ENGLISH CUP COMPETITION

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 9

ENGLISH CUP COMPETITION

SEMI FINALS PLAYED TECHNICAL TO MEET WESTERN The finalists in the English Cup first division knock-out competition are Western and Technical Old Boys. In the semi-finals on Saturday, Western beat Nomads, and Technical Old Boys beat Christchurch City. Results:— Technical Old Boys 6, Christchurch City 0. Western 7, Nomads 2. WESTERN v. NOMADS Western was fully extended by the youthful Nomads team in the first half and was possibly lucky to have a one goal lead when (he spell was taken. Nomads continued to attack early in the second half but with D. Stapley injured and moved to left wing, faded badly, and Western added four more goals to win 7-2. The firm ground and dry ball made conditions vastly different from those ruling throughout the season, and the game was played at a fast pace. Nomads appeared to tire. Western having much more speed and thrust in the closing stages. It was then that the superior combination of the Western attacking line was fully effective, the Nomads defence being completely outplayed. When Stapley. at right half, injured a

leg, he was moved to left wing, and was largely a passenger. In spite of this Nomads continued to attempt to attack down the left, and the useful right flank combination of A van Rooyen and A. McCallum had relatively little of the ball. D. Lilley was in goal for Western and his «task was eased by the splendid defensive trio, F. Hayden, A. Laffey, and F. Bradley. Very rarely did the Nomads forwards pass them. G. McLean and J. Longmuir were the flank halves, and they eventually took control of midfield play. P. Saunderson and C. Steel switched wings in the second half, and Steel showed that he can score goals from the left as well as the right. His shots gave H. Botterman little chance. K. Olley was hard to mark at centre forward, and he beat the defence on occasions. J. White and A. McDonald were again the inside forwards, and linked well with the halves and remaining forwards. Botterman, for Nomads, made some good saves against shooting that was as good -as any seen this season. B. Shaw was the stronger of the backs, and I. Graham and D. Simmonds the best of the halves. Without B. Ennis, Nomads lacked a spearhead as A. Newell played indifferently at centre forward. A. van Rooyen, P. Fennell, and A. McCallum all figured individually, but they had not the short passing combination of the opposing forwards. G. Williams filled in at left wing, but did not have a good day. He has played better at inside forward previously. White put Western ahead early in the game, receiving from Saunderson to run the ball into the net. Fifteen minutes later van Rooyen evened scores when he collected the ball after Lilley had left his goal. Botterman was making some splendid saves in the Nomads goal and he capped them all by punching clear a penalty taken by White. Western took the lead again, Olley scoring from close range when Nomads were expecting a free-kick against White for hands, but evidently the referee considered the ball struck his body and allowed the goal. Nomads rallied to attack and after a hectic few minutes round the Western goal, evened scores again. Rennell heading the ball past Lilley. Western went ahead when Olley, receiving from Steel, beat all opposition. , Early in the second spell Nomads con-

tinued to harass the Western defence, but faded badly, and Western attacked strongly over the last 20 minutes. Steel scored three more.goals with lovely shots, and McDonald threaded his way through to drpw and beat Botterman. The referee was Mr H. Royce. TECHNICAL v. CHRISTCHURCH CITY Scoring three goals in each spell. Technical Old Boys had a clear-cut win over Christchurch City. The score indicates a one-sided game, but such was not the case. City had its share of the play, but the Technical defence was too strong. Cityplayed good combined football, but was seldom able to work its way past the .Technical backs. It was here that Technical had a clear-cut superiority. Midfield, honours were ’even, but the Technical forwards were able to break through the defence. In part this is also attributable to the intelligent play of its forwards, led by the two Charltons. The City backs could not keep them covered all the time.

Normally a half. D. Charlton played at inside right, and its suited him well. V. Smith filled in well as right wing, but W. Logan, on the other flank, had an off day. his crosses and corner kicks crossing the line repeatedly. E. Charlton, at centre forward, and K. Rassmussen. completed a strong attacking forward line. J. Cook, J. Hunter, and R. Storer were a solid half line. Hunter being outstanding. M. Dean and C. Spinks worked in well with Hunter on defence. L. McKenzie, in goal, did all expected of him. City’s goalkeeper, K. King, earned applause for some fine saves. J. Adams and T. Lynch had a difficult day coping with the Technical attack, and did some good work. M. Wild was centre, half, and he kept E. Charlton well marked. R. Codling and M. Pickworth, the other halves, were quick on to the ball and placed their passes well. J. Quickenden. centre forward, has scored freely this season, but he had few opportunities on Saturday, Hunter always being on hand when the ball came down the centre. T. Clarkson and J. Gordon were the best of the forwards.

I It was 15 minutes before Technical i opened the scoring. Working his way ! down the line, Logan centred for E. Charlton to goal. The second goal came

from a header by Logan. E. Charlton and D. Charlton worked their way past City 's defence. D. Charlton scoring with a low drive that the goalkeeper. King, could not reach. City seldom reached the goalmouth on its attacks, but just before half-time, when the forwards did break through. Quickenden spoilt the movement with offside play. Just after the spell City had the ball in the net but the referee awarded a free-kick to Technical for an infringement. After McKenzie had staved off another attack Technical returned play to the City goal, and Smith scored after King had stopped a shot but failed to clear. Quickenden had two good shots, one being stopped by Deans and the second by McKenzie, and then Technical was back again. E. Charlton scoring from Smith’s centre. With only minutes to play. D. Charlton scored his second goal with another long drive. The referee was Mr C. Anderson.