SOCCER YOUTH

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 20

SOCCER YOUTH

Although every grade of junior soccer has its special interest, there is something about the under 13 section that is particularly stimulating. Perhaps it is because this is the age when the results of good coaching begin to show real expression and when the competitive football definitely leaves the juvenile stage.

The better teams in the under 13 section are putting into action the individual skills and team-work they have been taught, but equally important learning to improvise. It may well be the stage at which'even the most cautious coach could say that this boy or that boy," with proper coaching and outlook, “might well make the grade.” The Hornby team, with a 6-1 victory over Rangiora last Saturday, certainly has its quota of youngsters using their brains as well as their feet to master soccer. Their latest performance took the . side into second place on the table, moving up one position. Good team - work was supplemented by accurate passing throughout the game, and there was also, from Hornby, the fine marksmanship of Geoffrey Mein, who scored four of his side’s goals. The other scorers were Brian Sellars and Andrew Carr, who netted from an 18-yard free-kick. * *

The Rangers A team in the under 13 grade leads its competition and here again is a side packed with players whose names should one day give glamour to a national league side. Rangers beat Brighton A, 5-1, and if the margin somewhat flattered the team, the victory was well deserved. The whole accent in the Rangers play is on movement, on and off the ball, and building dangerous situations. Shortly after the kick-off, Rikki Koster opened the scoring from a splendid through pass, and John Toohey followed it with a solo effort and a neat lob over the goal-keeper’s head. Brighton was not left out of the proceedings, and lan Gowan and Gerard van der Kemp worked hard to get their team back into the game, but the Rangers defence stood firm, under the strong influence of Scott Dewar, David Nevitt and Paul Kimer.

A good pass by Peter Ede to Philip Hugo brought Rangers’ third goal, and the constructive play of Johnny Godman, Ross Clackson and Steven Dunn brought two more goals.

The success of this Rangers team was just one in a day of triumphs for the club’s A sides. The nine senior teams in the junior grades all won their matches, and from the under 10s to under 17s, have. set their sights on a championship each. The under 10s and under 12s, in fact, have already achieved their targets, while all of the other A teams are leading their sections.

Although the Shamrock A team in section one of the under 13 grade is finding the competition a struggle, it played good, constructive football in beating Rangers B, 2-0. Outstanding for the team were the goal-keeper, Peter Moot, the nard-working captain, Luke McGuinniety, Derek Jones and Graham Duncan.

Improving in every game, under the firm leadership of Nicholas Pemberton, is theShamrock B side in the same grade. Gerald White has 10 goals to his credit this season, and others to have shone are Robert Greenfield, Paul Smith and John Nisson. * * * Goal-keepers in the lower grades standing between I full-sized posts have a distinct disadvantage and the* wise coach never attempts to chastise these ’keepers who concede goals to balls that drop just under the bar.! They deserve sympathy more l than anything else. All three goals in the under 13 grade match between Lyttelton and Nomads B came from dropping shots, G. Mitchell getting both for Nomads and V. Scott, Lyttelton’s one four minutes from the end. In the remaining time Lyttelton fought hard for the equaliser but was denied. Both goal-keepers, K. Nichol (Lyttelton) and P. I Dalzell (Nomads), had played very soundly and did not I deserve to be beaten in this manner. # O The Bumdale A team in the under 15 grade had a well deserved, 6-0, win over Xavier. In the first half Xavier was seldom in Bumdale territory due to the fine ball control and good teamwork of Bumdale. Its left-flank combination of C. Cummings (half) and S. Goodall (wing) producedl some superb football. Goodall, crossed the ball perfectly and! his inside-forwards made full ■ use of the ball they received. !

I On the right wing, P. Kimber, a Canterbury repre- ■ sentative. made some fine individual runs and was a i danger at all times. In I defence. B. Ramsay and S. McArthur gave nothing away. : Play in the second deteriorated to a far scrappier level of football and it was 'doubly unfortunate when T. Findlay, the Bumdale centreihalf. who had scored two of jhis side's goals, had to leave :the field and was later found to have a broken leg. He will be greatly missed in the j games to come.

Strong attacking playproved a decisive factor in Bumdale A team’s victory over Christchurch City A in the under 13 grade. City had Bumdale stretched at times in the second half, but the bigger Bumdale boys won the ball and M. Paahi seated City’s fate with two good goals.

I A. Wyllie and S. Rolleston were outstanding in Bum■dale’s defence and were well i supported by R. McDonald land J. Sullivan. The wings. K. I Grew and A. Brinkers, proved very strong runners, and K. McArthur, A. Roberts and W. Wilson put thrust in the halfback play. The second semi-final in “The Press” penalty-taking competition will be at English Park on Saturday, at half-time of the Rothmans National league game between Christchurch United and Auckland City. Striving for a place in the final will be Simon Greenwood (Technical). David Allen (Nomads) and Colin Pearson (Shamrock).