1 24 11 7 Abels 5 3 2 — 19 6 6 Old Boys 5 3 2 — 17 9 6 Metro-College ... 5 2 2 1 18 21 5 Comrades 5 2 3 — 11 13 4 Ponsonby 5 1 3 1 19 21 3 Onehunga 5 -—■ 3 2 10 35 2 Y.M.C.A 5 — 5 — 1 ID — SUBURBS SURPRISE. The newly-promoted Eastern Suburbs who had shown improved form in drawing with Shore the previous week, fielded a verj- solid team which also proved to b< in very fit condition. The game was s tough struggle between contrasting styles Suburbs slinging the ball about freely witli long-passing movements and spoiling the Scots pattern-weaving play by bnstlin? tactics which upset their rivals' mori studied strategy. Although Suburbs gained most of the territorial advantage in the first spell, wild shooting and wasted open ings kept the score sheet blank until just before the whistle went, when a shod attack in mass formation put Suburbs one up, and Warren went off for hospital attention to a broken finger. On resuming Thistle battled hard to even matters, witli Caisley doing the trick with a long straight pot. Then it was a willing and thrillinf go for tho lead, but Suburbs' shock tactio crumpled up the Thistle defence, and three goals in quick succession gave the Tamak lads a well-<leserved win. For the winner; Cowie in goal gavo a sterliug display, witl his smart saving and long-distance clear ances, except for a single goal, whicli seemed to catch him by surprise anc unsighted. Gay and Howison were »n idenl Rair of hustling backs whose kicking was clean and sure. In the. middle line A Welsh- exploited the third-hack game eflfec tively, and blanketed Angus or forced hiir into off-side positions. Diamond and Bishor gave him solid support. Cummings anc Hitehen on the wings wero fast off the mark, with speedy dribbling and accurate centres, which Darwin made good use ol in netting ji "hat-trick," and R. Welsh wni a harel worker at inside right. Thistle were! handicapped in the second spell bj Morrjs going from the pivotal position tt relieving goalie, where he put up a griir resistance to Suburbs' shock tactics. Stone and Williams have been seen to hottei advantage, but they were harassed by the opposing wings being given too much roon by the Thistle wing halves. Forward the Scots van only occasionally got ruiinin; smoothly, and the haunting of Angus bj tho opposing centre-half blunted the spear head of Thistle's attack, while the winj men were rarely prominent.