Canterbury Loses Soccer Cup To Wellington

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31150, 29 August 1966, Page 13

Canterbury Loses Soccer Cup To Wellington

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON.

Failure to control and overcome determined, bustling mid-field play by a tenacious Wellington team resulted in Canterbury losing the Gordon Cup when it was beaten, 3-2, at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

The match was played in bitterly cold driving showers, with slippery mud underfoot —all of which combined to prevent Canterbury settling down.

Although there was only a goal difference in the scores, Canterbury did not deserve to win. It allowed Wellington to dictate the game from the kickroff and this cost it vital possession. Canterbury had few chances to score, and it was only firstclass anticipation and agile movements by the goalkeeper, O. Nuttridge, and the centre-half, G. Donaldson, that saved Canterbury’s prestige.

After its crushing defeat earlier this month by the Hong Kong club team, Wellington was grimly intent on regaining the form it had displayed during the first game against Canterbury, and when it beat Auckland. 2-1.

This was achieved because Canterbury lacked the spark, pace and skill of Wellington’s forwards and defenders.

Canterbury had the elements in its favour during the first half but could not score, a failure that was to cost it dearly during the second spell. The Canterbury forward line did not see much of the ball during the first 20 minutes and what enterprising play there was came from the Home XI. The Canterbury centre-forward, R. Taylor, who was starved of good ball throughout, had a chance to beat the international goal-keeper. P. Whiting, early in the match, but Whiting snatched the ball in a brilliant diving save.

Immediately, Wellington scored. Canterbury lost possession mid-field as it did so many times during the game and D. Wallace gathered the loose ball. He passed to the centre-forward, D. Bedwell, who flicked it to the inside-left, A. Jeffery, just over half-way. Jeffery burst through and drove strongly upfield. When he reached the penalty area he beat Nuttridge's outstretched hands with a hard drive. Jeffery, who scored a hattrick in the first game, received considerable attention from the Canterbury defence but he won the battle and was a constant danger. This goal awoke Canterbury and it came back with some good passing and fast probes down the wings, but to no avail, for Whiting was in commanding form.

Clever Control

Instead, Wellington scored again. This time the right, winger, J. Beck, slipped the defence with some clever ball control and he and the insideright, W. Wright, had the Canterbury defence at full stretch. They forced a corner and backkicked perfectly on to Wright’s head. He calmly turned it high into the top right-hand corner of the net. The apparent slowness of the effort deluded Nuttridge who leapt too late.

Wellington became dominant in the last five minutes and its captain and the right-half, G. Bilby, who was the man of the match with his constructive and enterprising play, both went close with long range drives. It was expected that in the second half Wellington would run all over the visitors but Canterbury came back with a praiseworthy performance and scored the best goal of the match.

After 17 minutes in the half, the inside-left, T. Conley, gathered a loose ball and dashed over to the right wing position where he made a probing run deep into Wellington’s half. He crossed perfectly to Taylor, who left Whiting stranded as he pushed it into the net. Canterbury’s other goal came from a penalty awarded after Wallace had back-charged a defender. A. Gowens made no mistake. Good Pass Wellington’s other goal came from Bedwell who, after a good through pass from Jeffery, beat the defenders to chip the ball over Nuttridge’* head.

Nuttridge was forced to leave the field with five minutes to go with a knee-cap injury. He was troubled by it during the game but still gave a first-class display. He was replaced by the under-18 goalie, D. Phillips. Donaldson was probably Can. terbury’s best player. He covered well and saved several times with last-ditch efforts. Gowans also had his moments and this talented voungster showed up on the few times Canterbury attacked. The rightwinger, L. Sayers, was another who now and then impressed, but over-all, Canterbury disappointed.

Osten Cup Canterbury gained some consolation by winning the Osten Cup for the under-18 teams with a convincing 3-1 victory. Goals came from the inside-left, S. McAlpine, the left-winger, J McLennan, and P. Hyland.