English Cup Final Completes Soccer

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 15

English Cup Final Completes Soccer

The curtain drops on the English Park soccer season tomorrow afternoon when Christchurch City, led by its professional player-coach, G. Evans, for the first time in five weeks, attempts to achieve its triple senior championship of 1964.

City, already winner of the Hurley Shield and O’Briens tournament, will meet Rangers in the final of the English Cup—the last senior competition game of the season. Evans, who suffered a broken nose five weeks ago, has returned to soccer a week sooner than the doctor ordered, to plug the gaps the club has suffered by the under-18 team’s visit to Australia. It has lost the righthalf, A. Gowans, the outsideleft, F. Madrussen, and the right-back, L. Sayers. Two Key Players The key to the final will be the ability of Evans, for City, and K. Olley, for Rangers, to knit their two teams into striking units. Evans has done this for City all season; Olley has brought cohesion and power into the Rangers side in recent matches. He scored the two goals by which Rangers beat Shamrock, 2-1, in their replayed semi-final last Sunday, the match going 220 minutes before a decision was gained. Olley is one of the most experienced players in

Christchurch soccer—and still one of the most dangerous. City must start the favourite, for twice this season it has scored convincing wins over Rangers. Also, it has been the only consistent club, week in, week out, and this will be a great / asset in the early moments of tension of a cup final. Experienced Defenders But the match between two teams, each playing a similar kind of game, should produce a high standard of soccer. If Rangers can close the gaps that occasionally appear in their defence, and deny City an early goal, they must have a chance of reversing previous results. In defence, Rangers have strong and experienced players in J. Adam, A. Inglis and D. Durant. They may be hardpressed to match the speed and youth of D. Watson and R. Bruce, but this battle must be won if City is to be beaten. For with Evans behind them, urging, prompting and pushing through a stream of good ball, the City forwards will not be easily contained. The match has the players and the will to produce a grandstand finale to the season.