ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

ENGLISH CUP FINAL

THISTLE AND TECHNICAL DRAW The final of the English Cup knock-out competition was played on Saturday at English Park, where Thistle and Technical drew, 2-all. On such a hot day the football was of very high standard, and the result could not have been fairer. The curtain-raiser was played by Wellington and Canterbury in the New Zealand final of the Junior National Cup competition. This game was played almost in the hottest part oi the day, and this had a large bearing on the disappointing display. Wellington thoroughly deserved its 2-1 victory. After this match Mr J. E. Jones, president of the Canterbury Football Association, presented {he winning team with medals and the Junior National Cup to J. Newman, captain of the Wellington team. WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY Canterbury's strength was purely on defence, aqd without expert goal-keeping by Salt and honest work by Jeffries, Coote, and Flynn In the backs, Wellington would have won much more easily. The Canterbury forwards showed promise, but failed against determined tackling. Both teams showed a high standard sf marksmanship. Wellington, too, had a splendid defence but the halves served the forwards better than did the Canterbury halves, and both wings and centre made impressive runs. The best forward on the ground was A. Kerr, the Wellington outside right. Wellington just missed adding to Its score when the first whistle sounded just before .Adam netted. L. Watkins and J. Adame scored for Wellington, and R. Ivory for Canterbury. The teams were:— Wellington.—R. Jackson; B. Morrison, G. Haines; N. Wilson J. Newman (captain-), R. Cheesman; N. Kerr, L. Watkins,. J. Adam, F. Johnstone, L. Butler. Canterbury.—B. Salt; G. Coote. P. Flynn; P. Fletcher, R. Jeffries (captain), T.' WlUiamttmtN.. Donnelly, H. Bradbury. J. Withle, R. Ivory. B. Newsome. - The referee was Mr L. Tolnton. ' ” TECHNICAL V. THISTLE In spite of the trying weather Technical and Thistle played excellently in the English Cup final, although some comparatively easy scoring chances were lost. Thistle has probably the best balanced spearhead and supports In the competition, but ..the Technical defence had thgm.-WfU. checked. Although McKenzlsf in goal was in brilliant form, his three full-backs, Goldsmith, King, and Dean, gauged the trend of play ao accurately that clever Thistle attacks wen halted in their early stages. Thistle was particularly strong when Gordon, Davis, and G. McAnulty were associated, and these three gave one of the best combined attacking displays seen at English Park. JlcAnulty's tenacity and Gordon’s brilliant placements paved the way fqr Thistle’s draw. Technical's forwards, by good subsidiary play, were prominent. Smith showed good ball control and initiative within scoring range, his goal being the result of a splendid piece of opportunism. The halves of both teams were always efficient, the work of the übiquitous McGrath and the solid A. McAnulty being offset by the equal adaptability of Cook and Graham. , , Jt White McAnulty scored for . Thistle and V. Smith and G. Gibbons for ’ T^e 'referee was Mr W. Dick. LOWER GRADE RESUI.TS i In a Senior Reserve Grade match a Atlantis beat St. Vincent’s, 4-0. Western 5 beat Training College by default.