ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26492, 6 August 1951, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

CHATHAM CUP MATCH THISTLE BEATS MILLERTON The semi-final of the South Island Chatham Cup competition was played at English Park on Saturday, Thistle (Christchurch) beating Thistle (Millerton) by 8 goals to 0. Thistle will now play Northern in the South Island final at Dunedin on August 25. Other first division sides played championship matches, the only surprise being Y.M.C.A.’s win over Nomads by 7 goals to 3 at Hagley Park. At Malvern Park Celtic could field only eight players, and was well beaten by Rangers. In the early game at English Park Western outclassed Atlantis. Results : CHATHAM CUP Thistle (Christchurch) 7, Thistle (Millerton) 0. CHAMPIONSHIP Western 7, Atlantis 0. Y.M.C.A. 7, Nomads 3. Rangers 8, Celtic 0. Championship points now are:—Technical 23, Western 17, Thistle 13, Atlantis 10, Nomads 9, Rangers 9, Y.M.C.A. 8, Celtic 1. CHATHAM CUP MATCH During the opening stages Millerton looked most promising. The passing from backs to forwards was consistently accurate, and if the centre or the wingers had had speed or ball control Millerton might have been able to take the initiative. As it was, scoring chances went begging. Thistle attacked with judicious long placements, and White placed the ball nicely across the goalmouth for Gordon to head it in. Moynihan, the Millerton captain, who was playing excellently at right half, then went to centre, where he was as effective as a stopper back. The change, however, was for the worse, because G. McAnulty, the Thistle centre forward, had everything his own way in directing his attack. Millerton definitely weakened the defence to bolster up a weak forward line. In this department Steele, who ultimately went to centre forward, was the onty player to exploit scoring opportunities with any likelihood of success. His inside men worked hard, but seldom had contact with their flank halves, with the result that Thistle practically assumed full control of mid-field play. Millerton, with a spearhead of Steele’s calibre, would have fared very well with the goaling opportunities offering. S. Orman, C. Fox. W. Riddell, D. Moyniham, J. Cunniffe, and C. Steele all played well for Millerton.

Thistle, after some uncertainty at the start, gave a fine exhibition of cohesive football. The defence was always sound, and both flank halves combined splendidly with two brilliant directions of the Thistle attack. The work of Davis, in particular, was outstanding. The forwards, headed by G. McAnulty, J. Gordon, and J. McGrath, finished off the attacks convincingly. G. McAnulty 3, J. McGrath 2, J. Gordon and J. White scored for Thistle. ■ , The referee was Mr M. Cassln. WESTERN v. ATLANTIS

Although Western showed better cohesion throughout than did Atlantis in the early match at English Park, the side in the early silages was assisted by the opposing backs more than by its own efforts. Atlantis gave away too much, and the team subsequently lacked confidence. When Lester was back a wrong move was made in placing Miller in goal Miller is one of the hardest-working defenders in the team, and he would have been more effective in his usual position Atlantis players recently have impressed as being faster on the ball than their opponents, but in Western they met their match, as well as learning a solid lesson in tne value of accurate placements and coworked well as a unit. The scorers for Western were J. Quickenden 2, G. Smith 2, J. Longmuir and S. EggletoThe referee was Mr L. Tointon. Y.M.C.A. V. NOMADS The match between Y.M.C.A. and Nomads at Hagley Park w as played at a gruelling pace, both sides making full use of the scoring opportunities. Y.M.C.A., after two unbelievably poor showings on the previous Saturdays, gave a first-rate exhibition of constructive football. It showed better balance, particularly in the forwards, where Irvine, Millward, and Anderson showed up than did Nomads, whose passing allowed too much room for anticipation. s. t Goals were scored for Y.M.C.A. by J. Irvine 2, W. Anderson 2 E. Millward and A Wilson. T. Shearer, B. Sanson and P. Fox scored for Nomads. The referee was Mr P. Consedine. RANGERS V. CELTIC Playing at Malvern Park, Rangers were hardly ever off attack against Celtic, which fielded only eight players. Only poor finish kept the score down, although there was good defence by P. Nelson, B. O'Rawe and O. Brownlie. Condon showed up in Celtic’s few attacks. For Rangers Head, McPherson, and Glenri were promin eI D Head 5, G. Glenn, E. Adams and S. Dickman scored for Rangers. The referee was Mr T. Billcliff. LOWER GRADES Results In lower grades were:— Second Division.—University 5, Technical 3; Western 4, Shamrock 1; Thistle beat Rangers by default. Senior Reserve Grade.—Western 5, Y.M.C.A. 0; St. Vincent’s 8, Training College 1, Shamrock beat Atlantis by default. Technical beat Nomads by default. Junior A Grade.—Canterbury Agricultural College 3, Nomads 0; St. Vincent's 1, Thistle 1; Sydenham Rovers 3, Atlantis 0. Junior B. Grade.—University 2, Waterside 1; Oriental 1, Western 1. Fourth Grade.—(Knockout): Western 3, Sydenham Rovers 1. Competition: Western 1, Sydenham Rovers 1; Thistle 5, St. Vincents 3. Fifth Grade.—Shamrock A 5, Western 0; Technical C 3, Y.M.C.A. 1; Technical B 2, Nomads 0. Sixth Grade—Nomads 8, Shamrock 0; Celtic 5. Western 2; Thistle 2, Y.M.C.A. 1. Seventh Grade.—Nomads 7, Rangers 0; Shamrock 2, Western 2. Eighth Grade I.—Shamrock 8, St. Vincents 0; Western A 4, Shamrock R 0; Thistle W 2, Nomads 0; Celtic 1, Y.M.C.A. ,0. Eighth Grade ll.—Rangers A 2, Rangers B 0; Shamrock R beat Celtic by default; | Western 2, Western A 0.