ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21857, 10 August 1936, Page 5

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

HURLEY SHIELD SERIES

TECHNICAL BEATS WESTERN B BY TWO GOALS The Hurley Shield Association football series was continued on Saturday, all grounds being very heavy. At English Park, where a part of the ground was under water. Western played good football to beat Nomads 5-2. At Malvern Park Rangers were pressed to beat St. Albans by the odd goal in five. Thistle, although disorganised, beat Linwood comfortably, 3-1. At Ensor’s road. Technical surprisingly beat Western B by 4 goals to 2. The championship table at the end of the twelfth round is:—

WESTERN A (5) V. NOMADS (2) Western showed better ball cqntrol and combination in the conditions than Nomads After some lucky goals at the beginning of the match Western settled down ; and. played cohesive football. The main difference between the teams was in the half-back line. Gordon always backed up Western forward movements ana tor all-round play Henderson had no equals. Both sets of backs made tactical mis-, takes, but the Western men retrieved their position more quickly.' G. Roberts was the best of the backs, although Nomads worked hard throughout. Mcßae, the Nomads’ goal-keeper, although prone to leave his goal too much at first, soon recovered and gave a polished display. Both sets of forwards showed up well, although, with the chances offering, the Western men were at an advantage. F. Smith, on the left wing for Nomads, gave an Improved showing, his crosses being accurate and handy to his inside men. P. Allen and C. Billcliff. although inclined to dally with the ball, showed pace and made the most of their opportunities. W. Ives, for Western, gave a great exhibition in the mud. his shooting being the only faulty part of his play. G. Smith and G. Ellis merged in well, although on the wing W. White is inclined to take the ball in instead of centreing to the goalScorers for Western A were G. Srnitn 12). W. Kelly, and W. Ives, and for Nomads C. Sharr and F. Smith. Referee; Mr R. H. Neville.

RANGERS (3) v, ST. ALBANS (2) At Malvern Park, play was quite fair and keen, but the field at the end was an area of churned-up mud. Rangers adapted themselves early to the state of the ground and at half-time had fnree goals on. In the second half St. Albans fought back, but at the end Rangers were still one goal to the good. Roth teams fielded even half-back lines. W. Barnes played a vigorous game at fullback for Rangers, but the St. Albans pair took fewer risks and were- just as effectivc. In the Rangers’ forwards G. Cullen made some ,good individual breaks and was well supported by his. two inside men, Barnes and Souter. Both Ross and a- promoted reserve player, Foster, made some strong bids on the wings. The St. Albans attacking machine is still lacking in combination. C. Liddle appears to be wasted on the wing, and he would certainly add to the forwards’ penetration if he were placed nearer the centre. R. Bennett made some strong runs at centre, and Mitchell was always handy. Scorers for Rangers were G. Cullen (2) and E. Barnes, and for St. Albans R. Bennett and J. McLennan. Referee: Mr J. Crew.

THISTLE (3) v. LINJVOOD (1) •

On a ground on which the goal-keepers Had to stand in two inches of muddy water. Thistle beat Linwood by two clear goals at Hagley Park. Both teams fielded emergencies and. on the day Linwood should have won. It did. not make the best of its opportunities, however, mainly because of the poor play of some of Its forwards. Thistle owed its success to a steady defence coupled with more success in finishing off forward movements.

J. Simpson at full-back was again tbe mainstay of the Thistle defence. In the halves, Thistle had a good attacking trio, but on defence they were slow in getting back. Of the forwards W. Sutherland and G. Clements were the pick. McAnulty and McQuinnle played fair games in place of Bruce and Adam. Of the Linwood team, Batterbee is still improving, and with more confidence will go to the front. J. Cockle played a discriminating game at full-back, ■ but he is a natural forward, and would play better in the forwards. W. Liddle and A. Harland worked hard in the halves, both men playing to the left flank', where the attack was more dangerous;. W, Thomas was the pick of the forwards, and at times by great solo wbrk ran clean through the defence, but the finishing efforts were generally weak. A. Renwick was well watched at centre, and on the left wing B. Frankland had trouble in passing Bates. Scorers for Thistle were W. Sutherland (3), and for Linwood W. Thomas. Referee: Mr L. Doherty. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS (4) V. WESTERN B (2) Technical has become the "giantkiller” of the present competition, having beaten Nomads, Rangers, and on Saturday Western B. Unfortunately its form has not been sustained and the team has slumped against the teams lower in the competition. , . , . . Against Western B Technical adopted its usual tactics and had a goal in the first few minutes. Technical continued to be dangerous, its finishing off being superior to that of the Western forwards. Both goal-keepers gave good exhibitions, considering the conditions, and were ably : supported by the backs. Porter, Scott, and Fleete were prominent in the Technical defence, and of the forwards G. Browne, F. Craggs, ' and T. Walls were always prominent. Of the Western men, the pick of the backs was Deering, J. Henderson, and McVicker, and in the forwards Benger, Nelligan, and Pattinson were prominent. 1 Scorers for Technical Old Boys were F. Craggs (3), T. Walls, and for Western B S. Benger and L. Finch. .Referee: Mr E. B. Harris. Other results were:— Senior Reserve Grade —Technical Old Boys 6, Marlst O;'Y.M.C.A. won from Linwood by default: Nomads won from Rangers by default. Junior Grade—Y.M.C.A. 2. Thistle 2; Celtic B 2. Nomads 2; Marist 3, Celtic AO; St. Albans 0, Technical 0. Fifth Grade—Marist 2, Nomads 0; Western 3. St. Albans B 1; Technical 6, St. Albans AO.

Sixth Grade—Celtic 4, Y.M.C.A. 3; Thistle 6. Nomads 1; Technical B 2, Mar--Ist 0; Technical A won from Western by default. . . Seventh Grade—Y.M.C.A. 3, Technical X; Thistle 4. Northcote 0; Linwood 7. Nomads 0; Marist 3. Rangers 2. RESULTS OF SCOTTISH MATCHES (PKiraD PEKSS 48S0CUTI0H —COPTBJOHI.I (Received August 9, 8.30 pun.) LONDON, August 8. Scottish first division football matches resulted:—Arbroath 2, Clyde 1; Celtic 3, St. Johnstone 2;' Dundee 0, Bangers 0; Dunfermline 2, Hearts 5; Falkirk 3, Hamilton 2; Hibernian 1, Aberdeen 3; Motherwell 3, Queen’s Park 1; Partick 4, Queen of the South 1; St. Mirren 3, Albion 0; Third Lanark 2, Kilmarnock 1. * ■ Second Division matches resulted:— Airdrie 2. Forfar 3; Alloa 0, East Sterling 2; Ayr 2, Leith 1; Brechin 0. East Fife 0: Dumbarton 2. Edinburgh 0; King’s Park 2, Dundee United 4; Morton 6, Cowdenbeath 1; Raith 2, Stenhousemulr 1; St. Bernard's 7, Montrose 1.

P. W. , L. D. F. -A. Pts. Western A 10 9 ■ 1 50 9 19 14 Thistle • • 10 6 2 2 27 10 Rangers Western B • ■ 12 11 7 6 5 - 4 1 38 36 26 28 14 13 Nomads 11 5 5 1 32 20 11 Tech. Old Boys 11 4 7 - 20 42 8 Linwood 12 2 9 1 19 62 5 St. Albans 11 2 9 — 20 44 4