ASSOCIATION CODE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 3

ASSOCIATION CODE

WATERSIDERS BEAT THISTLE

TWO SURPRISES ON SATURDAY

Two surprises marked the Association football championship games on Saturday. Watersiders unexpectedly beat Thistle by the edd goal in three, and Shamrock beat Rangers by 6 goals to 4. In the other games Western just managed to head Technical after an exciting match, and Nomads decisively beat' Celtic by 4 goals to 1. Western’s - win gives it a clear lead in the championship. Thistle’s defeat. leaves it without a point at the bottom of the competition, a posi-' tion that Thistle has seldom if ever occupied. Championship points are:—Western 6, Nomads 5, Technical 4, Celtic 4, Shamrock 2. Watersiders 2, Rangers 1, Thistle 0. Results;— Western 2, Technical 1. Watersiders 2, Thistle 1. Nomads 4, Celtic 1. Shamrock 6. Rangers 4. WESTERN v. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS In the finest club exhibition of football seen at English Park in years, Western beat Technical by the odd goal in three. Play was veiy fast throughout. Western’s final goal advantage came from a more dangerous set of forwards on attack. In this sphere Western’s superiority was most marker when A. Almond was ordered off in the middle of the second spell. Individual cleverness and speed made up the loss, and on more than one occasion the forwards came within an inch of scoring. G. Smith was perhaps the best of ■> very even forward line, his two goals from headers being classic examples of their kind. A. Almond was the most constructive inside forward on the field. The Western halves and backs worked tirelessly, doing everything that was asked of them.

Technical played inspired football, the work of R. Davey, P. O’Malley, and V. Smith being brilliant. Technical was one up at half-time, and if the forward line had been left as it wag the van might have given a better account of itself. C Bailey returned to form to be easily the best. Paahi, after a lukewarm start, made some slashing runs later and then for some unaccountable reason was banished to the wing. The Technical half line and particularly V Smith, had much extra ground to cover because of the instability of their two inside forwards. Altogether, however, it was a really excellent game, the crack Western side getting its biggest gruelling in years. Goals were scored for Western by G. Smith (2). and for Technical by C. Bailey. Referee: Mr C. Sweeney.

WATERSIDERS V. THISTLE At Barrington Park Watersiders provided the surprise of the season by beating Thistle by the odd goal in three. In. its two previous games the Waterside team has had 24 goals to 0 scored against it, and apparently Thistle considered it opportune to try out players normally not up to senior grade. Watersiders fully appreciated this, and took the initiative from the start. Ford, in goal, gave the side a fine lead, and the halves in particular did some meritorious work. The forwards have still much room for improvement, mainly in accurate passing and shooting. Thistle’s play was definitely casual and had its own rewaffi.? The .fprwards possessed penetrative ability, but lacked finish. Goals were sppred for Watersiders by J. Porter and S. Ormsby. W. Thomas netted for Thistle. Referee: Mr F. Cope. NOMADS v. CELTIC In its first big test, Celtic, the young and hitherto undefeated side, proved too inexperienced for the strong Nomads eleven, at Malvern Park. Nomads gave a much better account ,of itself than in the previous Saturday »against Rangers, and once again must be considered as a possibility in the championship. Against Celtic, Nomads’ combination was both smoother and more accurate, with the retention of possession the main objective. Mcßae gave a good display in goal, and the work of White and Beavis could hardly have been bettered. Celtic, against a more accurate opposition, suffered through poor passing and positional play, with the result that its van had to make the most of its opportunities without support. McGlinchey, Tallott, and Kenny were most prominent in the forwards, and B. Shaw, G. McMenamin and P. Nelson were always handy in the backs. Goals were scored for Nomads by M. Barnard (2), W. White, and D. Souter. J. McGlinchey scored for Celtic. Referee: Mr M. Cassin. SHAMROCK v. .RANGERS At Hagley Park, Shamrock, displaying better au round football, accounted for Rangers by 6 goals to 4. Shamrock’s better showing the previous week was considerably improved upon against Rangers. This was particularly shown in the working of the forward, line They showed penetrative as well as combined ability, and were sufficiently accurate to register a useful tally of goals. The forwards’ success was a reflection on the fine constructive work of the intermediate line, where A. Lalfey has proved a useful pupil to the veteran Paton. * Rangers, without the services of Smith and Head gave a weak display in spite of good work by Sprange and Barnes. Goals were scored for Shamrock by H.

De Freatus (3), F. Myer (2), and L. Schimanski. H. Hassan (2)» R. Furlong, and I. Lee scored for Rangters,

Referee: Mr T. Gottermeyer. LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve.—Technical A 5, Thistle 0; Technical B 4, Rangers 1: Western 14, Celtic 1; Shamrock 3, Nomads 1. Junior Grade.—University A 3, Technical 0: Celtic 4, Western 1: Shamrock 7. University B 1. Fourth. Grade.—Technical A 5, St. Vincents 0; Western 4, Shamrock 0; Thistle A 6, Technical 80.

Fifth Grade.—Nomads A 2, Celtic 0; Nomads B 3, Rangers 1; Watersiders 4, Technical D 0; Technical A 4, Technical B 0; Thistle beat Shamrock by default. Sixth Grade.—Celtic 2. St. Joseph’s 2; Shamrock 8, Western '1; Technical A 6, Nomads 0; Rangers 2, Technical B 0. Seventh Grade.—Celtic 10, St. Joseph’s 0; Rangers 4, Shamrock R 0; Nomads 4i Shamrock A 1. Eighth Grade.—Shamrock A 2, Shamrock R 2; Celtic 2, Nomads 0. Watersiders beat Shamrock B by default.

BIRMINGHAM WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. Birmingham won the Association League South Championship by .306 of a goal The final averages wereßirmingham 2.133 Aston Villa 1.827. In Division 3 of the North Dash Cup final, Rotheram beat Chester by 3 goals to 2 , In Division 3 of the South Dash Cup final, Bournemouth beat Walsall 1-0.

IRELAND BEATS WALES (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. In the international Association football match. Ireland beat Wales by 1 goal to 0.