EIGHT OF THE BEST

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31725, 8 July 1968, Page 13

EIGHT OF THE BEST

With on* of Its greatest performances In five years of many splendid victories, Christchurch City swept aside St Kilda, M, at Western Park yesterday, bringing the club Its second win and fourth point In successive days.

Equally startling was the City metamorphosis from one day to the other. Whereas City’s attack had been a thing of bits and pieces against Technical on Saturday. It was a well-oiled machine yesterday. The forwards bore down on St Kilda In strength and depth, switching the ball from man to man in sweeping movements that tore the Dunedin club’s defence into shreds. And yet, it was not a one-sided game. St Kilda, too, had its moments, its wing. G. McLean, giving City considerable trouble. But St Kilda's attack, tn contrast to Ctty’s. was like the peck of a bird to the bite of a lion, and long before the end St Kilda was engulfed.

T. Ward, playing the whole game yesterday in place of R Proven, for whom he came On as substitute in the second half on Saturday, gave the City forwards the inspiration they have lacked recently. He tackled and ran and tolled all the game, and his example was followed by the others. So much so. in fact, that the forward line was three times the force it had been against Technical. City’s goal were scored by D. Watson (3), J. Logue (2), G. Evans (2) and R. Taylor. A Gowans, with an injured ankle, was replaced by J. Wilson in th* sixtieth minute. Strength Decisive Although City had been victorious over Technical, by two clear goals, it had not been an Impressive performance. On a treacle tart of a pitch a premium was placed on stamina, rather more than on skill, and In a hard, slogging match, City’s greater strength prevailed. Its forward play was very patchy, with few movements of any length and little penetration. Both goals were well taken but had an element of good fortune about them, while Technical was unable to take the chances that came its way. Making hia first team debut. Proven controlled the ball splendidly to lay on the first goal for Taylor, and City added its second when Taylor’s header from a corner rebounded off A. Hawthorn's chest and the ball waa slammed into the net by Logue. K. France came on as a substitute for A. Caine In the second half, to play in his first match since he was injured at the start of the season—and nearly scored with his first kick. City was leading 1-0 when the ball ran loose to France, who had been on the field for less than a minute. It would have been a sensational goal—instead, it was a lucky escape for City. France failed to get full power behind his shot and W. McKenna made a last-second clearance off the line. France took some time to settle down but tn the final stages was getting stronger and stronger. And Technical will need his strength for as long as the pounds remain so heavy. Its light forwards found great difficulty penetrating City’s very solid defence and the mud, and the detest Technical went to scoring in the second half wore the efforts of the half-back, J. Chalmers, and the right-back. G. Davit. Earlier, K. Pahl and A. Dawe tested 0. Nuttridge. Ranger’s Power The tremendous power that Bangers can switch on when in top gear bowled over Northern at the Caledonian ground. And when Northern looked to be recovering from the first shock

of ending itself 0-3 down at halftime. Rangers came back once more to sweep through to a magnificent 5-6 victory. Once again T. Hayden was in towering form, bringing his players to the peak of effort, dominating the mid-field, laying on chances, and finally scoring the firth goal himself. This was a little gem—instant control of the ball that allowed him to pick his spot in the goal. There was a large element of luck about Rangers' first goal, a high lob from 45ft by the left-back C. Pickrill. which the Northern goalkeeper. I. McDougall, badly misjudged. But this released the spring latent in Rangers and the Northern players at the best cf time* rarely in concert with each other, were overwhelmed. These powerful bursts of Rangers stem from the midfield. where Haydon and V. Pollard gain the upper hand, and spread throughout the team. On Saturday, it brought goals to Pickrill, D. Torklngton, Pollard, B. Hammond and Haydon, and put Rangers into a very strong position to win the first southern league championship. Skittery Defence New Brighton had to beat Mosgiel to have any chance of promotion and apart from a 15minute period In the second half there was little doubt It would. The biggest mystery was how the Mosgiel defence had conceded only 1< goals in its previous 10 matches. The Dunedin defenders were as skittery as maiden aunts confronted by a white mouse. They made dozens of mistakes in the first half, and it was a mixture of bad luck and bad finishing that kept Brighton only to a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Mosgiel showed a glimpse of the form that has taken It so high and so far in the second division after it scored Its only goal in the second half, but once Brighton got back into its stride again, it became a mat* ter of how many the seasiders would win by.

For much of the match Mosgiel made ground through Brighton’s lapses, caused mainly when W. Quirke, A. Marley and G. Spiers held the ball too long and lost it trying to beat one opponent too many. This had the effect of leaving gaps through which Mosgiel could penetrate, and W. Chisholm, J. le Polvedin. W. Costigan and D. Phillips did some excellent work In defence.

However, when the ball was released quickly, as the young G. Storer showed time and again, Brighton was extremely effective, and at these times Mosgiei had no answer. K. Burke, G. Taylor, Spiers, Quirke and W. Penman scored for Brighton, B. D'Arcy for Mosgiel.

Finished Better Although convincing enough winners, by five goals to two. Shamrock could not have been really satisfied with its performance against Technical 'Dunedin). At 5-1, Shamrock was so superior it should have doubled the score; instead. Technical came back to score once more and at the end was doing most of the attacking. But the latter stages apart. Shamrock played very well and scored some fine goals. In out* standing form were the under* 18 representative, P. Yates, at left-half, who scored twice, and the inside-forward, A. Marshall, who did not get a goal but helped to make the opportunities for others. Shamrock's other goals wore netted by J. Killlck, w. Yates and M. Scott. Wings In Control western took th* lead tn th* twenty-third minute against St

Kilda. and at that stage there was no Indication of the rout to follow. Even at half-time, when the Dunedin club led only 2-1. Western was having just as much of ths play. Therefore, it came as a surprise when St Kild* over-ran the home team's defence In the second half, scoring four more times without reply. St Kllda's strength was on the wings. Western’s weakness in combating this sphere of play. When in full Sight, the wings, G. McLean and L. Reyntjes, tore holes in Western’s defence, and between them they got all of St Kilda’s goals, McLean four and Reyntjes two.

Technical’s Opponent The Christchurch club. Technical, will meet Nelson United in the South Island semi-finals of the Chatham Cup at Nelson on July 22. United qualifies for the semifinal by defeating Grosvenor Rovers (Marlborough), 7-0, on Saturday. The other South Island semifinal, at Dunedin on the Same day, will be between RoslynU atari and United (Invercargill). Result* of North Island quar-ter-final ties on Saturday were: Papatoetoe 0, Hamilton 4; Eastern Suburbs 4. Mt Albert 1; Thistle (Palmerston North) 3. Western Suburbs (Wanganui) 1.