City Defeat Surprise Result In Cup Soccer

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 22

City Defeat Surprise Result In Cup Soccer

Christchurch City had a mixture of week-end soccer. On Saturday, it suffered a shock 2-4 defeat against High School Old Boys in the first round of the English Cup knock-out. But yesterday, City became overwhelming favourites to win the Supporters’ Club sponsored tournament by beating Western, 1-0.

Western, Technical Old Boys and ShirleyNomads joined H. 5.0.8. in the semi-

finals of the English Cup with first round victories on Saturday.

Technical beat Rangers, 2-0, in the early game at English Park, Western struggled in the second half to defeat Waterside, 2-1, while ShirleyNomads reversed an earlier defeat by beating Shamrock, 2-1. The semi-finals will be played next Saturday, when Western will meet Technical at English Park and ShirleyNomads will play H. 5.0.8. at Western Park (1 p.m.). COSTLY ERROR A tragic mistake by J. le Poidevin, the only one he made as substitute at centre-half for G. Evans, proved costly for City in its cup tie with H. 5.0.8. It came with 15 minutes of the second half remaining after City had set up an uninterrupted siege on the Old Boys goal and looked certain, at any moment, to take the lead. Le Poidevin unaccountably missed a slowly rolling ball, and the Old Boys’ right-back, J. Hay, following up, was left a widfc open net into which to shoot. He made no mistake. This goal, completely against the run of play in the second half, put the Old Boys 3-2 ahead, and a rejuvenated side scored again four minutes later, to record one of the biggest upsets of the season After Evans, playing at centreforward in place of the absent J. Logue, had headed City into the lead early in the first half, the Old Boys hit back with some neat, controlled and powerful football. C. Hicks emulated Evans’s header to equalise, and then slammed the Old Boys into the lead after S. McAlpine’s hard shot had been blocked but not cleared. Twice more Hicks went very close with fine efforts and City, at this stage, was a little fortunate to be only a goal in arrears. But in the second half it was an entirely different story. The City forwards and halves gained a stranglehold on the play, and Evans, with a magnificent left-footed volley, made the scores level. It seemed only a matter of time before the Old Boys would be overwhelmed, as the team entirely lost confidence, rhythm and purpose. Evans put a

header against the bar, five shots in as many seconds were desperately blocked in one fantastic goalmouth melee and Taylor drove inches wide. Then came le Poidevin’s error, followed very quickly by the Old Boys’ fourth goal, scored by G. Williams, and City was out of the cup. STORMY PATCHES Two goals by Technical in the second half, after it had weathered some stormy patches, overcame a disappointing Rangers. disappointing primarily because so much good work was wasted and so many good intentions came to naught. There was drive and determination about the Rangers play in the first half, and enough possession to have secured a couple of goals. But there was also a lack of someone in the forward line with a cooler head than the others, a player who could lay on the final pass and break open a solid Technical defence. It was Technical’s turn to exert pressure in the second half, and the Rangers’ defence was not equal to the task of holding on. Technical scored a somewhat lucky goal when a corner kick by A. Vernon was deflected into his own net by the Rangers’ goal-keeper, A. Nottingham, Immediately after Nottingham had made a great save from point-blank range from A. Wardle. Shortly afterwards, P. Kay and Wardle combined well, and from the latter’s cross A. Logan took an awkward chance very well to put Technical twoup. Technical got solid service in defence from G. Griffiths and J. Chalmers, and Rangers from M. Shardlow and R. Binns. But the Rangers’ defenders were much too slow moving out of defence, so that Technical, particularly in the second half, w'on midfield control. STRONG DEFENCE

A scrappy game, of slow, ponderous forward movement and mistakes in defence, ended with Shirley-Nomads gaining the verdict over Shamrock, narrowly and probably against the run of play. Shamrock had more of the play in both halves but did not have the power or the guile in front of goal to score more than once.

Shirley's defence, centred around J. Kissack, G. Donaldson and A. Hawthorn, was once more a decisive factor. These three managed to hold out the majority of Shamrock’s attacks, but were greatly helped by Shamrock being reduced to 10 men in the second half when J. Killich was injured. Both first half goals, one for each side, came after goal mouth melees, and Shirley got the decider late in the game. A 2-1 victory flattered Western which could only scrape home against Waterside. Western had led 1-0 at half-time after P. Skelton scored from a high lobbed shot. The breeze and the deceptive spin on the ball helped to beat the Waterside goalkeeper, J. Joiner. Soon after the restart, A.

Brooks sent in a 30-yard leftfooted shot and Joiner was again caught napping. Apart from these two goals, Joiner played a fine game, saving several times with full-length dives. Waterside did not seem a danger until after J. Black, standing in a blatantly offside position, reduced his side’s de ficit. Waterside then began to out the Western defence under severe pressure and Western for long periods was forced desperately to hang on to survive.