MIRAMAR THIRD TIME LUCKY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 18

MIRAMAR THIRD TIME LUCKY

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

It was third time lucky for Miramar Rangers (Wellington) in the North Island final of the Chatham Cup at Newmarket Park on Saturday. They beat Ponsonby (Auckland), 2-1, after extra time to qualify for the national final in Wellington on September 3.

Miramar had appeared twice before in North Island finals, losing to North Shore in 1959 and 1961.

forward capable of such a strong breakaway burst and powerful finishing shot. It lost because it had not learnt the lesson which has been staring the club in the face all season—how to turn 75 per cent possession into a commanding number of goals. For long spells Miramar was content to defend and contain Ponsonby attacks which were impressive until they reached the penalty area. There they petered out in a bad final pass or a weak shot. Whiting's Easy Game The New Zealand goal-keeper, P. Whiting, scarcely had a hard shot to save throughout, while Stroud, for Ponsonby, made many memorable saves from thunderbolt drives by the speedy and more direct Miramar attackers. Apart from Taylor, the insddeleft, S. BiEiing, and G.easley, at inside-right, were always dangerous. J. Barton was cool at centre-half and unlilke his opposite number, Masters, always cleared his lines decisively. Miramar, in fact, played ideal cup tie football, clearing strongly, cutting out the frills and relying on fast strong forwards to make the most of quick counter thrusts. Ponsonby started anxiously and never settled to its best form, although M. Seed ran miles in honest endeavour, Ebsworth was a thorn in the Miramar defence until he had to go off and J. Barber worked furiously, whether covering his fellow defenders or in extra time addling his despairing attack. J. Lawson was surprisingly ineffective at right-half and the full-backs, H. Kaiser, deputising for the injured C. Latimour, and G. Lake failed to subdue the Miramar wingers. G. Wells and S. Johnston, who replaced Ebsworth, were weak on the wings.

Against Ponsonby they fully deserved their slender win. Throughout the 120 minutes of play they showed more zest and purpose even if they did not always enjoy the greater share of possession. The Ponsonby goal-keeper, A Stroud, who otherwise played a sterling game, failed to hold a ground shot from the left by the Miramar centreforward, L: Taylor, in he forty-fourth minute. P. Riddey, the. outside-right, was on hand three yards out to tap in a gift goal, in spite of a desperate effort by the Ponsonby left-half, J. Barber, to intercept. Close Range Goal

After sustained pressure by Ponsonby in the second half M. Gulldea. who had moved to centre-forward when F. Ebsworth had to go off injured just before the interval, scored from elose range in the seventy-third minute when a shot from G. Wells,, on the right, had been only partially saved. Miramar deserved to win If only for Taylor’s great deciding goal. Seconds before the half; way stage of extra time he raced on to a perfectly judged through ball from H. Greasley, cut into the penalty area past the Ponsonby centre-half, A. Masters, and as Stroud came out of goal to challenge, fired a Mistering ground drive into the far corner of the net.

Ponsonby did not have one