SOUTHERN LEAGUE Last-second decision

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33515, 22 April 1974, Page 7

SOUTHERN LEAGUE Last-second decision

The Southern League champions, Rangers, are making a nerve-wrack-ing start in defence of the title they won last year. For the second time Rangers needed to* win. and for the second time they waited until the dying seconds to come from behind to get the winning goal.

The latest tight-rope walk was at Ham on Saturday when Rangers suddenly found themselves two goals down to University and scored their third goal, for a 3-2 win. without time left to restart the match.

Western, too. at English! Park, left its winning run to; the last minute in beating ■ Technical, 1-0.

Rangers, with four points, and Western, three, lead the; division after two rounds, I followed by four clubs on two , points. Results and table: Technical 0, Western 1; Shamrock 1. Halswell United 0; University 2, Rangers 3; Woolston W.M.C. 2, Timaru City 2.

A dumfounded Rangers coach. lan Marshall, reflected on the I score line of University 2, Rangers 0 midway through the first half: “I had a long talk with the forwards who have been letting us down and said nothing . to the defenders because they had been solidly efficient in every game. Now look what happens.” What happened was that Rangers’ defenders blundered twice in tlie first nine minutes, allowing R. Goslin and P. Grimmett to put University into a commanding lead. These were riches the students had least expected. Now it was the turn of the Rangers forwards to rescue their side and P. Mitchell and G. Taylor 'a penalty) scored before half-time to leave the game wide open

CHANCES WASTED The pattern of play became a, far more familiar one for Rang-! ers in the second half when the) southern champion had almost 80 per cent of the play, set up attack after attack, and wasted another Half dozen scoring chances. Finally, it was a header by Mitchell from a free-kick by E. Versteeg in the last second that snatched a point away from the defiant students. The man who did a similar job for Western was the insideforward. G. Morton, who in the! mud-bath at English Park scrambled home the winning goal. Western deserved this win| because it was the stronger.! more cohesive side, and also hadthe better chances earlier on.; QUALIFYING SECTION Christchurch United reserves; did what their senior have twice failed to achieve this season when they outplayed New Brighton, 5-2. In the Southern League qualifying section. Other matches resulted: Rlccartou 5, Timaru Thistle 2; Burndale United 1, Rangiora 0: Nomads United 2.1 High School Old Boys 4; Timaru Hearts 2. Cashmere Wanderers 2.

P W D L F A pts Rangers .2 2 0 0 5 3 4 Western 2 110 3 2 3

Halswell .. 2 1 0 1 3 *» 9 Technical 1 0 1 3 9 9 Woolston 9 0 2 0 4 4 2 Shamrock 2 1 0 1 2 2 Timaru .. 2 0 1 1 3 1 University .. 2 0 U 2 3 6 0