ASSOCIATION CODE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27132, 31 August 1953, Page 7

ASSOCIATION CODE

ENGLISH CUP GAMES CHRISTCHURCH BEATEN BY THISTLE The weather was warm for the first round of the Canterbury Football Association’s English Cup knock-out competition on Saturday. The only surprise of the day was Thistle’s clear-cut win over Christchurch City at English Park by 5 goals to 2. At Burwood Park, Western had a comfortable win over University, and at Spreydon, where two games were held, Nomads beat Shamrock and Technical beat Atlantis after extended time.

In a North Island v. South Island under 14 game for the B. L. Salmon Memorial Bowl at English Park, North won by 4 goals to 2.

Thistle 5, Christchurch City 2. Western 7, University 0. Technical 4, Atlantis 3. Nomads 4, Shamrock 0. THISTLE V. CHRISTCHURCH CITY

Except for its Chatham Cup engagements Thistle has provided its followers with a succession of drab displays this season, but on Saturday against City the side rose to the occasion in fine style. Particularly was this so after the enforced retirement of G. McAnulty. Thistle thoroughly deserved its win. The defence made fewer mistakes than City’s, and the ball was quickly sent to the spearhead who, with the extra room to work in. made good use of it.

City, on the other hand, further weakened a sluggish defence by attempting to force a territorial advantage when in possession, and the City’s spearhead seldom had other than a packed Thistle defence to deal with. City nevertheless worked hard but without variety. Thistle, particularly in the second spell, gave its best display of the season. The defence worked well. R. Johnstone, in goal, who is usually a full-back, improvised excellently, bringing off some really spectacular saves. T. Kennedy, at left half and later left back, was another who impressed, and his form in these positions suggests that he will not be seen in the forwards again this season. Of the forwards the find was A. Burns at outside right. Burns did everything right, and his positional play and good anticipation gave him three well earned goals. « A. Burns (3), R. Clarke, and J. Gordon scored for Thistle, and D. Charlton (2) for Christchurch City. Referee: Mr L. Tointon. WESTERN v. UNIVERSITY • At Burwood Park, Western, even with the inclusion of reserve players, was far too strong for a depleted University eleven. University played three men short and had little chance from the outset. Feenstra, Duckworth, Mahoney, and Chaughan played well for the students. Olley, R. Smith, A. Laffey, and J. White were the most prominent Western players in possession. K. Olley (5) and R. Smith (2) scored for Western.

Referee: Mr P. Consedine. TECHNICAL v. ATLANTIS Technical had a hard struggle with Atlantis at Spreydon Domain, extra time being played. Technical’s finish left quite a lot to be desired. Movements were excellently carried through, only to be spoilt by poor marksmanship. Although the Technical defence lacked solidity, the work of Storer and in particular J. Cook, the flank halves, was first class.

Atlantis was mainly on defence, and K. Voght, the goalkeeper, supported by three hard-working backs in Wheeler, Townsend, and Shuttleworth, got through a „tremdndous amount of work in good style. Ayres and in particular Clarkson, the flank halves, with the support of McPherson, worked well in mid-field, both on cover defence and in initiating thrusts. The spearhead was disappointing. W. McFarlane, usually a brilliant attacking player, had a day off, and Cassells proved to be the best.

V. Smith (2). A. Gardenbroek, and W. Logan scored for Technical, and V. Cassells (2) and R. Fleming for Atlantis. Referee: Mr A. Gray. NOMADS V. SHAMROCK

Using the wind to advantage during the first spell in its game with Nomads at Spreydon, Shamrock conducted a hot offensive, but in spite of almost a continuous territorial advantage, failed to open its account. H. Botheman, the Nomads goalkeeper, was in brilliant form, but the main reason was the good defence by Gowans, Kempen, and Noort, together with the Shamrock forwards’ own poor marksmanship.

The Shamrock forwards were not always happy in controlling the lively ball. In contrast, the Nomads forwards adapted themselves much better to th® conditions, in spite of brilliant defence by J. Cavanagh at left full-back. Here a very likely recruit to the Nomads senior side was J. Stapley, a Junior National Cup player, who was on the right wing. With H. Smitheram, he was the most formidable of the Nomads forwards. In the second spell Nomads received good attacking support from J. Cullen and H. Ayres, the flank halves, who moved quickly to the ball and showed good discrimination in varying play to either flank. R. Smith (2), L. Jesson, and B. Shaw scored for Nomads. Referee: Mr W. Dick. LOWER GRADES Second Division.—Rangers 3, Technical 2; City 2, Atlantis &; Sydenham Rovers 4, St. Vincent’s 3; Western 2, Hinemoa 0. Senior Reserve.—Shamrock 3, Rangers 0. Junior Grade.—Thistle 2, Celtic. 0. UNDER 14 NEW ZEALAND TEAM After the under 14 inter-island game at English Park, the selectors, Messrs R. Hector (North Otago) and T. Weir (Auckland) selected the following New Zealand eleven:—J. Simpson (Auckland); W. Charlton (Canterbury), P. Branff (Auckland); B. Anderson (Auckland), B. Preston (Auckland), L. Tippett (Otago); J. Willman (Wellington), B. French (Auckland), P. Rae (Auckland), G. Allan (Wellington), R. Hayne (Hutt Valley). SOUTHLAND WINS REACH CUP (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, August 30. Southland beat Otago, 1-0, and won the Keach Cup in a representative Association football match played at Invercargill on Saturday. There was little between the teams, and a good goal by C. Steele on the right wing gave Southland its first win in a Keach Cup match since 1951.