Soccer Trial Rich In Quality And Promise

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 19

Soccer Trial Rich In Quality And Promise

Canterbury’s soccer prospects for this season’s representative programme, and for several years ahead, are in safe and capable hands. In the full-scale trial at English Park yesterday, the Canterbury 7 XI that beat Nelson, 6-0, on Easter Monday, defeated the President’s XI. 4-0 and there was a richness of quality- and promise in the play of both teams.

Although both teams were largely made up of young players, the greater degree of experience in the Canterbury team finally tipped the balance.

However, there was also a 20-minute period at the opening of the game when the "Canterbury team was almost "hut never quite, beaten to its knees.

This was when the Presidon’s XL fresh and full of life, caught the Canterbury defence off balance as its double centre-half system was taking time to settle down. During this period the President’s XI might have scored at least twice had the ■ball run a little kindly and had there not been some determined individual play amongst the Canterbury defenders.

Paralysing Grip The turning point came when this defensive pattern, needing considerably more practise to make it perfect, began to gain a paralysing grip on the President’s XI inside-forwards. The recovery became complete when T. Conley scored a superb

goal in the forty-second minute. From then on the Canterbury XI gained a mastery that it seldom relaxed, as G. Griffiths and B. Gowans closed the route through the middle to the President's XI. Govans was the “sweeper,” picking up anything on either side that evaded Griffiths. Both joined tn attacks I J. 0 to ’ the Pressure, and Griffiths went very close to scoring twice. . Around them, A. Gowans worked so'idfy and industriously for 90 minutes; the two backs, A. Hawthorn and L. Sayers, kept their wingmen under control: and when the President’s XI threatened to breakthrough there was always Conley, or R. Taylor or J. Logue, or all three, racing back to lend support or to stamp out the threat In mid-field. For the whole of the second half this defensive pattern restricted the openings to the President’s XI to the barest minimum. McAlpine's Frsmls* The one player who came closest to beating the system was the under-18 inside-forward S. McAlpine. He had a magnificent match and there is little doubt that he will be clamour- | ng for a p’.ace in the senior team even before the end of the season. But all the defensive quailties were not contained in the Canterbury XI. The two backs, R. Binns and T. Mann, and both wing-halves, B. Wilkinson and C. Pickrlll, gave tremenouds service. Binns and Wilkinson were the equal and better of all other defenders, and Pickrell, still a schoolboy, 13 an outstanding prospect. There was very little to

(choose between the goal-keep-ers, O. Nuttrldge and I. Marshall. Nuttrldge began unsteadily but later did very little wrong and saved a penalty taken by Wilkinson; Marshall did not make a handling error but several times failed badly with his clearing kicks. The Canterbury XI forwards played some delightful football, keeping the ball moving and shooting on sight. Spaces were not always used to the best advantage, and the striking power along both wings was not pressed home to the full, although C. Martin had a hand in two of the goals. But these apart, there was much else that can be built upon, modified and improved. Mulrsen Well Held Apart from McAlpine and to a lesser extent K. Pahl, the President’s XI forwards were not impressive. R. Muirson was almost played out of the game at centre-forward, either by the twin centre-halves, Griffiths and Gowans, or by his own failure to keep on-side. Conley's first goal was the shot of the match, a left-footed, well-placed drive that beat Marshall all ends up. Conley’s second, which put Canterbury two-up, was a different affair, the ball going one way, then another as It was deflected by defenders. The other two goals were scored by Taylor, A. Gowans laying on the last with a brilliant through pass. The President’s XI fully deserved at least one goal, and was "robbed” of it when Sayers punched the ball over the bar. Wilkinson’s penalty shot was well placed but lacked the power to beat the swift reactions of Nuttrlde.

Referee: Mr C. van Oudheus den.