FLOODLIT SOCCER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 14

FLOODLIT SOCCER

Rangers And City Win

Recovering its poise after being a goal down in the tenth minute, Christchurch City went on to beat High School Old Boys, 4-1, in the first round of the Rangers floodlit soccer tournament at Rangers Park last evening. In the other match, to complete the first round, the host club, Rangers, also fought back from a goal down, 18 minutes after the start of the second half, to defeat Shirley-Nomads,

City and Rangers join New Brighton and Technical, winners of their first round matches the previous week, in the semi-finals. R. Beaumont gave Old Boys the lead but M. Clements celebrated his first game with Citv by scoring the equaliser 10 minutes later.

A typically aggressive run by the New Zealand under-23 representative, A. Gowans, brought City its second goal, and the lead at half-time.

Clements rounded off some fine play between R. Bruce and J. Logue to put City 3-1 ahead, and T. Haydon, also in his first game for City, beat two men and scored from close range to complete the scoring. The Old Boys, in spite of their defeat, fought hard and well to the end, had a goal disallowed for off-side and went close to scoring several times through C. Hicks. „ Playing In goal for Old Boys was P. Coman, normally a fullback, and although in an unaccustomed position he saved his side many times from a heavier defeat.

Rangers gained the upper hand only in the last 10 minutes to turn aside the challenge of Shirley-Nomads. Until that point Shirley had shared the honours.

However, once it had gained control. Rangers pressed home its attacks successfully, and goals by A. Smythe and W. Penman turned a 2-3 deficit into a 4-3 victory. Smythe and M. White, a fierce shot from 25 yards, added the earlier Rangers goals, and R. Muirson (2) and E. Rice scored for Shirley.